Wondering what’s up around Austin this week? Here are some of the exciting events featured on our Free Fun Calendar. Have an event to add to the calendar? Submit it here.
Monday
Baby Bloomers – Monday, May 2 from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. Children age 0-3 and their families are invited to celebrate Children’s Book Week with activities revolving around children’s books written by local Texas authors. Paint with feathers, create some owl friends, explore things that are big and little, and so much more. Armstrong Community Music School joins the fun at 10:30 a.m. Cost: Members $2.50 each / Non-Members $4.50 each. All people attending, regardless of age, must purchase a ticket. Purchase a ticket online as limited walk-up tickets will be available. The Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave, Austin.
Storytime Yoga (RSVP) – Monday, May 2 at 2:30 p.m. Bring your kids of all ages (babies are very welcome) to watch their favorite stories come to life through yoga poses. Reserve your child’s FREE spot here. The Little Yoga House, 1211 Parkway, Austin.
Free Play Gaming – Monday, May 2 at 3:30 p.m. Enjoy free play gaming using one of the library’s new video game consoles including the PS4, WiiU, Xbox 360 and more. Smash Bros., MarioParty, FIFA, Rocket League are just a few of the games offered. Come make some new friends and enjoy collaborative and competitive gaming at your library. FREE! APL – Carver Branch, 1161 Angelina St, Austin.
Mom and Me Martial Arts Class – Monday, May 2 at 5:15 p.m. (beginners), 6:00 p.m. (advanced) and 6:45 p.m. (beginners and intermediates). Moms train FREE at South Austin ATA Martial Arts during the month of May. Learn valuable self defense skills while exercising and having fun with your child. They’re kicking off the month with this special “Mom and Me” class. No previous martial arts experience is necessary. FREE! South Austin ATA Martial Arts, 1414 Ben White Blvd, Austin.
Evening Storytime (Round Rock) – Monday, May 2 at 6:30 p.m. This pajama-friendly reading activity is a fun combination of books, fingerplays, songs, and a short film for preschool children ages 3 to 6. FREE! Round Rock Public Library, 216 E Main St, Round Rock.
Tuesday
Free Admission to Laguna Gloria – Tuesday, May 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. FREE! The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, 3809 West 35th St, Austin.
I Love Mom Storytime – Tuesday, May 3 at 10:30 a.m. None of us would be here without our moms. They give us life and love, and they totally deserve a day that’s all about them. So in preparation for Mother’s Day, enjoy a reading of The Runaway Bunny and other stories all about moms and then make sweet cards to celebrate your own magnificent mother. FREE! BookPeople, 603 N Lamar, Austin.
Chinese Bilingual Storytime (Round Rock) – Tuesday, May 3 at 10:30 a.m. This program, geared for ages 3 and up, celebrates Chinese culture with stories, fingerplays, and songs in both English and Mandarin. FREE! Round Rock Public Library, 216 E Main St, Round Rock.
Crafternoon – Tuesday, May 3 at 3:30 p.m. Drop by the library and make a craft while you search for books, movies, and music. There will be paper crafts, easy sewing, and more fun projects for the whole family. The library provides the supplies; you provide the creativity. FREE! APL – Terrazas Branch, 1105 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin.
Sew Happy – Tuesday, May 3 at 5:00 p.m. Each month, participants in this new sewing program will tackle a different small hand-sewn project. From pocket ninjas to embroidered cards to sloths – it will be cuteness overload! You’ll be Sew Happy you joined the fun. All supplies are provided. Recommended for ages 10 and up. Adults are welcome to join in the fun. FREE! APL – Manchaca Road Branch, 5500 Manchaca Rd, Austin.
Family Night Meditation: Mandala Drawings – Tuesday, May 3 at 6:00 p.m. Join Elizabeth Hoisington for mindful bodies, mindful listening, mindful breathing, followed with mandala coloring. Small movements and gentle concentration of coloring draw us into the present moment and has a calming effect for children. (Adults too!) Recommended for ages 5 and up with their caregiver. FREE! Westbank Library, 1309 Westbank Dr, Austin.
