Enriched Family’s April 2019 Austin Activities List
Photo by Liana Mikah on Unsplash
Hi, friends! Spring is finally here in Austin. April is looking like a fun and engaging month — lots of free educational, arts, and cultural activities, as well as several camp open houses, a community health fair, and a children’s business fair. There are quite a few activities this weekend - the end of March - including the Kite Festival, the Blanton Block Party, the Texas Night Sky Festival, and Honk!TX to name a few! Scan the list quickly to find those so you don’t miss out. Hope you enjoy Enriched Family’s April 2019 Activities List! Please consider sharing it with your friends.
(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. 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.)
Camp Open Houses
Details: Looking for fun, active summer camp options? Check out Camp Doublecreek, which features horseback riding, all kinds of sports, miniature golf, swimming, baby animals, arts and crafts, archery, tennis, tumbling, a playscape, and many other games and activities for children ages 4-14.
When: Open Houses are every Saturday in April - 4/6, 4/13, 4/20, & 4/27 | 10am-12pm
Where: Camp Doublecreek campus in Round Rock, 800 Double Creek Dr. (During the summer, Camp Doublecreek provides transportation for campers to Round Rock from 13 locations in Austin).
*Received the Austin Family Magazine 2017 Readers' Poll Favorites Award for “Overall Fun” in camps category.
Snapology Austin 2nd Annual Camp Fair
Details: You are invited to the 2nd annual Summer Camp Fair at the Snapology Discovery Center. Staff will demonstrate activities from Snapology’s favorite camps, answer any questions, and help you enroll. Anyone enrolling in camp before April 15th will save 10% on their camp tuition! Bring your friends! This summer, Snapology camps will be held at:
Circle C Community Center (78739)
Northwest Hills UMC (78731)
Snapology Austin Discovery Center (78704)
West Austin Youth Association (78703)
When: Sunday, March 31st | 1-4pm
Where: 1910 Fort View Rd., 78704
Summer Camp Open House at Launch Coding
Details: Considering if a Launch Summer Camp is right for your child? If you’re in the Round Rock area, stop by their Summer Camp Open House! They will be welcoming the whole family for a day of fun — kids will have the opportunity to experiment with Sphero robots, learn how to hack Minecraft, and discover the secrets of circuits with a Makey-Makey demonstration. This is a great way to see what a technology summer camp for your kids can look like. Learn how a coding camp can inspire your kid and build problem-solving skills. While the event is free and open to the public, space is limited so make sure to RSVP.
When: Saturday, April 6, 2019 | 11am-1pm
Where: Upward Bound Montessori School, 101 Fannin Avenue, Round Rock, 78664
West Austin Summer Camp Fair & Free Community Cookout
Details: Join in the 3rd annual West Austin Chamber of Commerce Summer Camp Fair, Community Picnic & Talent Showcase! Learn all that's available for your kiddos this summer. Enjoy games, prizes, and activities and information from over 50 area summer camps. Bring your family for fun & food at this free event. Enjoy:
Free Cook Out Dinner for first 300 attendees
Free Kona Ice for first 200 attendees
Facepainting
Free Cotton Candy
Games & actvities
Art station
Lego Station
Great raffle prizes
When: Monday, April 1, 2019 | 4-7:30pm
Where: Austin Baptist Church, 7016 Ribelin Ranch Road, 78750
Free Educational/Cultural/Fun Activities
Details: Held each year, the ABC Kite Fest is one of Austin’s most beloved, family-friendly traditions. ABC Kite Fest boasts day-long activities for all ages, including the traditional kite flying contest and showcase, a fun run and MossFest, and a children’s music concert. Soar into spring and join thousands of Austinites for a free, all-day event filled with kite making, flying, and gazing.
When: Sunday, March 31, 2019 | 10am-5pm
Where: Zilker Park. Maps and parking information here.
Acton Children’s Business Fair by 4Points Academy
Details: 4Points Academy (4PA) is excited to be hosting their 2nd Acton Business Fair in Steiner Ranch. The 4PA Children’s Business Fair inspires children to discover their inner entrepreneur. It is inspired by the Action Business fair which is the largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America. The 4PA fair gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses. Come check out and support our local, young entrepreneurs!
