THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR FAMILY IN APRIL
Aprilisthatm agical time when we bri dgefromthe warmth of spring to the heat of summer. It’s a great time to get out there and enjoy the wildflowers, visit a spring festival or try some science. Here are some family events happening next month in and around Austin:
Events
■ GirlStart Starry Nights. Look at the mini planetarium
and enjoy hands-on activities. 5:30 p.m. April 5. GirlStart. 1400 W. Anderson Lane. girlstart.org
■ Insect Safari H ikeonthe Water Quality Protection Lands. Find and look up bugs in this family-friendly event. 10 a.m. April 7. Register and then get directions. austintexas.gov/ water/wildland ■ Sherwood Forest Faire. Travel back in time to merry ol’ England with this fair. 10 a.m. to dusk, Sunday and Saturday. $12-$22. 1883 Old U.S. 20, McDade. sherwoodforestfaire.com ■ Monster Jam. Seriously big trucks crush other trucks. 7p.m.April21,2p .m. April 22. $20-37. Erwin Center, 1701 Red River St. uterwincenter.com ■ City Nature Challenge. Find things in nature and rec ordandsharewhatyou find. April 27-30. Get help at these events: 3 p.m. April 27, JJ Seabrook Greenbelt; 9 a.m. April 28, Mabel Davis District Park; 3 p.m. April 28, Willowbrook Reach; and 3 p.m. April 29, Gracywoods Neighborhood Park. tpwd.texas.gov/naturechallenge ■ Domain Northside Kids. Come to the lawn at the Domain Northside for activities for kids 18 months to 6
years old. This month it’s all about the Earth. Free. 10 a.m. to noon April 4. Register at domainnorthside.com ■ Children’s Picnic. Local food vendors and farmers, plus make your own eco pot; enjoy storytelling, music and an imagination station. 105 p.m. April 8. Rosewood Park, 2300 Rosewood Ave. edibleaustin.com ■ Butterfly Festival. Games, crafts and live butterfly release. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 21. Free. The EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens, 1101 FM 2325, Wimberley. emilyann.org ■ Game Chica Conference. For girls ages 9 to 18. Learn how to design video games with experts from Austin technology companies. $15, includes lunch. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 28. HomeAway at the Domain, 11800 Domain Blvd. No. 300. gamechica. com ■ Safe Baby Academy. Learn how to care for your baby. In Spanish, 4 p.m. April 2, People’s Clinic, 1101 Camino La Costa. 9 a.m. April 7, Seton Southwest Medical Center, 7900 FM 1826. 9 a.m. April 14, Seton Northwest Medical Center, 1113 Research Blvd. 9 a.m. April 28, CommUnity Care Clinic, 2901 Montopolis Drive. austintexas.gov
■ Car seat check. 9 a.m. April 3, Dove springs Recreation Center, 5801 Ainez Drive. 9 a.m. April 6, Buda Fire Station 2, 151 FM 2001, Buda. 9 a.m. April 12, BabyEarth, 106 E. Old Settlers Blvd. Suite 100, Round Rock. 9 a.m. April 14, Covert Hutto Chevrolet, 1200 U.S. 79, Hutto. 9 a.m. April 18, Gus Garcia Recreation Center, 1201 E. Rundberg Lane. austintexas.gov ■ Fairytale Tea Party. Dress in princess attire, play games and make crafts. Free. 10 a.m. April 28. Gus Garcia Recreation Center, 1201 E. Rundberg Lane. austintexas.gov
Museums
■ Totally Cool Totally Art Teen Art Exhibition. April 13-April 26. Free. Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs Road. austintexas.gov
■ Austin Nature & Science Center. Austin’s Nature Day Nature and Art. 9 a.m. to noon April 21. Free. Austin Nature & Science Center, 2389 Stratford Drive. austintexas. gov/ansc
■ Blanton Museum of Art. Look. Think.
