Enriched Family’s May 2019 Austin Family Activities List
Photo: Pexels
Hi, friends! How is it already May?! There are lots of interesting and educational events to look forward to this month. First, check out the highlighted resource below - a free, online Positive Parenting conference! In addition, as we are nearing summer break, I have included a couple of camp open houses. As always, this month’s list includes lots of free activities: Movies in the Park, the Festival For Good, numerous events at the Asian American Resource Center in honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, a Cinco de Mayo Community Fiesta, a Youth Arts Fest, a Family App Development Workshop, a South Austin Family Fun Day, a Teen Summit, UMLAUF Sculpture Family Day, and the Violet Crown Festival. There are also a variety of fee-based educational, cultural, and artistic opportunities to enjoy with your families. Have fun planning and exploring with Enriched Family’s May 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.)
Highlighted Resource
Details: Free, online Positive Parenting Conference, May 7th-14th brought to you by A Fine Parent. Sixteen world-leading experts in parenting and psychology share perceptive-shifting ideas and practical tips for raising happy, well-adjusted kids. Register here. Leading experts provide master classes on the following topical tracks:
Solutions for Everyday Parenting, including master classes in Sibling Rivalry, Parenting Adolescents, Parenting 2-7 Year Olds, and Handling Stress in Children.
Relationship-Focused Parenting, including master classes in Collaborative & Proactive Solutions, Parenting Spirited Kids, Decoding a Child’s Needs, and “Forever” Relationships.
Habits & Life Skills, including master classes in Fostering Independence, Behavior Change, School Success, and Navigating the Digital World.
Happiness & Contentment, including master classes in The Science of Happiness, Breaking Free from Anxiety, Happier Parenting, and Removing Shame from Parenting.
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 most Saturdays in May - 5/4, 5/11, & 5/25 | 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 12 locations in Austin).
*Received the Austin Family Magazine 2017 Readers' Poll Favorites Award for “Overall Fun” in camps category.
Mathnasium of Round Rock Summer Camps/Programs Open House
Details: With school work at a standstill, summer is the perfect time to catch up or get ahead! Mathnasium summer programs are designed to prevent summer learning loss, and will give your child the math skills needed to succeed in their upcoming school year. The first five enrollments into the Summer Unlimited Program get $100 off! Rush to be there on time! Bring your friends! During the open house, they will be putting on display all the summer and regular enrollment options such as:
1 week day camps (Algebra Camp, Geometry Camp, Pre-Algebra Intro, Middle School Jump Start, Fractions Factory, Dancing Decimals, Number Sense Camp, Word Problem Camp, Mental Math Camp)
Math Olympiad package
2 hour package
3 Month Summer Unlimited Program
When: Saturday, May 11, 2019 | 1-2pm
Where: Mathnasium of Round Rock, 110 N IH-35, Suite 350, Round Rock, 78681
Free, register here.
Free Educational/Cultural/Fun Activities
Details: Join in at Whitter Park inside Goodnight Ranch for the third annual Festival of Good, a fun, block party-style event celebrating all the "good" things of Austin. This family-friendly, free and open to the public event will feature fun activities for all ages, food and drink, and cool giveaways. Fun activities include a Petting Zoo, Bounce House, Kids Craft Tables, Face Painting and more! You may go home with a puppy, or you may find that home is at Goodnight!
When: Saturday, May 18, 2019 | 11am - 3pm
Where: Whitter Park, 8701 Whitter Drive, Austin, 78747
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month at the Asian American Resource Center (AARC)
Details: The Asian American Resource Center is putting on a wide-variety of events in May in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, including (check the AARC website for the full list):
Saturday, May 4 | 1:30-3pm - Guided Art Tour: Rakhee Jain Desai and R.C. Wong
Explore the vibrant artworks exhibited in Heritage by Rakhee Jain Desai and Pioneer Painter, a retrospective of R. C. Wong. This guided tour will feature thought provoking commentary by Exhibit Specialist Rachel Stewart Chhabra and historical insight from Community Archivist Ayshea Khan.
Saturday, May 11 | 11am-3pm - CelebrASIA 2019
Join in celebrating the 6th annual CelebrASIA Austin! Enjoy cultural experience rooms, performances, delicious food, and interactive activities for the whole family.
Saturday, May 18 | 1-3pm - Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Cultural Arts Exhibition
The Hula Halau Kae ‘epa & Keito Academy of Ethno-Cultural Performing Arts with special guests will be showcasing traditional dance, art, artifacts, and historical information from Hawaii and the Pacific Islands.