Awesome Occupations: Architecture (Pflugerville) – Tuesday, May 3 at 6:30 p.m. Learn about a career in architecture with this month’s featured presenter, Barry Sturrock of Piwonka Sturrock Architects, the company that designed the library’s beautiful expansion. Ages 10-18. FREE! Pflugerville Public Library, 1008 W Pflugerville St, Pflugerville.
Wednesday
Kids Club with Kiely – Wednesday, May 4 at 9:30 a.m. FREE! Whole Foods, 525 N Lamar Blvd, Austin.
Piggie and Gerald Storytime – Wednesday, May 4 at 10:30 a.m. It’s true! There’s a new Elephant and Piggie book from Mo Willems. To celebrate, BookPeople is bringing some very special guests to storytime: Gerald and Piggie themselves. Join costume characters Piggie and Gerald for a very special storytime featuring The Thank You Book and other wonderful Elephant and Piggie stories. FREE! BookPeople, 603 N Lamar, Austin.
Chinese Story Share – Wednesday, May 4 at 10:30 a.m. Learn Chinese, have fun, and make friends. Stories, rhymes, and songs in Mandarin. Designed for children 2 to 5 years old. FREE! Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd, Austin.
Mad Science at the Library (Round Rock) – Wednesday, May 4 at 2:30 p.m. Mad Science of Austin will present an interactive science show. Grades K-5 are welcome for zany science fun. FREE! Round Rock Public Library, 216 E Main St, Round Rock.
Star Wars Jedi Training Camp – Wednesday, May 4 at 3:30 p.m. Join the fun, you will, for a chance to practice and expand your Jedi skills. There will be crafts, as well as a costume fashion show – so suit up, Jedis (as well as those who prefer the dark side). May the Fourth be with you. Recommended for children aged 5-12. FREE! APL – Yarborough Branch, 2200 Hancock Dr, Austin.
May the 4th Be With You – Wednesday, May 4 at 3:30 p.m. Make some of your favorite Star Wars characters into puppets. Recommended for children ages 5 and up. FREE! APL – Manchaca Road Branch, 5500 Manchaca Rd, Austin.
Community Night at The Thinkery – Wednesday, May 4 from 4-8:00 p.m. At the Thinkery, science and families play side by side. Every Wednesday the museum stays open late for families to discover new ideas and learn together. Cost: Admission is by donation only, with a suggested $1 donation. The Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave, Austin.
Discovery! Aerodynamics – Wednesday, May 4 at 4:30 p.m. This program will feature a presentation combining stories, music, participation, and creative dramatics to explain Bernoulli’s Effect and how aerodynamics affect our lives every day. Following the program will be hands-on activities including experiments to illustrate Bernoulli’s Effect and designing and making a number of working paper rockets, airplanes, and other flying things to take home. FREE! Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd, Austin.
May the 4th Be with You – Wednesday, May 4 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Party includes: costume players and photo opportunities with Storm Troopers and Snow Troopers; vintage Star Wars Pinballz Machines; open game play with Star Wars Battlefront on Xbox One; Star Wars themed crafts; Star Wars themed snacks. FREE! Microsoft Store – The Domain, 3309 Esperanza Crossing #104, Austin.
Krispy Kreme Family Night – Wednesday, May 4 from 6-8:00 p.m. Kids can decorate one FREE doughnut each, plus enjoy crafts, balloons, paper hats, coloring sheets and more. Krispy Kreme, 701 E Stassney Ln and 12586 Research Blvd, Austin.
Cinco de Mayo at Montopolis Rec Center – Wednesday, May 4 from 6-8:00 p.m. Families are invited to celebrate with food, music, and crafts. There will be a short presentation of the design for the new Montopolis Recreation and Community Center. FREE! Montopolis Recreation Center, 1200 Montopolis Dr, Austin.
Texas Radio Live – Wednesday, May 4 from 6-8:00 p.m. Texas Radio Live brings you the very best Texas music with performances from Texas musicians. This week, South Austin Moonlighters and Bret Coats perform. FREE but donations to support the KDRP Radio Mission are appreciated. Read about Catherine’s experience here. Guero’s Oak Garden, 1412 S Congress Ave, Austin.