Make. Drop in and make art every Thursday. Noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free on Thursdays. Blanton Museum of Art. 200 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. blantonmuseum.org ■ Bullock Museum. Living History Days: Reenactors stroll through the museum, 10 a.m. April 5. Little Texans: Cowboys and Cowgirls. For ages 2-5, 10 a.m. April 12. Science Thursdays: 10 a.m. April 19. Storytime:
Nature. 10 a.m. April 26. Bullock Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave. thestoryoftexas.com
■ Contemporary Austin. Teen Event: Destination Laguna. Explore the museum after hours with snacks and activities for teens. 6-9 p.m. April 13. Free for teens 13-18. Saturdays are for Families: Ships Ahoy. Enjoy a nautical-themed art-making day. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 14. Free. Laguna Gloria, 3809 W. 35th St. thecontemporaryaustin.org ■ Science Mill. The Science of Sports. Test your balance, see how hard you can hit and more. 10 a.m. April 14. Homeschool Day. 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m. April 11. Earth Day Butterfly Bonanza. Learn more about butterflies. Noon-4 p.m. April 22. Science Mill, 101 Lady Bird Lane, Johnson City. sciencemill.org
■ Neill-Cochran House Museum. Getting the Message: The Telegraph & The Crystal Radio. 1 p.m. April 1. Neill-Cochran House Museum. 2310 San Gabriel St. nchmuseum.org
■ Mexic-Arte Museum. Family Day: The Art of Resistance. Enjoy activities around the current exhibit. Free. Noon to 5 p.m. April 15. Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress Ave. mexic-artemuseum.
org ■ Emma S. Barrientos Mexican Center. American Sábados Cultural en 14. Free Familia. arts and 10 a.m. wellness April programs for the whole family, plus free lunch. Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center. 600 River St. austintexas.gov/esbmacc ■ Thinkery. Sensory Friendly Hours. Free breakfast tacos from Hat Creek Burger Company and a free screening of “Trolls” at the Alamo Drafthouse Mueller. 8 a.m. April 29. Art Start: My Many Colored Days: 9:45 a.m. Wednesdays (1-year-olds), 10:45 a.m. Wednesdays (2-year-olds), Wednesdays through May 9. $20 a class, $140 for the series. Namaste and Play: Sense-ational: 9:45 a.m. (2-year-olds), 10:45 a.m. (3-year-olds), Fridays, through May 11. $20 a class, $140 for the series. Baby Bloomers: Spring
has Sprung. Learn about light. 9 a.m. Mondays and Saturdays. For birth to age 3. $5. Decoding DNA. Ages 4 and up. 10:30 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. April 7-8, April 21-22. $8. Seed Paper Making. Ages 4 and up. 10:30 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. April 14-15, April 28-29. $8. Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. thinkeryaustin.org ■ Toybrary Austin. Spanish class. 10:30 a.m. April 3. $5. Gardening
Class. 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. Free with admission.
Music Ariel. 10:30 Class a.m. with Wednesdays. Miss 10:30 $10. a.m. Peppa April Pig 5. Visits. $12. Silly Silly Show. Sparkles $10:30 a.m. Super April with 12. Milly $10. McSilly. Bubblefest 10:30 a.m. April 26. $10. Firetruck visits. 10:30 a.m.