When: Saturday, April 27, 2019 | 10:30am-12:30pm
Where: 12550 Country Trails Ln., Towne Square, Steiner Ranch, 78732
Austin Parks Foundation’s Movies in the Park
Details: Austin Parks Foundation's (APF) Movies in the Park is a free series of films in partnership with Alamo Drafthouse Cinema’s Rolling Roadshow. For over 10 years, APF has brought movies to neighborhood parks across Austin ensuring Austinites of all backgrounds have access to free outdoor entertainment. APF will be visiting nine different parks this year, so head out to grab some food from the food trucks and enjoy a night under the stars and in front of the screen. Movies start at dusk and will be showing monthly from March-October 2019.
When: Friday, April 12, 2019 | 8:15pm - Film: Zoolander (PG-13)
Where: Zilker Park (Monkey Tree), 898 Azie Morton Rd., 78704
Details: The Blanton Block Party is back! Join in for a free day-to-night community festival to kick off Spring and celebrate the big changes on the Blanton block. Explore the epic exhibition “Words/Matter: Latin American Art and Language at the Blanton” and be inspired by the creative ways artists have merged visual art and language. The Blanton Block Party is the perfect fusion of live music and world-class art, providing outdoor family art activities, local food, and tours throughout the day. See the schedule here.
When: Saturday, March 30, 2019 | 11am-11pm
Where: Blanton Museum of Art, 200 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 78712
Details: The Emmy nominated Nick Jr. short program “Canticos” is coming to Mi Casa Es Tu Casa®! Free, limited seating. RSVP here. Mi Casa Es Tu Casa offers Austin's best-reviewed baby and toddler classes introducing and reinforcing Spanish for families of ALL backgrounds.
When: Tuesday, April 16, 2019 | 3:30pm
Where: 2110 White Horse Trail, 78757 (Near Burnet Rd. and Koenig Ln., right next to Lamar Middle School)
Children’s Book Author & Illustrator Talk @ BookPeople
Details: Every porcine wonder was once a piglet! Celebrate the joy of a new arrival with this endearing picture-book prequel to the New York Times best-selling Mercy Watson series. Authors, Kate DiCamillo & Chris Van Dusen, will be speaking & signing, A Piglet Named Mercy. The speaking portion of this event is free & open to the public. However, tickets are required to join the book signing line (tickets are only available with the purchase of a copy of A Piglet Named Mercy from BookPeople).
When: Tuesday, April 16, 2019 | 6:30pm
Where: BookPeople, 603 North Lamar Blvd., 78703
Community Health Fair at the Asian American Resource Center
Details: Free health resources, screenings, vaccinations, and activities for the whole family. Fasting required for Blood Sugar (2 hours) and Cholesterol screenings (8 hours). Please bring your shot records for vaccinations. Interpretation services available in Burmese languages, Nepali, and Arabic. Presented in collaboration with Austin Public Health and the Austin Asian Community Health Initiative, Inc. For more information, please contact Sinying Chan at Sinying.Chan@austintexas.gov or call 512-972-5117.
When: Saturday, April 6, 2019 | 9am-12pm
Where: Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Road, 78754
Creative Action’s Community Art Sunday
Details: Come celebrate the transformative power of the arts with a fun and FREE community event for all ages! Join Creative Action for Community Art Sunday at their NEW center at Springdale General in East Austin! Creative Action’s new home includes a visual arts studio, a digital media lab, more square footage, and is in a complex built with the arts in mind. In addition to getting the first peek at their bright and vibrant new space, you’ll enjoy interactive art experiences, arts workshops, young artist performances, live music, film screenings, food and drink (free and for purchase), and more! Register here.
When: Sunday, April 14, 2019 | 2-5pm
Where: Creative Action, 1023 Springdale Road, #Bldg 3, 78721
Easter Egg Festival at the Capitol
Details: First United Methodist Church will host its annual Easter Egg Festival. Join in on the Capitol lawn for face painting, crafts, games, preschool egg hunts, and elementary school egg roll races! A visit from the Easter Bunny is a special tradition. This event is open to the public, so bring your friends and non-perishable food donations for Caritas of Austin!
When: Saturday, April 20, 2019 | 9:30-11am
Where: Texas State Capitol Grounds at Colorado and 12th Street
*Can't get enough bunnies and Easter egg hunts? Check out Do512 Family's list of family Easter events in Austin.
HONK!TX A free festival of community street bands
Details: HONK!TX is a nonprofit, community-driven festival that brings street and brass bands from around the country to perform for free in the public spaces of Austin, Texas. Mobile and unamplified, HONK! bands transform everyday locations into spontaneous stages, dissolving the line between crowd and performers and inviting everyone to celebrate the joys of music and community. A range of genres will be represented: New Orleans second-line brass, European Klezmer and Balkan, Brazilian, West African, and more. HONK! is a celebration of community, collaboration, and creative expression. Join the revelry! Free, three day, family-friendly festival. HONK!TX showcases a different band lineup every year, featuring local favorites, a variety of bands from around the country, and the occasional international band. See the band lineup here.