Music on Main Street (Round Rock) – Wednesday, May 4 from 6-8:00 p.m. Rock and roll with Jimmy and the Mustangs. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and the entire family. Visit the variety of dining options on Main Street or pack a picnic basket to enjoy the evening of fun and music. Food vendors will be on site. FREE! Main Street Plaza, 221 E Main St, Round Rock.
Star Wars X-Wing Event – Wednesday, May 4 at 6:30 p.m. Celebrate all things Star Wars and learn to play Star Wars X-Wing. FREE! Barnes & Noble Arboretum, 10000 Research Blvd #158, Austin.
Wednesday Night Star Party at UT – Wednesday, May 4 from 8:30-10:30 p.m. Don’t miss the last star party before summer break! Every Wednesday night while UT is in session, the astronomy department sponsors FREE public star parties on the top roof of Robert Lee Moore Hall. All ages are welcome, but younger children must be under adult supervision at all times. Please call 512-232-4265 for weather cancellation information. UT Campus – Robert Lee Moore Hall, Southeast corner of Dean Keeton and Speedway.
Thursday
Free Admission to The Blanton – Thursday, May 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. FREE! Blanton Museum of Art, 200 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin.
Little Builders with Tents and Tunnels and Blocks – Thursday, May 5 at 10:30 a.m. Drop in anytime during an hour of play with large blocks, tents, and tunnels. Recommended for ages 18 months-5 years old. FREE! APL – Yarborough Branch, 2200 Hancock Dr, Austin.
Hola, Hola! Spanish Camp – Thursday, May 5 at 10:30 a.m. Ann Benson, expert in bilingual education, will teach you how to effectively use books as a tool to teach your child Spanish. Each parent will learn to read a Spanish book to their child and take it home for Spanish reinforcement. For parents and their children ages 0-5. FREE! Westbank Library, 1309 Westbank Dr, Austin.
Free Noon Concert – Thursday, May 5 at Noon. Take a 30-minute lunchtime break to hear an Americana and roots folk concert by Gary Knippa & The Friends. FREE! Central Presbyterian Church, 200 E 8th St, Austin.
Book Circle – Thursday, May 5 at 3:30 p.m. Settle in for a story or two and some hands-on activities. Recommended for ages 5 and up. FREE! APL – Yarborough Branch, 2200 Hancock Dr, Austin.
Explorers Club (Cedar Park) – Thursday, May 5 at 3:30 p.m. Each Thursday, kids in grades K-5 meet to explore a set of rotating programs. This week, it’s Crafty Kids. FREE! Cedar Park Library, 550 Discovery Blvd, Cedar Park.
Starry Nights at Girlstart (RSVP) – Thursday, May 5 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. Girlstart’s Mini-Planetarium is a unique space for families to explore astronomy. May’s Starry Night will feature Ancient Egyptian Mythology. All ages welcome. FREE but RSVP is required here. Girlstart, 1400 W Anderson Lane, Austin.
Pajama Storytime – Thursday, May 5 at 6:30 p.m. Feel free to wear pajamas to this family evening storytime featuring stories, songs, rhymes, games, crafts, and other activities. Children of all ages welcome. Seating is limited at all programs. Please arrive a few minutes early to gain entrance. FREE! APL – Manchaca Road Branch, 5500 Manchaca Rd, Austin.
Dan-oh Korean Spring Festival (Round Rock) – Thursday, May 5 from 7-9:00 p.m. The celebration will feature Korean songs by Tenors Joonil Kim and Jeongmin Wee; a Taekwondo demonstration by Master TaeWon Jung and the Tiger Jung Martial Art Team; and Korean refreshments. Artists Kristin Kim and Yangsoon Lee, whose art will be exhibited in gallery of the Library throughout the month of May, will be honored. FREE! Round Rock Public Library, 216 E Main St, Round Rock.
Unplugged at the Grove: Dirty River Boys – Thursday, May 5 at 8:00 p.m. Join KGSR every Thursday for 24 consecutive weeks at the iconic Shady Grove for one of Austin’s longest running FREE concert series. All ages welcome. Shady Grove, 1624 Barton Springs Rd, Austin.