April 27. $7. Family concert and picnic. 5 p.m. April 28. Toybrary Austin, 2001 Justin Lane. toybraryaustin.com ■ Umlauf Sculpture Garden Family Day. Learn different forms of exercise as a family, plus make art. Noon to 4 p.m. April 8. Free. Umlauf Sculpture Garden, 605 Robert E. Lee Road. unmlaufsculture.org ■ Wildflower Center. Sprouts. Preschool program. 10 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Free with admission. Nature
Play Hour. 10 a.m. Saturdays. Free with admission to the gardens. Afternoon Explorers: Wild About Wildflowers. For ages 6-10. $15 one child and adult. 3:30 p.m. April 20. Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave. wildflower.org
■ Williamson Museum. Hands-on History. Learn about the founding of Williamson County as the county celebrates 170 years, plus make a craft of the county namesake. Free. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 14. Williamson Museum, 716 Aus-
tin Ave., Georgetown. williamsonmuseum.org
■ The Williamson Museum on the Chisholm Trail. Chisholm Trail Day in Round Rock. Live cowboy music, Dutch oven cooking, hands-on activities and more. Free. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 7. 8 Chisholm Trail, Round Rock. williamsonmuseum.org
Theater
the ■ Coyote.” “Pancho Pancho Rabbit Rabbit and goes journey through with a dangerous little a.m. help April from 7-8, his 14-15, guide. 21-22, 11 28-29; 12:30 p.m. April 21-22, April 28-29. $8-$12. Scottish Rite Theater, 207 W. 18th St. $3 adults, $1 children. scottishritetheater.org
■ Fifth Annual Greater Austin High School Theatre Awards. See who wins, plus some snapshots of the best shows. 7:30 p.m. April 18. Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive. thelongcenter.org ■ “Disney on Ice: Reach for the Stars.” Mickey and friends in a star-studded extravaganza. $15-$50. 7 p.m. April 25-28, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. April 28, 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. April 29. H-E-B Center, 2100 Avenue of the Stars, Cedar Park. hebcenter.com ■ Zach Theatre presents “Goodnight Moon.” The classic children’s book comes to the stage. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through May 27. $18-$24. Kleberg Stage, 1421 Riverside Drive. zachtheatre.org
■ Austin Playhouse presents “The Smartest Girl in the World.” Two kids dream of helping their family by going on a game show. For grades second through sixth. Pick your price. 7 p.m. April 3, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. April 7 and 14. Austin Playhouse at ACC’s Highland Campus, 6001 Airport Blvd., South Entrance. austinplayhouse.com
Movies
■ That’s My Face Film Series: “The Making of Claudia Rankin.” For young adults. 6:30 p.m. April 27. Free. George Washington Carver Museum, 1165 Angelina St. austintexas.gov
■ Alamo Drafthouse. “The Sandlot” Movie
Party. Celebrate the 25th anniversary of this movie. 1 p.m. April 8 Lakeline and Slaughter Lane., and 7:15 p.m. April 9-12, Slaughter Lane. “PBS Kids: Explore the Outdoors.” 10:30 a.m. April 20-21, Mueller. 10:15 a.m. April 14-15, Lakeline. drafthouse.com ■ Movies in the Park. “The Lion King.” 8:15 p.m. April 5. Northwest District Park, 7000 Ardath St. Free. austinparks.org
Books
■ BookPeople events: Junot Díaz reads “Islandborn.” 6:30 p.m. April 4. Emma Berquist reads “Devils Unto Dust.” 6
p.m. April 14. Donna Janell Bowman reads “Abraham Lincoln’s Dueling Words.” 2 p.m. April 15. Stuart Gibbs and Sarah Mlynowski read “Waste of Space” and “Two Peas in a Pod.” 6 p.m. April 23. Charlie Rose and Dan Peeler read “Dragons of Romania: Star of Doom.”
2 p.m. April 7. 10:30 a.m. storytimes: Pets Are the Best, April 3. Poets Who Know It, April 4. Imagination Station, April 7. We Love Libraries, April 10. Ms. Staci, April 11. Yoga,
April 14. Armstrong Community Music School, April 17. Tiny Tails to You Petting Zoo, April 18. Mrs. Purple Urple, April 21. Preposterous Puppet Show, April 24. Favorite Read
Aloud, April 25. BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd. bookpeople.com
■ Barnes & Noble Events: 11 a.m. Saturdays, story times at all locations: “The Giving Tree,” April 7. “Pig the Star,” April 14. “Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth,” April 21. “Scientist, Scientist, Who Do You See?” 11 a.m. April 28.