When: Friday, March 29-Sunday, March 31. Check the full schedule here.
Where: Friday in the evening at Mueller Lake Park, Saturday during the day in Adams Park, and Sunday culminates with an East Austin Parade and Band Revue. Locations here.
Details: The Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce will bring SpringFest back to the Hill Country Galleria. Presented by St. David’s Emergency Center, SpringFest is a full day community festival filled with shopping, food, music, and fun for the whole family. SpringFest kicks off with unique shopping, a KidZone the size of a football field, kiddo performances, and LIVE music in the Central Plaza area. Stroll through 95+ local and regional artisan vendor booths for an experience that is only found in South Lake Travis. Everyone is welcome, and admission and parking are free! Bring the kiddos; they will have hours of fun playing in the KidZone with loads of rides and attractions. While SpringFest is a free event, you may purchase tickets for KidZone attractions and rides. Purchase an all day pass in advance for $15 and save $5. Tickets and all day passes for attractions will also be available onsite.
When: Saturday, April 27, 2019 | 11am-7pm
Where: Hill Country Galleria, 12700 Hill Country Blvd, Bee Cave, 78738
Starry Nights at Girlstart: Featuring Lunar Landing
Details: On July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 astronauts first walked on the moon. Celebrate the 50 year anniversary of this pivotal moment in space exploration with lunar activities and star shows. Hands-on activities include:
Discover the moon’s surface, including the Apollo 11 landing site, through Augmented Reality
Create the different moon phases using Oreo cookies
Engineer an airbag system to safely land a rover on the moon
Design a Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) to explore the moon’s surface and environment
When: Thursday, April 4, 2019 | 5:30-7pm (recurring event - first Thursday of each month leading up to summer)
Where: Girlstart STEM Center, 1400 W Anderson Ln., 78757
RSVP: Free and everyone welcome. RSVP here.
Details: Indoor booths, solar viewing, food vendors, planetariums, speakers, and activities. The schedule for the three stages at the Texas Night Sky Festival® is packed with delightful speakers and performers! After sunset, there will be a Star Party! Yoga Under the Stars, and more!
When: Saturday, March 30, 2019 | 12pm-11pm
Where: Dripping Springs Ranch Park Event Center, 1042 Event Center Dr, Dripping Springs, 78620
General Events
Details: All students will leave with an art project. Come dressed in your PJ’s. Ages 6 and up, completed kindergarten/ independently able children. Cheese pizza from Domino’s will be provided, gluten-free pizza available for additional charge. If time allows after the project, a G-rated movie will be shown (Disney). Kids may bring a blanket and pillow to lay on during the movie.
When: Saturday, April 13, 2019 | 5–9pm
Where: Art Barn ATX, 14284 FM2769, Volente, TX 78641
Cost: $45.00/per child. Discount of $10 for siblings. Use code “KNO” - register here.
Bosom Buddies: Lactation Support Group
Details: Weekly lactation support group. Bring your infant under 12 months of age to Bosom Buddies, a weekly peer-to-peer group that’s facilitated by an IBCLC at the Breastfeeding Success Company’s South Austin clinic. A scale is available for you to weigh your baby or do your own weighed feeding. This group is open to families who provide breastmilk in a number of ways - you do not have to be exclusively breastfeeding at the breast to attend. This group is open to all, not just Breastfeeding Success Company clients. Please note: while happy to discuss common concerns, more complex issues will require a separate IBCLC visit.
When: Ongoing, Mondays (4/1; 4/8; 4/15, 4/22, and 4/29) | 1-3pm
Where: Breastfeeding Success Company - South Austin office (111 Ramble Lane, Suite 115, 78745).
Cost: $5 per week. RSVP here.
Girlstart Girls in STEM Conference
Details: Girls currently in 4th-5th & 6th-8th grades will discover the fun side of STEM careers at this unique annual conference just for them. The day is packed with three hands-on workshops led by women in science, technology, engineering, and math fields. Separate workshops are provided by grade level (4th-5th and 6th-8th). In 2018, 597 girls participated in STEM workshops led by 130 presenters/co-presenters with the help of 171 volunteers.
