SPRING FLINGS
5 things to do with your kids this spring break in Austin.
5 fun things to do with kids during spring break
It’s spring break! Didn’t plan an exotic getaway to the beach? We didn’t either, but we’re planning to have a lot of fun in and around Austin with our families. Here are some of the best events for families Central Texas has to offer:
1 Rodeo
Get away from downtown’s hipster hangouts to find the cowboys and pig racers at the Expo Center.
Rodeo Austin. We recommend going to the Avenue of Breeds, where you can see chickens hatching, as well as different livestock, horses and poultry; attending the Rodeo to see kids ride sheep in mutton bustin’, cowboys ride bulls and cowgirls barrel race; heading to Kidstown for pony rides and a petting zoo; seeing the pig races; and attending the Wild West Show. Find the daily schedule online. 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday-March 25. $8 adults, $5 child ages 3-12, free 2 and younger. Rodeo, concert and carnival extra. Travis County Expo Center, 7311 Decker Lane. RodeoAustin.com
2 Music
It wouldn’t be spring break in Austin without music. This year Bill Childs of KUTX’s “Spare the Rock” children’s music show is offering these family music events during South by Southwest. “Family Music Meltdown.” Hear music from Red Yarn, the Deedle Deedle Dees, Ralph’s World, Riders Against the Storm, Strumero and El Tule. Free. 3 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Pan Am Park, 2100 E. Third St. facebook.com/FamilyMusicMeltdown KUTX live broadcast kids’ music lineup. The KUTX live broadcast at the Four Seasons during South by Southwest will feature children’s music at 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Wednesday through March 18. Hear Ralph’s World and Red Yarn Wednesday, the Que Pastas and Joe McDermott on Thursday, Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band and
the Deedle Deedle Dees on Friday and Little Miss Anne and Sugar Free Allstars on March 18. Free. Four Seasons Hotel, 98 San Jacinto Blvd. fourseasons.com Willie is for Everyone. Celebrate Willie Nelson’s music with the family with music from Little Miss Ann, the Barton Hills Choir with very special guest Ray Benson, Ralph’s World, Red Yarn, the Que Pastas, Beth Chrisman, Suzanna Choffel, Sugar Free Allstars, Rockaroni & Cheese, Lucky Diaz, and the Deedle Deedle Dees. 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday. Scottish Rite Theater, 207 W. 18th St. $3 adults, $1 children. facebook.com/ events/1385926451430887 Rock & Read at the Domain. Musicians include Riders Against the Storm, Lucky Diaz, the Deedle Deedle Dees, Little Miss Ann and Sugar Free Allstars. 2-5:30 p.m. March 18. Free. Domain lawn by Dick’s Sporting Goods and Dillard’s. facebook.com/ events/343691162691502 Plus enjoy Austin Ukestra Ukulele group. 1 p.m. Sunday, Recycled Reads Bookstore.
3 Movies and Theater
You could stay home and stream movies all day or you could go out and have a movie or theater experience. Check out these events: Kids and Camp:the Sorcerer’s“Harry Potter Stone,” Monday-Thursday,10:10 a.m. Saturday,10:15 Sunday, Lakeline. Alamo “Shrek,” Drafthouse9:45 a.m. Saturday-Sunday,Lane. 10 a.m. Sunday-Thursday, Slaughter p.m. Village Monday-Wednesday,Theater, 12:25 Mueller.PBS Kids drafthouse.com“Odd Squad: The Movie.” 1:45 p.m. Saturday, 1:50 p.m. Sunday, Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline; 12:15 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Slaughter Lane. drafthouse. com Harry Potter Fest. The new Blue Starlite South drivein theater is showing two Harry Potter films SundayFriday, in order. $25 per person for the whole week. 12419 Lowden Lane. bluestarlitedrivein.com “Beauty and the Beast” Family Party. See the new live-action movie with special activities. 10 a.m. March 18, Alamo Drafthouse Slaughter Lane. drafthouse.com Movies at the library: “Finding Dory,” 2 p.m. Saturday, Windsor Park Branch. “Pete’s Dragon,” 4 p.m. Monday, Cepeda Branch. “The Jungle Book,” 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Twin Oaks Branch. “Moana,” 4 p.m. Wednesday, Cepeda Branch. “Night at the Museum,” 2 p.m. Friday, Old Quarry Branch. “1001 Tricks in 1 Hour!” 1 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. March 18. Circus Chickendog presents this show featured rescued animals, including dogs. $15. The Institution Theater, 3708 Woodbury Drive. www.chickendog.net “Elephant and Piggie:
We Are in a Play!” The Mo Willems story comes to the stage. 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through April 30 (except March 11). 11 a.m. Saturdays April 15, 22, 29. $16-$21. Zach Theatre’s Kleberg Theatre, 1421 W. Riverside Drive. zachtheatre.org Cirque du Soleil “OVO.” See artists do what insects do: fly, crawl, work and more. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through March 18, 4 p.m. March 18, 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. March 19. $25-$149. H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, 2100 Avenue of the Stars, Cedar Park. hebcenter.com
4 Museums
Spring break is a great time to hit an Austin-area museum, especially one that you haven’t been to in a while. Many have special spring break activities or even camps. Texas Museum of Science & Technology. Teenergy.
