February Activities for Kids and Families in Austin

It's time for Enriched Family's February roundup of kids and family activities happening in the Austin area. As usual, this list is by no means exhaustive; just a sampling of events that caught my eye that I wanted to highlight. Additional good sources for activity lists are included at the end of the post.

(Please note, the following is provided for informational purposes only; the information is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge, but there may be omissions, errors or mistakes, and no guarantees are made.)

Free Educational Activities

Highlighted Activity: WeatherFest at the Bullock Texas State History Museum

Details: Weatherfest is presented in partnership with Spectrum News, the Bullock Texas State History Museum, and Girlstart. Enjoy hands-on experiments, weather-related films and panels, meet your favorite local meteorologist, and more! Families will have the opportunity to engineer weather binoculars for cloud viewing, understand the power of air pressure by exploring Bernoulli’s principle, harness the wind to fly a paper kite, discover the wonders behind InstaSnow, and more family-friendly activities!

When: Sunday, February 4, 2018, anytime between 12:00 - 3:00 PM

Where: Bullock Texas State History Museum (1800 Congress Ave.)

Activity: Starry Nights at Girlstart

Details: Last night (2/1/18), Girlstart held its Starry Nights event. If you missed it, no worries, Girlstart hosts these events monthly the first Thursday of every month. My girls loved it. Check it out!

Girlstart’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Studio and Mini-Planetarium is a unique space for families to explore astronomy! Starry Nights are held the 1st Thursday of every month (except January, June, July, and August), with each month featuring a new astronomy experience and related hands-on activities. Everyone is welcome (all ages); RSVP is recommended, however it is not required.

When: First Thursday of each month, anytime between 5:30 and 7:30pm

Where: Girlstart STEM Center (1400 W Anderson Ln.)

Activity: Playing With Purpose workshop

Details: Hosted by We Rock the Spectrum and Tandem Speech Therapy, the Playing With Purpose workshop, presented by Emily Cohen, Tandem Speech Therapy Owner and Speech-Language Pathologist, is free, and open play will be just $8 if you need to bring a child along. You will learn about language development and the impact play has on your child's skills. Come with questions!

When: Tuesday, February 6, 2018, 10:30am-12:00pm

Where: We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym (7010 West Highway 71 Suite 200)

Activity: Senior Living Truth Series

Details: For those of us who are over 55 or who have parents over 55, there is a host of complex issues and challenges on the path ahead, including how and where we live, how we maintain our health and relationships, and how we prepare for the end of life. Westbank Libraries is partnering with Austin Senior Resource Alliance to present a year-long series of candid conversations with local experts focusing on the specific concerns faced by senior adults and their families. Join in on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 10:30am at Laura’s Library to be part of the conversation. The Tuesday, February 27th talk will focus on “The Truth About Probate for Property Owners.”

When: Tuesday, February 27, 2018, 10:30am-12:00pm (and the fourth Tuesday of each month, from 10:30am-12pm)

Where: Laura Bush Community Library (9411 Bee Caves Rd)

Summer Camp Fair

Fair: The Nurture My Child Summer Camp Fair 2018

Details: The Nurture My Child Camp Fair is a friendly, community focused camp fair to help parents select the right summer camp for their child. Free admission and free parking. Fun, free, hands-on activities. Learn about spring break, summer, and overnight camps for ages 4-18. RSVP here.

When: Sunday, February 25th, 2018, 1-4pm

Where: Norris Conference Center (2525 W Anderson Lane)

Museum Exhibits

Exhibit: Pong to Pokémon: The Evolution of Electronic Gaming

Details: Explores the past and future of electronic gaming through the player's experience.

Museum/Location: Bullock Museum (Congress Ave)

When: Through March 18th, 2018 (museum galleries are open Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm and Sunday noon to 5pm)

Admission: $13 adult and $9 youth; children under 4 free (non-members)

Exhibit: Where I Belong

Details: Mixed-race families open their doors to share lived experiences of Asian American Pacific Islander youth in Austin. This photography exhibit is co-curated by Lizzie Chen and the Asian American Resource Center.