When: Saturday, April 13, 2019 | 10am-3:30pm
Where: Travis High School, 1211 E. Oltorf Street, 78704
Cost: $35, which includes lunch and a t-shirt. Register here. Please note, conference registration closes Monday, April 1st.
Infant Massage Classes by Baby Strokes
Details: Private and weekly infant massage group classes offered at Precision Chiropractic ATX. Class rates include handouts and a bottle of massage oil. Wear comfy clothes, bring your yoga mat, a towel or blanket, diaper bag and baby essentials, and your baby or favorite doll.
When: Private classes offered Wednesdays | 9-10:30am. Group classes are offered Mondays | 9-10:30am and Wednesdays | 10:30am to noon
Where: Precision Chiropractic ATX, 300 W Highway 290 Building A, 78736
Cost: Group Class - $69; Private Session - $99. Schedule here.
Details: Partners in Parenting (PIP) improves the well-being of Austin’s new parents so they are confident, connected, and have the tools to blossom into their full potential. PIP’s proven approach connects parents of babies with peers, trained facilitators, and experts so they can share the joy and weather the storms of new parenthood together. Click on the links below to find the right PIP group for you:
Find a Newborn Group (for families expecting baby #1 or with babies 2-16 weeks old)
Find a Baby Group (for families with a baby 4-10 months old)
Find a Second Time Around Group (for families expecting baby #2)
Find a Free Community PIP Group (for families with babies 0-6 months)
When: Varies. Newborn PIPsqueaks Groups meet once a week for 10 weeks. Baby PIPsqueaks Groups and Second Time Around Groups meet once a week for 8 weeks.
Where: PIP places families together based on their location in Austin as well as their child's age. Neighborhood-based group meetings usually take place in the group members' homes. The first meeting will be held in your facilitator's home. Community-based groups meet on site at community partner locations.
Cost: All Newborn PIPsqueaks Groups are $169 for the 10 weeks, and the Baby PIPsqueaks Groups and Second Time Around groups are $139 for 8 weeks (This is per family, including spouses/partners who may wish to attend as well). Need-based half and full scholarships are available. Additionally, there is no fee to join one of PIP’s community-based programs.
Details: Sherwood Forest Faire is a locally owned medieval-style village nestled in the Lost Pines section of Central Texas. Over 100 permanent buildings on 25 acres, including stages, pubs, merchant shoppes, wedding venues, a complete castle, and more. During Robin Hood’s Spring Faire, there are over 150 shows per day by more than 40 different stage acts: full contact jousting, falconry, fire juggling, knife throwing, 10+ live bands, comedy, sword fighting, and a castle siege. Shows for kids, adults, and both!
When: Weekends, March 2-April 21
Where: 1883 Old Hwy 20, McDade, TX 78650 (35 miles east of Austin)
Cost: Adults (age 13+), $22 Online/$25 At Gate; Youth (age 6-12), $12 Online/$15 At Gate; Children 5 and under - free of charge, no ticket required. Tickets here.
Museum Exhibits
Bullock Museum H-E-B Free First Sunday: Wide Open Spaces
Details: Enjoy FREE exhibition admission all day during Free First Sundays, held the first Sunday of every month. Families can explore the Story of Texas through three floors of exhibitions that showcase artifacts from around the state. Celebrate Texas land, water, and natural resources as they explore our great state's border through their special exhibit Texas From Above. Join the Big Bend Conservancy and Redbird Flight Simulators to explore Texas by land and by air.
When: Sunday, April 7, 2019 | 12-5pm
Where: Bullock Museum, 1800 Congress Ave., 78701
Admission: Free
Pioneer Painter and Heritage Exhibit - Exhibit Opening and Reception
Details: Asian roots bloom locally in this dual exhibit opening showcasing the work of local artists R.C. Wong and Rakhee Jain Desai. Hear from the Wong Family about the prolific work of R.C. Wong. Enjoy a meet and greet with Rakhee Jain Desai and learn about her approach to Batik. Light refreshments provided. Free and open to the public.
Pioneer Painter: The Art of Rose Chin Wong. Rose Chin Wong (1915-2012) was a prominent artist and owner of several East Austin grocery stores. She became well known for her naturalistic portraits of children in oils, pastel, and watercolor. She was also the wife and mother in one of the first Chinese families to settle Austin.
Heritage - Rakhee Jain Desai - Artist combines the centuries-old textile dyeing technique, Batik, with the weight and texture of oils to push an Eastern art into a modern application. Using this process and the layering of images that the artist has collected throughout her lifetime: memories, hopes, travels, and comments, either rejected or absorbed, about being an Indian-American woman, Rakhee aims to understand and raise awareness about migration and assimilation.