Science geared toward teens. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Texas Museum of Science & Technology, 1220 Toro Grande Drive, Cedar Park. txmost.org Contemporary Austin. Art Free-For All! See what the Contemporary Austin has to offer and enjoy hands-on activities. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Free. Laguna Gloria, 3809 W. 35th St. thecontemporaryaustin.org
Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum. Family Day. Celebrate female artists, make art, hear a story and more. Noon-4 p.m. Sunday. Free. Kids Kraft Play with Prints. 9 a.m. March 18, kindergarten through second grade; 11 a.m. March 18, third through fifth grade. $15. Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum, 605 Robert E. Lee Road. umlaufsculpture.org Spring Break at the Bullock Museum. Drop in for hands-on activities. Monday-Friday. Bullock Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave. thestoryoftexas.com
Thinkery. The Thinkery has camps for kids in grades pre-K to fifth grade as well as these events: Baby Bloomers for kids infant to 3. Study the garden this month. 9 a.m. Saturdays (no Monday Baby Bloomers this week). Special
guests throughout the month. $5. Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss: Egg Planters and Truffula Trees, ages 4 and up. 11:15 a.m., 1:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. March 18-19. $8. Storytelling with Ozobots; learn to code. For ages 4 and up. 11:15 a.m. SaturdayMonday. $8. Stop Motion
Animation, ages 8 and up. 1:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Saturday-Monday. $8. Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. thinkeryaustin.org Hill Country Science Mill. Robot Mania. Live robot demonstrations and hands-on building and programming activities. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday. World Music, World
Stories. Hear bands playing music from around the world. $10 adults, $8.50 kids and seniors, children 2 and younger free. 1-6 p.m. March 18. Hill Country Science Mill, 101 S. Lady Bird Lane, Johnson City. sciencemill.org Wildflower Center.
Sprouts. Hands-on preschool program. 10 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Nature Play Hour. Play in the Family Garden. 11 a.m. Saturdays. Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave. wildflower.org Youth Ceramic Workshop. For ages 7-12. 10 a.m. Tuesday or Thursday. $25. Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Road. Register: austintexas.gov/ parksregister
5 Reading
Just because it’s spring break doesn’t mean all books go away. It’s a great chance to pick up books they actually want to read and enjoy them.
Bridging Cultures Storytime: Little Red Riding Hood tales from Asia. With a treasure hunt and story time. 10 a.m. Saturday. Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Road. BookPeople story times. Brand New Books, 11:30 a.m. Saturday; Tiny Tails to You, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday; Family Favorites, 11:30 a.m. March 18. BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd. bookpeople.com
Barnes & Noble Events. “The Lego Batman Movie” Event. 2 p.m. Saturday, Sunset Valley, Lakeline. Saturday story times 11 a.m. at all locations: Dance story time, Saturday; Egg story time with sign language interpretation at Sunset Valley), March 18.
Library offerings. Bow Wow Reading with Bonnie the Dog. 11:30 a.m. Saturday and March 18, Yarborough Branch. Express Yourself Through Social Media. Learn how to use social media for activism, music, art and filmmaking for ages 10 and up. 1 p.m.2:30 p.m. Saturdays Saturday and March 18. Storybook Dance Making. 2 p.m. Sunday, Recycled Reads Bookstore. Ruiz Branch. Crafternoon. 4 p.m. Tuesday, Cepeda Branch. Tabletop Tuesday. Play board games. 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. Faulk Central Library. Art Smart: Holi Festival of Colors, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. NBTween Book Club “The Wild Robot,” 6 p.m. Wednesday, Yarborough Branch; “Ghosts,” 6 p.m. Thursday, Twin Oaks Branch. Teen Book Club, “Six of Crows,” 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Spicewood Springs Branch. Family Craft Night. For ages 5 and up. 6 p.m. Wednesday, Howson Branch. Mother Daughter Book Club “Number the Stars.” 6 p.m. Wednesday, Hampton Branch.
Bonus
The ABC Kite Festival was delayed on Sunday because of rain. Fingers cross it will happen this Sunday. Here is all the information:
ABC Kite Festival. Fly a kite as well as make one. New this year, kids zone with face painting, kite making, hair braiding and more sponsored by St. David’s Children’s Hospital and MossFest Children’s Concert from Texas Mutual with bands like Hey Lolly and Trout Fishing in America. Free. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Zilker Park. Parking is available at the state garage at 1604 Colorado St., and at the Burger Activity Center, 3200 Jones Road. Shuttles will bring you to the park for $5 for people 12 and older. abckitefestival.org