Where: Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Road, Austin, 78754
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 and where:
Friday, May 3, 2019 | 8:15pm - Film: The Road to El Dorado (PG) | 99 minutes. Dick Nichols Park, 8011 Beckett Rd, Austin, 78749
Thursday, May 23, 2019 | 8:30pm - Film: The Little Mermaid (G) | 85 minutes. Dove Springs Park, 5801 Ainez Dr, Austin, 78744
City of Austin/Austin Parks & Recreation, Cinco de Mayo Community Fiesta
Details: Join in at Metz Recreation Center for the Cinco de Mayo Community Fiesta. There will be free Nachos del Grandes, music, games, and raffles!
When: Thursday, May 2, 2019 | 5:30-7:30pm
Where: Metz Recreation Center, 2407 Canterbury St., Austin, 78702
Creative Action Presents 2019 Youth Arts Fest
Details: At the Youth Arts Festival, more than 200+ young people from 15+ schools across Central Texas showcase their deeply moving work, including plays, film, photography, sculpture, poetry, and more—leaving attendees inspired by the talent, commitment, and powerful voices of these young Austinites. More than a display of art, the 2019 Youth Art Fest is the culmination and final sharing of work created as part of Creative Action’s after school program, which help youth become creative artists, courageous allies, critical thinkers, and confident leaders. Free, register here.
When: Saturday, May 11, 2019 | 10:30am-2pm
Where: Creative Action, 1023 Springdale Road, #Bldg 3, Austin, 78721
Free Android App Development Family Workshop by Launch After School
Details: Launch Code After School will be hosting their own Android App Creation Workshop at the Davenport Village campus! Parents and children are welcome to join in to see just how easy mobile app development can be! Instructors will guide families through the ins and outs of developing a fully functional Android app, introducing children to the creative side of coding. Participants who complete the workshop will have their very own app able to be published in the Google Play store! The workshop is open and free to the public while seats last! Families are encouraged to bring their own Android Device (older models will work just fine) and come prepared with a gmail account. RSVP here.
When: Saturday, May 11, 2019 | 3pm OR 4pm
Where: Launch Code After School, 3801 North Capital of Texas Highway, #BLDG D-Ste 130, Austin, 78746
Details: Come celebrate the beauty and uniqueness of our community at the first ever South Austin Family Fun Day! Bring your family and friends and be ready to make new ones. This is a FREE family-friendly event with music, vendors, food trucks, playscape, crafts, a face painter and more. Come out and enjoy the food & company while getting to know your neighbors!
When: Saturday, May 25, 2019 | 11am-4pm
Where: The Thicket Food Park, 7800 S 1st St., Austin, 78745
Teen Summit (in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month)
Details: Every Year, Whatsinthemirror has a Children Mental Health Day in support of Mental Health Awareness Month. This year, they decided to focus on teens and their mental health. Join in for a day of enlightenment and awareness. There will be a Teen Panel, performances, speakers, and more.
When: Saturday, May 4, 2019 | 1-4pm
Where: George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center, 1165 Angelina St, Austin, 78702
Details: Join in for Family Day at the UMLAUF! Bring your whole family and enjoy a full day of fun activities. This event is free and open to the public! The monthly Family Days are designed for families and friends to explore and create. On the second Sunday of each month, they feature a line-up of activities for families to enjoy together. May 12th activities:
1:00 Small Wonders Puppet Theatre
1:30 ACMS Sing Along
2:00 Kimono Fashion Show with Japan American Society of Greater Austin
All day:
Sculpture Search
Arts/Crafts Activity
Springfree Trampolines
When: Sunday, May 12th | 12pm-4pm
Where: 605 Azie Morton Road (formerly Robert E. Lee Road), Austin, 78704
Details: This year’s festival promises another day of locally made art and goods, live music, delicious food, and fun activities, all in Central Austin's beloved Brentwood Park. Browse 50 artisan booths, and enjoy food from Eldorado Cafe, Amy's Ice Creams, Roppolo's Pizza, Snowie's Shaved Ice, and Wanderlust Coffee, plus sausage wraps and Domino Dogs. There’s no better way to enjoy a spring Saturday than by spending it at the Violet Crown Festival. Admission is free. Live music schedule:
Noon: Johnny Fury Band
1pm Dickie Lee Erwin
2pm Stone Wheels
3pm The Ron Titter Band
When: Saturday, May 4, 2019 | 10am-5pm
Where: Brentwood Neighborhood Park, 6710 Arroyo Seca Street, Austin, 78757
General Events
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 (5/6; 5/13; 5/20, and 5/27) | 1-3pm
Where: Breastfeeding Success Company - South Austin office (111 Ramble Lane, Suite 115, 78745).
