I’ve spent the day putting together my calendar of family events in March. Here’s what I’ve come up with so far. Missing something? Email me at nvillalpando@statesman.com.
Theater
“James & the Giant Peach.” The Roald Dahl book comes to life in musical form. 11 a.m. March 5, 12, 19, 26; April 2, 9. 2 p.m. March 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27; April 2, 3, 9; and 4:30 p.m. April 10. 11 a.m. $29 adults, $26 children. Zach Theatre’s Kleberg Stage, 1421 W. Riverside Drive. zachtheatre.org
“Jamie Doesn’t Want to Take a Bath.” For children ages 2-4, see what happens when Jamie refuses to bathe. The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive. 9:30 and 11 a.m. March 31, April 2, 6-9. pollyannatheatrecompany.org.
Museums
Thinkery Workshops: Forensic Investigators for ages 8 and older. $29 adult and one child. 10:30 a.m. March 5 and 2:30 p.m. March 6. Silly Seuss for ages 2-3. 10:30 a.m. March 5. $29 one adult and child. Spark Club: Exploring Arduinos for ages 8 plus. Four-week class beginning March 2, $80 each child. Screenprinting for ages 8 and up. 10:30 a.m. March 12 and 2:30 p.m. March 13. $29 one adult and child. Wet Weather for ages 1-2, 10:30 a.m. March 12. $29 one adult and child. Soap Making for ages 4-7. 10:30 a.m. March 19 and 2:30 p.m. March 20. $29 one adult and child. Frankentoy Shop for ages 4-7. 10:30 a.m. March 26 and 2:30 p.m. March 27. $29 one adult and child. Little Builders for ages 1-2. 10:30 a.m. March 26. $29 one adult and child. The Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. thinkeryaustin.org.
Bullock Museum. Free First Sunday: Texas Independence Day. Noon-5 p.m. March 6. Play historic cames, encounter costumed interpreters and make your own vintage photograph. Living History Days. The museum comes alive with historical characters. 10 a.m. -2 p.m. March 2. Science Thursday. Try some science activities. 10 am.-2 p.m. March 10. Spring Break at the Bullock. Each day explore different activities. March 14-18. Bullock Texas State History Museum. 1800 Congress Ave. thestoryoftexas.com.
Art Free-For-All. See the Contemporary Austin’s educational offerings with an open house. Free. Noon-4 p.m. March 12. Laguna Gloria, 3809 W. 35th St. contemporaryaustin.org.
Umlauf Sculpture Garden Family Day. Enjoy free activities including art making, stories, yoga and more. Noon-4 p.m. March 13. Umlauf Sculpture Garden, 605 Robert E. Lee Road. umlaufsculpture.org.
South by Southwest
SXSW Creates. Make things and learn about the makers spirit. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. March 13. Free. Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road. sxsw.com/exhibitions/sx-create
Mark Anthony, 13, plays a virtual reality light saber simulator made by Sixense at South by Southwest Gaming last year. Efren Salinas/ AMERICAN-STATESMAN
SXSW Gaming Expo. This is one free event where you can try out all kids of games and watch people play games. noon-8 p.m. March 17-19. Free. Austin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez St. sxsw.com/exhibitions/gaming-expo
All The Children Boogie: A Tribute to David Bowie. Family radio show Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child, LiveMom, and the Austin Scottish Rite Theater are presenting this show, which includes musicians Jon Langford, David Wax Museum, Riders Against the Storm, Nakia, Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band, The Deedle Deedle Dees, Rockaroni & Cheese, Joe McDermott, Groundwork Music Orchestra, Hey Lolly Band and more. 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. March 18. Free. Scottish Rite Theater, 207 W. 18th St. scottishritetheater.org
Events
Girlstart Starry Nights. Learn Maya skies in a mini-planetarium. 5:30 p.m. March 3. 1400 W. Anderson Lane. girlstart.org
Daniel McLean, 7, gets excited as he runs behind a kite with Julian Martinez during the 86th annual ABC Zilker Kite Festival last year. RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL / AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Zilker Kite Festival. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. March 6. Free. Zilker Park. abckitefestival.org
Spring Holidays Fair. Learn about Holi from India, the Taiwanese Dragon Festival, Merrie Monarch Festival, 1,000 Cranes, Tet, the Lantern Festival and more. Noon-4 p.m. March 5. Free. Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Road. austintexas.gov/aarc.
Cowboy Breakfast. 6 a.m. March 4. Free. Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive. www.rodeoaustin.com.
Rodeo Austin. 10 a.m. midnight Monday-Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays March 12-26. Fairgrounds admission $8 adult, $5 kids, free children 2 and younger; $10 parking. Travis County Expo Center, 7311 Decker Lane. www.rodeoaustin.com.
Mother-Son Adventure. Go kayaking on Lady Bird Lake. 10 a.m. March 12. $15. Camacho Activity Center, 34 Robert T. Martinez Jr. RVS: barbara.garcia@austintexas.gov.
