Whether your kids are already on vacation or getting out on Tuesday, you’ll need some things to do. Here are some family-friendly events for the next two weeks.
This week
Events
Elgin Christmas Tree Farm. Hayride, pick your own tree, crazy maze, playground and more. Open 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. through Dec. 21. 120 Nature’s Way, Elgin. elginchristmastreefarm.com
Evergreen Christmas Tree Farm. Cut your own tree and play old-fashioned games or roast marshmallows. 10 a.m. to dark through Dec. 24. 242 Monkey Road, Elgin. evergreen-farms.com
Trail of Lights. See Zilker Park all lit up. 7-10 p.m. Dec. 18-23 for ages 12 and older.$3, $15 parking passes or ride the shuttle for $5, which includes admission. Shuttles leave from Burger Center, 3200 Jones Road, and Republic Square Park, 422 Guadalupe St. austintrailoflights.org
Teddy Bear Tea at the Four Seasons. Enjoy a traditional tea service, reading of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” and a visit with Santa. Bring an unwrapped new teddy bear for Dell Children’s Medical Center. $45, must make reservation at 512-685-8300. Noon and 3 p.m. Dec. 18. Four Seasons, 98 San Jacinto Blvd. fourseasons.com/austin
Museums
Thinkery. Little Thinkers Club: Art Start: Discovering Color, Lines and Shapes. 9:45 a.m. Wednesdays for 1-year-olds, 10:45 a.m. Wednesdays for 2-year-olds through Jan. 25. $20 per class. Tinkering Tots: Let’s Create a Soundscape. 9:45 a.m. Fridays for 2-year-olds; 10:45 a.m. Fridays for 3-year-olds through Jan. 27. $20 a class. Baby Bloomers Winter Fun for kids infant to 3. 9 a.m. Saturday. $4.50. Candy Chemistry Gingerbread Workshop. For ages 7 and up. 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 18-23. $12 per person plus $30 per kit. Tech Gingerbread Workshop. For ages 8 and up. 2:30-5 p.m. Dec. 18-23. 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 24. $12 per person plus $30 per kit. Traditional Gingerbread Workshops and Tot Gingerbread Workshops (for ages 5 and younger). 9:30 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 10:45, a.m. 11 a.m., 2:45 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Dec. 18, Dec. 19-23, Dec. 24, plus noon Dec. 19-23, and 1:30 p.m. Dec. 19-23. $12 per person plus $20 per kit. Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. thinkeryaustin.org
A topographical sand map allows you to create mountains and watch the topography lines change.
Hill Country Science Mill.
Hill Country Science Mill. Mosaic Artwork. Be part of creating a holiday mosaic. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 19-23. Hill Country Science Mill, 101 S. Lady Bird Lane, Johnson City. sciencemill.org.
Theater
Ballet Austin’s “The Nutcracker.” 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 and 2 p.m. Dec. 18, 20-23. $15-$89. The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive. thelongcenter.org
Tapestry Dance Company’s “Of Mice & Music.” See “The Nutcracker” in tap.2 p.m. Sunday. $34-$13.50. The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive. thelongcenter.org
“Wassail 2016: A Solstice Christmas Celebration.” A variety show featuring music, magic, dance and poetry. Benefiting Kids for Kids to help children in Darfur. 2:30 p.m. Dec. 18 (shorter version), 5:30 p.m. Dec. 18. $5-$15. Scottish Rite Theater, 207 W. 18th St. scottishritetheater.org.
“Petra and the Wolf.” Mother Falcon and the puppetry of Glass Half Full Theater tell this “Peter and the Wolf” adaptation. 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Dec. 18. $22. Stateside at the Paramount, 719 Congress Ave. austintheatre.org.
BookPeople events. Story time. Armstrong Music School. 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd. bookpeople.com
At the library
NBTween Book Club: “Gregor the Overlander,” by Suzanne Collins. 6 p.m. Dec. 21, Spicewood Springs Branch.“Ghosts” by Raina Telgemeier. 6 p.m. Dec. 21, Yarborough Branch.
Family Movie Matinee: “The BFG.” 4 p.m. Dec. 20, Cepeda Branch.
A Magical Holiday Party. 5:30 p.m. Dec. 20, Southeast Branch.
Mostly Manga Bookclub: “My Hero Academia.” 5 p.m. Dec. 21, University Hills Branch.
Next week
Events
The Harlem Globetrotters are coming to the Erwin Center.
Harlem Globetrotters. Start whistling now. The twirling basketball stars are back. 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 28. $17-$130. Erwin Center, 1701 Red River St. uterwincenter.com
“Mutt-cracker (Sweet).” Circus Chickendog does “The Nutcracker” with rescue dogs. $25 adults $15 children. 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 28-Jan. 8. Vortex, 2307 Manor Road. vortexrep.org
Museums
Thinkery. Not a Box! Use your imagination based on the book by Antoinette Portis, “It’s Not a Box.” 9:45 a.m. Dec. 26 for 1-year-olds; 10:45 a.m. Dec. 26 for 2-year-olds; 11:45 a.m. Dec. 26 for 3-year-olds. $20 one child and adult. Little Thinkers Club: Art Start: Discovering Color, Lines and Shapes. 9:45 a.m. Wednesdays for 1-year-olds, 10:45 a.m. Wednesdays for 2-year-olds through Jan. 25. $20 per class. Tinkering Tots: Let’s Create a Soundscape. 9:45 a.m. Fridays for 2-year-olds; 10:45 a.m. Fridays for 3-year-olds through Jan. 27. $20 a class. Baby Bloomers Winter Fun for kids infant to 3. 9 a.m. Saturday. $4.50. New Year’s Eve Balloon Drop and Stomp. Noon and 2 p.m. Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. thinkeryaustin.org
Hill Country Science Mill. Mosaic Artwork. Be part of creating a holiday mosaic. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 26-30. Hill Country Science Mill, 101 S. Lady Bird Lane, Johnson City. sciencemill.org.
Circus Chickendog takes on “The Nutcracker” in “Mutt-cracker (Sweet).”
BookPeople events. Hanukkah story time. 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Holiday Catalog story time. 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd. bookpeople.com
Barnes & Noble Events: 11 a.m. Saturday story times at all locations: “Hap-Pea All Year,” Dec. 31.
At the library
“Kwanzaa Program.” 2 p.m. Dec. 27, Carver Branch.
