Bullfighter Wacy Munsellbulllooks for an opportunity to distract a bull named 805 Major Malfunction as fighter Lance Brittan lands after being hooked by the bull when he was saving bull rider Reid Barker in the 2014 Rodeo Austin. Mark Matson/Rodeo Austin
Spring break is coming. Didn’t play an exotic getaway to the beach? Neither did we, but we’re planning on having a lot of fun in and around Austin with our families. Here are some of the best events for families Central Texas has to offer:
1. Rodeo
Get away from downtown’s hipster hangouts to find the cowboys and pig racers at the Expo Center.
Rodeo Austin. We recommend going to the Avenue of Breeds, where you can see chickens hatching, as well as different livestock, horses and poultry; attending the Rodeo to see kids ride sheep in mutton bustin’, cowboys ride bulls and cowgirls barrell race; heading to Kidstown for pony rides and a petting zoo; seeing the pig races; and attending the Wild West Show. Find the daily schedule online. 10 a.m. to midnight March 11-25. $8 adults, $5 child ages 3-12, free 2 and younger. Rodeo, concert and carnival extra. Travis County Expo Center, 7311 Decker Lane. RodeoAustin.com
Riders Against The Storm perform at the 2015 Austin City Limits Music Festival. They will play several family-friendly shows around Austin during South by Southwest. JAY JANNER / AMERICAN-STATESMAN
2. Music
It wouldn’t be spring break in Austin without music. This year Bill Childs of KUTx’s “Spare the Rock” children’s music show is offering these family music events during South by Southwest.
“Family Music Meltdown.” Hear music from Red Yarn, The Deedle Deedle Dees, Ralph’s World, Riders Against the Storm, Strumero and El Tule. Free. 3 p.m.-6:30 p.m. March 15. Pan Am Park, 2100 E. Third St. facebook.com/FamilyMusicMeltdown
KUTx live broadcast kids’ music lineup. The KUTx live broadcast at the Four Seasons during South by Southwest will feature children’s music at 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. March 15-18. Hear Ralph’s World and Red Yarn March 15, The Que Pastas and Joe McDermott on March 16, Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band and The Deedle Deedle Dees on March 17, and Little Miss Anne and Sugar Free Allstars on March 18. Free. Four Seasons Hotel, 98 San Jacinto Blvd. fourseasons.com
“Willie is for Everyone.” Celebrate Willie Nelson’s music with the family with music from Little Miss Ann, the Barton Hills Choir with very special guest Ray Benson, Ralph’s World, Red Yarn, The Que Pastas, Beth Chrisman, Suzanna Choffel, Sugar Free Allstars, Rockaroni & Cheese, Lucky Diaz, and the Deedle Deedle Dees. 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. March 17. Scottish Rite Theater, 207 W. 18th St. $3 adults, $1 children. facebook.com/events/1385926451430887/
Rock & Read at the Domain. Musicians include Riders Against the Storm, Lucky Diaz, the Deedle Deedle Dees, Little Miss Ann and Sugar Free Allstars. 2-5:30 p.m. March 18. Free. Domain lawn by Dick’s Sporting Goods and Dillard’s. www.facebook.com/events/343691162691502/
Plus enjoy Austin Ukestra Ukelele group. 1 p.m. March 12, Recycled Reads Bookstore.
Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” stars Emma Watson and Dan Stevens. Contributed by Disney
3. Movies and Theater
You could stay home and stream movies all day or you could go out and have a movie or theater experience. Check out these events:
Kids Camp: “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” 10:10 a.m. March 10-11, 13-16, 10:15 March 12, Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline; “Shrek,” 10 a.m. March 10, 9:45 a.m. March 11-12, Slaughter Lane. 10 a.m. March 10-16, Village Theater, 12:25 p.m. March 13-15, Mueller. drafthouse.com
PBS Kids “Odd Squad: The Movie.” 1:45 p.m. March 11, 1:50 p.m. March 12. Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline; 12:15 p.m. March 11-12 Slaughter Lane. drafthouse.com
“Beauty and the Beast” Family Party. See the new live-action movie with special activities. 10 a.m. March 18, Alamo Drafthouse Slaughter Lane. drafthouse.com
Harry Potter Fest. The new BlueStarlight South drive-in theater is showing two Harry Potter films each weekday of spring break, March 12-17, in order. $25 per person for the whole week. 12419 Lowden Lane. bluestarlitedrivein.com
Movies at the library: “Finding Dory.” 2 p.m. March 11, Windsor Park Branch. “Pete’s Dragon.” 4 p.m. March 13, Cepeda Branch. “The Jungle Book.” 6:30 p.m. March 14, Twin Oaks Branch. “Moana,” 4 p.m. March 15, Cepeda Branch. “Night at the Museum.” 2 p.m. March 17, Old Quarry Branch.