At the library
■ Crafternoon. 3 p.m. Mondays, Dove Springs Recreation Center. 2 p.m. April 11, Carver Branch. 4:30 p.m. April 12, Twin Oaks Branch. 3:30 p.m. April 24, Howson Branch. ■ Pajama Storytime. 6 p.m. Mondays, University Hills Branch. 6 p.m. April 3, Yarborough Branch. 6 p.m. April 24, Milwood Branch. 6 p.m. April 24, Old Quarry Branch. ■ Book Circle. 3:30 p.m. April 3 and April 24, Twin Oaks Branch. ■ Tabletop Tuesday. Play games every Tuesday. 5 p.m. Tuesdays. Central Library. ■ Art Smart: Celebrating Asian Dragons. 10:15 a.m. April 4, Howson Branch. 4:30 p.m. April 4, Willie Mae Kirk Branch. 3:30 p.m. April 6, University Hills Branch. 10:15 a.m. April 11, Dove Springs Recreation Center. 4:30 p.m. April 17, Little Walnut Creek Branch. 3:30 p.m. April 18, St. John Branch. 10:15 a.m. April 26, Pleasant Hill Branch. ■ Bow Wow Reading with Aussie. 3:30 p.m. April 4, North Village Branch. Bow Wow Reading with George. 3:45 p.m. April 11, Pleasant Hill Branch. ■ Music and Movement. 3:30 p.m. April 4 and April 11, Ruiz Branch. 11 a.m. April 5, Manchaca Road Branch. 11 a.m. April 9, Pleasant Hill Branch. 11 a.m. Thursdays, Howson Branch. 11 a.m. April 13, Old Quarry Branch. 3:30 p.m. April 25, Ruiz Branch. ■ Chess Club. 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Willie Mae Kirk Branch. ■ Money Smart Week: Savvy Shopper. 3:30 p.m. April 5, Carver Branch. ■ Express Yourself with social media. 1 p.m. Saturdays, Ruiz Branch. ■ Saturday Family Movie: “Coco.” 1 p.m. April 7, St. John Branch. ■ Austin Ukestra. 1 p.m. April 8, Recycled Reads Bookstore. ■ “Anansi and the Golden Box of Stories.” 3:30 p.m. April 9, Spicewood Springs Branch. 3:30 p.m. April 17, Twin Oaks Branch. 3:30 p.m. April 18, Ruiz Branch. 1 p.m. April 21, Recycled Reads Bookstore.
■ Kids’ Yoga. 3:30 p.m. April 9, April 16, April 23, Yarborough Branch.
■ NBTween Book Club. “The Tale of Despereaux.” 4 p.m. April 12, Cepeda Branch. “Flora & Ulysses.” 6 p.m. April 19, Twin Oaks Branch. “Counting by Sevens.” 6 p.m. April 19, Spicewood Springs Branch. ■ Tech Thursday. 4:30 p.m. April 12, Ruiz Branch. ■ Teen Book Club: “Popular.” 6:30 p.m. April 12, Spicewood Springs Branch. “Revolver.” 3 p.m. April 14, Central Library.
“Persepolis.” 6:30 p.m. April 17, Howson Branch. ■ Night Builders: Family Lego Lab. 7:30 p.m. April 12, Hampton Branch. ■ Friday Movie Matinee “Moana.” 3:30 p.m. April 13, Carver Branch. “Hop.” 3:30 p.m. April 13, Old Quarry Branch. ■ Doodling for Families. 4 p.m. April 13, North Village Branch. ■ Perler Bead Saturday. Noon April 14, University Hills Branch. ■ Sign Me Up! SignMaking Party for teens. 1 p.m. April 14, Central Library. ■ Teen “Harry Potter” Club. 2 p.m. April 15, Central Library.
■ Mother-Daughter Book Club: “A Snicker of Magic.” 6 p.m. April 18, Hampton Branch. ■ Family Craft Night. 6:30 p.m. April 18, Howson Branch. ■ Tween Anime Club: “Sgt. Frog.” 2 p.m. April 27, Twin Oaks Branch. ■ World Dance Day. Noon April 29, Central Library. ■ Featured Flicks: “Coco.” 4 p.m. April 30, North Village Branch.