Museum/Location: Asian American Resource Center, Ballroom (8401 Cameron Road)

When: On display through June 29th (open M, Tu, F, Sat, 9am-5pm; W and Th, 9am-9pm)

Admission: Free

Exhibit: B eyond Bollywood - Indian Americans Shape the Nation

Details: Traveling Exhibition. Explore the heritage, daily experience, and numerous, diverse contributions that Indian immigrants and Indian Americans have made in shaping the United States. Enjoy complementary docent and educational programming throughout the exhibition period provided by South Asian Austin Moms.

Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation was created by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department, Museums and Cultural Programs Division is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institute. The exhibition is presented in partnership between City of Austin’s Asian American Resource Center (AARC) and South Asian Austin Moms (SAAM).

Museum/Location: Asian American Resource Center, Ballroom (8401 Cameron Road)

When: On display through April 8th, 2018 (open M, Tu, F, Sat, 9am-5pm; W and Th, 9am-9pm)

Admission: Free

*If you and your family enjoy exploring Austin's many fantastic museums, check out Do512 Family's list of free times to visit Austin museums.

Theatre Performances

Show: Wazir of Oz

Details: Children's theater at Austin's Scottish Rite Theater. A Bollywood-style production of the classic Wizard of Oz. When the Wazir of Oz gets word that the girl with red sandals is headed to Oz, he and his sidekick do all they can to stop her. Join Drithi and her fellow travelers as they learn the benefit of seeing things from a new perspective. Live music by Austin's Sacred Cowgirls and an original script and choreography bring together an American classic with traditions and culture from South Asia. Enjoy this family live-action play in Austin's oldest theater. Kids may sit on carpets close to the action while adults enjoy the comfort and beauty of the historic space. The play is about 45 minutes long.

When: February 3 – 25, 2018, at various times

Where: Austin Scottish Rite Theater (207 W 18th St.)

Tickets: Children 12 and under ($8); 12 and up ($12)

Show: Golden Dragon Acrobats at the Long Center

Details: The Golden Dragon Acrobats represent the best of a time-honored tradition that began more than twenty-five centuries ago. The Golden Dragons are recognized throughout the United States and abroad as the premiere Chinese acrobatic touring company of today. The reputation of the company is solidly rooted in a commitment to the highest of production values and an attention to artistic details that is unparalleled in the art form. World renowned impresario Danny Chang and choreographer Angela Chang combine award-winning acrobatics, traditional dance, spectacular costumes, ancient and contemporary music and theatrical techniques to present a show of breathtaking skill and spellbinding beauty. All ages.

When: February 11, 2018, 3:00pm

Where: Long Center (701 W Riverside Dr.)

Tickets: Start at $29

Show: School of Rock

Details: Broadway Austin performance of School of Rock musical. Based on the hit film, this musical follows Dewey Finn, a wannabe rock star posing as a substitute teacher who turns a class of straight-A students into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band. This high-octane smash features 14 new songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber, all the original songs from the movie, and musical theater’s first-ever kids rock band playing their instruments live on stage.

When: February 13th-18th, 2018, at various times

Where: Bass Concert Hall (UT Campus)

Tickets: Start at $30

Show: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

Details: Zach Theatre, Theatre for Families, presents this production of the classic story. Age recommendation five and up.

When: Weekends through February 25th, 2018

Where: Zach Theatre (202 South Lamar Blvd)

Tickets: Start at $18 for youth; $24 full price

Show: The Adventures of Enoughie (Las Aventuras de Enoughie)

Details: Zach Theatre, Theatre for Families, presents this bilingual puppet production.

When: Weekends through February 25th, 2018

Where: Zach Theatre (202 South Lamar Blvd)