Under the Springs. Meet a mermaid. See a new exibit: “One Square Foot of Barton Springs. Enjoy kid-friendly activities and more. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. March 16. The Splash Exhibit, 2201 Barton Springs Road. austintexas.gov/splash.
Easter Eggstravaganza. 10-1 p.m. March 19. Dove Springs Recreation Center, 5801 Ainez Drive.
Search for Lost Eggs. Crafts and egg hunt. Noon March 19. Dittmar Recreation Center, 1009 W. Dittmar Road.
Family Wildflower Cave Tour. Explore the Wildflower Cave with the City of Austin Watershed Protection Department. for ages 10 and up. 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. March 26. Wildflower Center, 4801 La Cross Ave. wildflower.org.
Movies
“Fantastic Mr. Fox.” Fox Searchlight
Alamo Drafthouse Kids Camp. “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” 10:30 a.m. March 11-17, Lakeline. “Batman: The Movie,” 4 p.m. March 11, 10 a.m. March 12-17, Village; 10:30 a.m. March 18 and March 20, 10 a.m. March 19, Lakeline. $1-$3 donation. drafthouse.com
Dr. Seuss Film Festival. 3:30 p.m. March 3, Yarborough Branch.
Preschool Drive-in Movie. 11 a.m. March 3, Yarborough Branch.
“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2,” 6:30 p.m. March 8, Twin Oaks Branch.
“The Peanuts Movie,” 4 p.m. March 15, Cepeda Branch.
Books
BookPeople events: Obert Skeye reads “Lost & Found.” 6 p.m. March 4. Carmen Oliver reads “Bears Make the Best Reading Buddies,” 2 p.m. March 6. Cassandra Clare reads “Lady Midnight” at St. Edward’s University. 7 p.m. March 16. BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd. bookpeople.com.
Barnes & Noble. Saturday 11 a.m. story times at all locations. “Wonderful World,” March 5; “Too Many Carrots,” March 12. “When Spring Comes,” March 19, “What to Do with a Box,” March 26.
Lego Event with Expert builder Stephen, 6:30 a.m. March 8, Sunset Valley. Batman v. Superman Day for teens. 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. March 19, Round Rock.
Library
“Literature Live! Presents: The Selfish Gardener Puppet Show,” 3:30 p.m. March 1, Pleasant Hill Branch; 10:15 a.m. March 2, Dove Springs Recreation Center; 10:15 a.m. March 3, Windsor Park Branch; 3:30 p.m. March 7, Howson Branch; 10:15 a.m. March 8, Cepeda Branch; 3:30 p.m. March 10, Little Walnut Creek Branch; 2 p.m. March 13, Faulk Central Library; 6 p.m. March 14, University Hills Branch; 11:30 a.m. March 17, Ruiz Branch; 3:30 p.m. March 22, Twin Oaks Branch; 10:30 a.m. March 23, Terrazas Branch; 3:30 p.m. March 29, St. John Branch; and 6:30 p.m. March 31, Manchaca Road Branch.
Sew Happy, learn to sew for ages 10 and up. 5 p.m. March 1, Manchaca Road Branch.
Crafternoon, 4 p.m. March 4, Spicewood Springs Branch; 3:30 p.m. March 7, Manchaca Road Branch; 3:30 p.m. March 8, Terrazas Branch; 4 p.m. March 10, Twin Oaks Branch; 4 p.m. March 17, Cepeda Branch; 3:30 p.m. March 22, Terrazas and Howson branches; 3:30 p.m. March 28, Manchaca Road Branch.
Felt Friends. Make a fleted bluebird. 4:30 p.m. March 8, Howson Branch.
NBTween Book Club for ages 8-12. Read “The War that Saved My Life,” 4 p.m. March 9, Howson Branch; “El Deafo,” 6 p.m. March 16, Yarborough Branch; “The London Eye,” 6 p.m. March 17, Twin Oaks Branch.
Preschool Crafty Kids, 11 a.m. March 10, Yarborough Branch.
Maker Mania: Meet a Scientist and Make Something for ages 5-12. 3:30 p.m. March 10, Faulk Central Library.
Circuit Break, for ages 10 and up. 7 p.m. March 11, Ruiz Branch.
Art Smart, ages 5 and up, 6:30 p.m. March 15, Willie Mae Kirk Branch; 6:30 p.m. March 22, Wilie Mae Kirk Branch.
Art Lab for Littles, ages 3-6, 11 a.m. March 24, Terrazas Branch.
Book Circle: Lite Brite, Games and Bowling, for ages 5 and up. 3:30 p.m. March 24, Yarborough Branch.
Family Craft Night, 7 p.m. March 24, Hampton Branch.
Mother Daughter Book Club, “The BFG.” 6 p.m. March 16, Hampton Branch.