Cost: $5 per week. RSVP here.
Fun and Productive Events at The Hive Austin in May
Details: Looking for a cool co-working space with childcare? A fun place to meet up for playdates with your kids? A place to get your fitness on? Or maybe get your happy hour on? All this and more is available at The Hive. Feel free to come sans kiddos OR reserve a spot in the supervised childcare area for only $10/hr. Productivity here we come! There is a beautiful cafe area and lounge where any and all are welcome to visit or work at no charge. The Hive hosts a wide variety of events monthly. May events include Hive at Five Friday Happy Hour (every Friday at 5pm); Saturday Morning Kids Live Music Series (every Saturday at 10am); Kickoff! Live at The Hive Saturday Night Music Series (Saturdays, 5-8pm); and the May Block Party (May 11, 9am-2pm). Check the Hive events page on Facebook for details, including cost (if applicable), and more events.
When: Various events in May.
Where: The Hive Austin, 10415 Old Manchaca Road, Austin, 78748
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 & 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: Maker Faire is a gathering of fascinating, curious people who enjoy learning and who love sharing what they can do. From engineers to artists to scientists to crafters, Maker Faire is a venue for these "makers" to show hobbies, experiments, and projects. They call it the Greatest Show (& Tell) on Earth - a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity, and resourcefulness. Glimpse the future and get inspired!
When: Saturday, May 4, 2019 | 10am-6pm
Where: Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road, Austin, 78704
Cost: Advance tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for youth and students (4-17). Tickets available here.
The SAFE (stop abuse for everyone) Alliance Presents Touch-A-Truck
Details: Touch-A-Truck is a family friendly event that hosts a wide variety of vehicles for kids of all ages to play on while learning about the automobiles and how they help serve their communities. The event will again be held at Camp Mabry this year, the perfect location for a family event that draws thousands. This year’s Touch-A-Truck will feature — in addition to the vehicles — live music, plenty of food trucks, and a Kid Zone complete with a petting zoo, face painting, barrel-train rides and much more. Each year, SAFE must raise more than 65 percent of their operating budget from the community. Support of Touch-A-Truck last year helped raise over $125,000 for the children at SAFE. Touch-A-Truck is a fun way for families to bond as their children explore vehicles they have seen in movies, books, or just driving down the street. But more than that, Touch-A-Truck represents what SAFE is all about – helping to promote happy, healthy families in our community.
When: Saturday, May 11, 2019 | 10am-3pm
Where: Camp Mabry, 2200 W 35th St, Austin, 78703
Cost: Tickets are $5 for children and $10 for adults. VIP tickets are $25 per ticket. VIP access includes early entrance at 9am so you can skip the lines! Tickets available here.
Snapology Austin Parent/Child Make & Take Event!
Details: Join in for a Star Wars themed parent/child make & take event! Parents and kids of all ages are welcome to join in for a fun, LEGO-filled morning with your favorite droid friends. Each young Jedi will build a LEGO Star Wars TIE Fighter to take home. Once your project is complete, you can spend time building and programming out of this world robotic models, creating LEGO mosaics, and exploring the Discovery Center and playground. This will be a laid back event, great for families that want to check out the space and do some building.
When: Saturday, May 4, 2019 | 10am-noon
Where: 1910 Fortview Road, Austin 78704
Cost: $20/family. Register here.
Wide Variety of May Events at the Toybrary Austin
Details: Music classes (May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29); Gardening classes for kids (May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30); Financing College Workshop (May 2); Painting with marbles (May 3); Diaper Derby with Cuties Diapers (May 4); Child Care 101 (May 4); Date Night Child Care (May 4, 11, 18, 25); Bubblefest with Milly McSilly (May 7); Free Baby Play Date (May 7, 14, 21, 28); Salt Painting (May 10); Family Concert with The Other Brothers (May 11); Daddy & Me Playdate - Meet Spiderman (May 11); Celebrate Austin with the BAT! (May 14); Finance Workshop (May 16); Come Laugh and Play with Peppa Pig! (May 18); Family Concert with Cowabunga Dinosaur (May 18); Zumbini Premier Class (May 31); and more! Toybrary Austin is a toy lending library and kids' birthday party venue that also offers drop-in childcare in Austin, TX.