“Elephant and Piggie: We Are in a Play!” The Mo Willems story comes to the stage. 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through April 30 (except March 11). 11 a.m. Saturdays April 15, 22, 29. $16-$21. Zach Theatre’s Kleberg Theatre, 1421 W. Riverside Drive. zachtheatre.org
Cirque du Soleil “OVO.” See artists do what insects do: fly, crawl, work and more. 7:30 p.m. March 15-18, 4 p.m., March 18, 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. March 19. $25-$149. H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, 2100 Avenue of the Stars, Cedar Park. hebcenter.com
Control the robotic longhorn at the Hill Country Science Mill. Hill Country Science Mill
4. Museums
Spring break is a great time to hit an Austin-area museum, especially one that you haven’t been to in a while or perhaps never. Many have special spring break activities or even camps.
Texas Museum of Science & Technology. Teenergy. Science geared toward teens. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. March 11. Texas Museum of Science & Technology, 1220 Toro Grande Drive, Cedar Park. txmost.org
Contemporary Austin. Art Free-For All! See what the Contemporary Austin has to offer and enjoy hands-on activities. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. March. 11. Free. Laguna Gloria, 3809 W. 35th St. thecontemporaryaustin.org
Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum. Family Day. Celebrate female artists, make art, hear a story and more. Noon-4 p.m. March 12. Free. Kids Kraft Play with Prints. 9 a.m. March 18 kindergarten through second grade; 11 a.m. March 18 third through fifth grade. $15. Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum, 605 Robert E. Lee Road. umlaufsculpture.org
Spring Break at the Bullock Museum. Drop in for hands-on activities. March 13-17. Bullock Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave. thestoryoftexas.com
Thinkery. The Thinkery has camps for kids in grades preK-5th grade as well as these events: Baby Bloomers for kids infant to 3. Study the garden this month. 9 a.m. Saturdays (no Monday Baby Bloomers this week). Special guests throughout the month. $5. Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss: Egg Planters and Truffula Trees. For ages 4 and up. 11:15 a.m., 1:15 p.m. or 3:15 p.m. March 18-19. $8. Storytelling with Ozobots. Learn to code. For ages 4 and up. 11:15 a.m. March 11-13. $8. Stop Motion Animation. For ages 8 and up. 1:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. March 11-13. $8. Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. thinkeryaustin.org
Hill Country Science Mill. Robot Mania. Live robot demonstrations and hands-on building and programming activities. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. March 13-March 17. World Music, World Stories. Hear bands playing music from around the world. $10 adults $8.50 kids and seniors, children 2 and younger, free. 1-6 p.m. March 18. Hill Country Science Mill, 101 S. Lady Bird Lane, Johnson City. sciencemill.org
Wildflower Center. Sprouts. Hands-on preschool program. 10 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Nature Play Hour. Play in the Family Garden. 11 a.m. Saturdays. Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave. wildflower.org
Youth Ceramic Workshop. For ages 7-12. 10 a.m. March 14 or March 16. $25. Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Road. Register: austintexas.gov/parksregister
Bookpeople employee Demi Marshall reads to mothers, fathers, and nannies as they gather with their children for storytime at Bookpeople. RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL / AMERICAN- STATESMAN
5. Reading
Just because it’s spring break, doesn’t mean all books go away. It’s a great chance to pick up books they actually want to read and enjoy them.
Bridging Cultures Storytime: Little Red Riding Hood tales from Asia. With a treasure hunt and story time. 10 a.m. March 11. Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Road.
BookPeople story times. Brand New Books, 11:30 a.m. March 11; Tiny Tails to You, 10:30 a.m. March 15; Family Favorites, 11:30 a.m. March 18. BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd. bookpeople.com
Barnes & Noble Events. “The Lego Batman Movie,” Event. 2 p.m. March 11, Sunset Valley, Lakeline. Saturday story times 11 a.m. at all locations: Dance story time, March 11; Egg story time, (with sign language interpretation at Sunset Valley) March 18.
Library offerings. Bow Wow Reading with Bonnie the Dog. 11:30 a.m. March 11 and March 18, Yarborough Branch. Express Yourself Through Social Media. Learn how to use social media for activism, music, art and filmmaking for ages 10 and up. 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturdays March 11 and March 18. Storybook Dance Making. 2 p.m. March 12, Recycled Reads Bookstore. Ruiz Branch. Crafternoon. 4 p.m. March 14, Cepeda Branch. Tabletop Tuesday. Play board games. 5:30 p.m. March 14. Faulk Central Library. Art Smart: Holi Festival of Colors, 6:30 p.m. March 14. NBTween Book Club “The Wild Robot.” 6 p.m. March 15, Yarborough Branch; “Ghosts,” 6 p.m. March 16, Twin Oaks Branch. Teen Book Club “Six of Crows,” 6:30 p.m. March 16, Spicewood Springs Branch. Family Craft Night. For ages 5 and up. 6 p.m. March 15, Howson Branch. Mother Daughter Book Club “Number the Stars.” 6 p.m. March 15, Hampton Branch.