Movies in the Park: Raiders of the Lost Ark – Thursday, May 5 at 8:35 p.m. Movies in the Park is a series of free films brought to you by Austin Parks Foundation in partnership with Alamo Drafthouse. Each year, APF and the Drafthouse bring you FREE movies in parks all over Austin. Residents and visitors bring theirs blanket or lawn chairs (and often a picnic dinner) for a fun and relaxing evening under the beautiful Austin night sky. Rated PG. Palm Park, 711 East 3rd St, Austin.
Friday
Scale/Warbird Radio Control Fly-in – Friday, May 6 from 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Join Austin Radio Control Association for their annual Scale/Warbird fly-in. Pilots from all over Texas, Louisiana, and as far away as Monterey, Mexico, will be onsite with some of the most incredible scale radio control airplanes that you will ever see. From WWI biplanes flying the dawn patrol, heavy WWII B-17 Bombers flying in formation, to the fastest turbine military jets, this fly-in will have it all. Admission is FREE! Concessions will be available for purchase. Austin Radio Control Association – Lester Field, 8705 Lindell Ln, Austin.
Art Show & Sale – Friday, May 6 from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Meet the artists and learn about their work while bridging the generation gap through art. Light refreshments provided. Admission is FREE! Lamar Senior Activity Center, 2874 Shoal Crest Ave, Austin.
Downtown Street Fair – Friday, May 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Join the Downtown Austin Alliance every Friday through June 3 for a festival including food vendors, retailers, entertainers, artists, and more. FREE! 9th and Congress, Austin.
Crafternoon – Friday, May 6 at 4:00 p.m. Drop by the library and make a craft while you search for books, movies, and music. There will be paper crafts, easy sewing, and more fun projects for the whole family. The library provides the supplies; you provide the creativity. FREE! APL – Spicewood Springs Branch, 8637 Spicewood Springs Rd, Austin.
Lego Lab – Friday, May 6 at 4:00 p.m. With LEGO, you can build anything you can imagine and tell any story you can dream up. Come to the Lego Lab to hear, see, make, and create different stories, all while building with LEGOs provided by the Library. Recommended for ages 5 and up. FREE! APL – North Village Branch. 2505 Steck Ave, Austin
Britta Phillips In-Store Performance – Friday, May 6 at 5:00 p.m. FREE! Waterloo Records, 600A N Lamar Blvd, Austin.
Star Wars vs. Star Trek: Night to Nerd Out – Friday, May 6 from 6-9:00 p.m. Celebrate two famously groundbreaking sci-fi universes with huge fan followings that have spread widely across books, music, movies and games. This is your Night to Nerd Out about your favorite show. Along with activities like crafts, games, and live entertainment, there will be a wide selection of literature from both popular series for checkout. FREE! APL – Windsor Park Branch, 5833 Westminster Dr, Austin.
May First Friday Block Party – Friday, May 6 from 6-9:00 p.m. Enjoy an evening of fun with friends and neighbors at In.gredients. There will be a full lineup of music with Steel Betty, Pillow Princess, and Ley Line. Admission is FREE! In.gredients, 2610 Manor Rd, Austin.
KUTX Live at Mueller – Friday, May 6 at 7:00 p.m. The fun starts with a kid-friendly act, Jarebear, followed by rock and roll for the grown-ups by Octopus Project. Food trucks, fun, and live music on the lake. FREE! Mueller Lake Park, 4550 Mueller Blvd, Austin.
A Night In Spain – Friday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. The Dougherty Arts Center is proud to partner with The Austin Civic Wind Ensemble to present an evening of beautiful and exciting Spanish-influenced music including “La Procession du Rocio” by Joaquin Turina and “Don Quixote” by Robert Smith. Family friendly and FREE! Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs Rd, Austin.
Movies in the Park: Field of Dreams (Leander) – Friday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. Often described as a combination of state-of-the-art technology and the nostalgia of the 1950s drive-in, the Movies in the Park series provides families the opportunity to spend time together under the stars while enjoying first run movies. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and a picnic dinner. Concessions will be available for purchase. Rated PG. FREE! Robin Bledsoe Park, 601 S Bagdad Rd, Leander.
Check out the Free Fun Calendar for even more ways to fill your week with fun.
The post What’s Up? Weekly (May 2-6, 2016) appeared first on Free Fun in Austin.