When: Various.
Where: Toybrary Austin, 2001 Justin Lane, Austin, 78757
Cost: Varies. See website for details.
Museum Exhibits
Bullock Museum H-E-B Free First Sunday: Colorful
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. Join in from 12-3pm for these special activities:
Create a colorful floral collage with Smudge Studios.
Engage with the Mexican American Cultural Center and make colorful flowers that can be worn or used as decoration.
Join in for a colorful and creative storytime.
When: Sunday, May 5, 2019 | 12-5pm
Where: Bullock Museum, 1800 Congress Ave., 78701
Admission: Free
Pioneer Painter and Heritage Exhibit
Details: Asian roots bloom locally in this dual exhibit showcasing the work of local artists R.C. Wong and Rakhee Jain Desai.
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: Exhibit on display through June 22.
Where: Asian American Resource Center, Foyer and Ballroom, 8401 Cameron Rd., Austin, 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
Austin Symphony Orchestra Presents "A Shakespearean Evening"
Details: Hector Berlioz and William Walton succeed at bringing the remarkable and expressive words of William Shakespeare to life through music. Stories of love, heroism and triumph, how can you go wrong?! Considered one of the greatest writers of all time, Shakespeare’s beloved story of “Romeo and Juliet” along with “Henry V” are given melodic characters sung by the brilliant voices of Chorus Austin and narrated by Austin’s own Robert Faires. All artists, programs & dates subject to change.
When: Friday & Saturday, May 17 & 18, 2019 | 8pm
Where: Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 W Riverside Drive, Austin, 78704
Tickets: Start at $19. Tickets available here.
The Ballad of Klook and Vinette
Details: Tender, funny, and incredibly moving, this contemporary new love story will grab you from the inside out. Klook and Vinette are two lost souls trying to find themselves in one another. Against all odds and with the past at their heels, together they make a tentative stab at happiness. Staged in the intimate Kleberg at ZACH Theatre, this is a seductive premiere musical about inevitability and the thrill of falling in love. Infused with lyrical prose, Jazz, Blues, and Soul, The Ballad of Klook and Vinette is a mesmerizing theatrical experience you won’t want to miss. Book by Ché Walker; Music and lyrics by Anoushka Lucas and Omar Lyefook; Directed by Dave Steakley; and Musical Direction by Christian Magby. Age recommendation: 14 and up for strong language, adult themes, and sexual content. There will be no intermission and latecomers will be seated strictly at the discretion of the house manager.
When: April 24–May 26, 2019 | Evening and matinee performances.
Where: Presented at The Kleberg, Zach Theatre, 202 South Lamar, 78704
Tickets: Start at $10, available here.
kidsActing presents Mary Poppins Jr.
Details: It’s Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! In this classic there are many roles for various ages, some requiring a lot of singing like George and Winifred Banks, their children, Jane & Michael, practically perfect nanny Mary Poppins, and everyone’s favorite chimney sweep Bert.
When: Through June 1, 2019
Where: Performing at a wide variety of locations around Austin. Check the website for details.
Tickets: General $13; children $11; Adult with child lap seating (children 0-3) $18. Tickets available here.
*My girls and I saw this charming children’s production last night. Lots of fun!
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: Through May 12, 2019 | Various times
Where: Zach Theatre, 202 South Lamar, 78704
Tickets: Start at $30. Available here.
*My youngest daughter had a school field trip to see this production and has been raving about it ever since.
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: Through August 25, 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
Such as support with meal planning, household scheduling, family routines, individual and family goal planning, productivity coaching, setting up back-to-work plans for parents returning to work after maternity and/or paternity leave, and so on…
Conducting family resource research
Children’s camps, enrichment activities, private schools, college comparisons, early intervention services, family health and wellness resources, you name it…
Solving practical logistical challenges/family concierge services
Moving/relocation coordination services
Home repair coordination services
Need to research painting or handyman services for your house, but just can’t seem to find the time to do it? I’ll do the research, obtain quotes, and even meet the workers at your home!
I offer a free, 20-minute initial phone consultation to all new clients to discuss matching your needs and priorities with my services. I invite you to check out my services and click the "Let's Get Started!" button below to contact me. Book in May and receive a 15% discount off services.
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