When: Opening exhibit reception - Friday, April 12, 2019 | 6pm (exhibit on display through June 22)
Where: Asian American Resource Center, Foyer and Ballroom, 8401 Cameron Rd., 78754
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 and other Performances
kidsActing Studio presents The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon
Details: A comedy by Don Zolidis. In this fractured fairy tale, all the actors narrate and play characters as they recreate the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm in a wild, fast-paced extravaganza. To make it even more fun, they attempt to combine them into one gigantic fable using Rapunzel, Rumpelstiltskin, The Big Bad Wolf, Slappy the Mighty Dwarf, a bevy of handsome, not necessarily charming Princes, Hansel & Gretel, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and other more obscure stories like Lean Lisa and The Devil’s Grandmother. Definitely not Disney. It’s fast, it’s fun, it’s hilarious!
When: March 31 & April 6-7, 2019 | Various times
Where: Center Stage, 2826 Real Street, 78722
Tickets: General $13; children $11; Adult with child lap seating (children 0-3) $18. Tickets available here.
kidsActing Studio presents Mary Poppins Jr.
Details: Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! When Jane and Michael, the children of the wealthy and uptight Banks family, are faced with the prospect of a new nanny, they are pleasantly surprised by the arrival of the magical Mary Poppins. Embarking on a series of fantastical adventures with Mary and her Cockney performer friend, Bert, the siblings try to pass on some of their nanny's sunny attitude to their preoccupied parents. Great fun!
When: Sunday, April 14, 2019 | 12:30pm
Where: Center Stage, 2826 Real Street, 78722
Tickets: General $13; children $11; Adult with child lap seating (children 0-3) $18. Tickets available here.
Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical @ Zach Theatre
Details: Take a journey through the world of the Tony Award®-winning hit, Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical! Matilda is an extraordinary little girl who dares to take a stand and change her destiny. When she has finally had enough of her unscrupulous parents and tyrannical headmistress, she enlists the help of her friends—and favorite teacher Miss Honey—and bravely takes matters into her own hands to become the biggest little hero. Matilda is sure to delight and empower audiences of all generations. Age recommendation: 6 and up* (children under 3 will not be admitted). Run time: Two hours and 30 minutes including one intermission.
When: April 3–May 12, 2019 | Various times
Where: Zach Theatre, 202 South Lamar, 78704
Tickets: Start at $30. Available here.
Treasure Island in the Bay of Bengal - Children's Theater at Austin Scottish Rite Theater
Details: Enjoy pirate adventure like you’ve never seen before! Treasure Island in the Bay of Bengal is a favorite English classic with a Bollywood twist. The Sacred Cowgirls, Devi Dance Company, and Austin Scottish Rite Theater present music, dance, and action on the high seas! Yarrr!
When: Weekends, April 6-28, 2019 | Matinees at 11am & 1pm
Where: Austin Scottish Rite Theater, 207 W 18th St., 78701
Tickets: General (ages 12+) $15; children ages 2-11, $10. Tickets here.
Details: Theatre for the very young uses music, art, and hands-on sensory experiences to connect children to literature. ZACH is proud to present Wake Up, Brother Bear! a unique, intimate production geared toward children ages 6 and under. Watch Brother Bear and Sister Bear experience a full year of glorious seasons: together you see a waterfall melt, meet a butterfly, chase an elusive fish and skate on an icy pond. Children are invited to join the action to help create magical moments.
When: March 24-May 26, 2019 | Various times
Where: Presented at Whisenhunt Studio, 202 South Lamar, 78704
Tickets: $10 (adults and youth), available here.
Also, check out these sites for lists of community activities for kids and families in the Austin area:
http://austinkidsdirectory.com/events/all/
https://www.austintexas.org/events/
http://austin.thinkbilingual.org/events/
Happy exploring Austin's many offerings with your families! Please feel free to send us local kids and family events to: hello[at]enrichedfamily.com.
Esha/Enriched Family
Enriched Family is dedicated to providing parents with the information, tools, and systems they need to organize their families and thrive. I help busy parents with a wide variety of practical, comprehensive family supports and solutions, including:
Home organizing services to assist families in organizing their spaces.
Family systems organization
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Conducting family resource research
Children’s camps, enrichment activities, private schools, college comparisons, early intervention services, family health and wellness resources, you name it…
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