We know when you think of August in Austin, you think “Boy, it’s hot” and “Ugh, school is starting.” In between those two thoughts, have this one: Austin has a lot of fun things to do with families. Enjoy our list:
Events
Maggie Barnett, 3, and her sister Brooke, 1, have fun with a giant duck on hand for the Austin Duck Derby where 15,000 rubber ducks were launched from the Ann Richards Congress Avenue bridge into Lady Bird Lake and race to the finish line to win prizes. RALPH BARRERA/AMERICAN-STATESMAN 2016
Woodland Faerie Trail. See fairy houses on this trail. Through Aug. 6 Free with admission. Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Road. zilkergarden.org.
Domain Northside Kids. Come to the lawn at the Domain Northside for activities for kids 18 months to 6 years old. Free. 10 a.m.-noon Aug. 2. Reservations required, domainnorthside.com.
Austin Humane Society kids events. Humane Hero Hour with cats. 2 p.m. Aug. 1. Austin Wildlife Rescue. 1 p.m. Aug. 5. Story time with cats and dogs. 2 p.m. Aug. 8. Teddy Bear Surgery. 1 p.m. Aug. 12. Register at austinhumanesociety.org. Humane Society, 124 W. Anderson Lane.
Back to School STEM Saturday. Free STEM activities for the whole family. 9:30 a.m.-noon Aug. 5. Free. Girlstart. 1400 W. Anderson Lane. girlstart.org
Austin Duck Derby. See 15,000 rubber duckies floating through the river. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 5. Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge. Benefits Austin Boys & Girls Clubs Foundation. austinduckderby.com
Big Don Kid Show. It’s a hip-hop storytelling show. 10 a.m. Aug. 6, Cherrywood Coffeehouse, 1400 E. 38th 1/2 St.
First Saturdays at the Carver. Enjoy family-friendly activities. 12:30 p.m. Aug. 5. Super Science Saturdays. 1 p.m. Aug. 12. George Washington Carver Museum. 1165 Angelina St.
Austin Ice Cream Festival. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Aug. 12. $15. Fiesta Gardens, 2101 Jesse E. Segovia St. austinicecreamfestival.com.
Rhythm on Stage. Learn dances of popular music videos with Ballet Austin. 7:30 p.m. Aug. 3. Long Center, 701 Riverside Drive. thelongcenter.org
Katherine Van Hook, 10, hung out at the bat fest in her bat hat. Laura Skelding AMERICAN-STATESMAN 2007
Bat Fest. Celebrate all things bat with music, children’s activities and more. 4 p.m.-midnight Aug. 19. $15 adults, free for children younger than 8. Austin American-Statesman, 305 S. Congress Ave. roadwayevents.com
7th Annual Austin Pet Expo. See all kinds of pets and things for your pet. Free. Bring your pet. Palmer Event Center, 900 Barton Springs Road. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 19, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 20. austinpetexpo.com
Volunteer Kiley Ramos hands out backpacks to Scarlett and Kalee Moore with their grandma Renee Moore at Bastrop Back to School Bash. PHOTO BY FRAN HUNTER FOR BASTROP ADVERTISER 2016
Back to School
AISD Back to School Bash. Get free backpacks and supplies, medical screenings and vaccinations with shot record. 9 a.m.-noon Aug. 12. Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road. Buses leave from Guerrero Thompson and Summitt elementary schools; Bedichek, Martin, Mendez and Covington middle schools; and Lanier and Reagan high schools. austinisd.org/bash
Bastrop Back to School Bash. Receive free school supplies and more.8:30-10:30 a.m. Aug. 12 at the Bastrop ISD Memorial Stadium in Cedar Creek. bisdtx.org
Round Rock ISD Partners in Education Foundation School Supplies Sunday/Kutz for Kidz Event. Get free supplies and more. Aug. 20 at Hernandez Middle School. rrisdeducationfoundation.org/school-supplies
Dell Children’s Medical Center will be at the Thinkery on Aug. 9, where your stuffed animal can be attended to. The Humane Society is offering Teddy Bear Surgery Aug. 12. Ralph Barrera/AMERICAN STATESMAN 2011
Museums
Bullock Museum. Make it Tuesdays: Texas Landmarks. 10 a.m. Aug. 1. Sense-sational Thursdays: History Detectives. 10 a.m. Aug. 3. Summer Free Family Film Series: “Secret of Kells.”2 p.m. Aug. 5. H-E-B Free First Sunday: Game On. Special family programs throughout the museum. 10 a.m. Aug. 6. Summer Free Film Series: “Where the Wild Things Are.” 2 p.m. Aug. 12. Bullock Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave. thestoryoftexas.com
Thinkery. Community Night with Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas. Bring your favorite stuffed animal and take him through different interactive stations. Free. First-come-first-served beginning at 4 p.m. Aug. 9. Community Night Spotlight on LGBTQ Family Pride. Sew a pride flag, cook up a healthy snack and more. Free. First-come-first-served beginning at 4 p.m. Aug. 16. Baby Bloomers. Have an animal adventure. For infant to 3. Learn about the sea all month long. 9 a.m. Mondays and Saturdays. Special guests throughout the month. $5. Suminagashi Fabrics. Learn the ancient Japanese marbling technique. 11:15 a.m., 1:15 a.m. or 3:15 a.m. Aug. 5-6, Aug. 19-20. $8. Printmaking Galore. 11:15 a.m., 1:15 a.m. or 3:15 a.m. Aug. 12-13, Aug. 26-27, $8. Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. thinkeryaustin.org
Family Day with Ashley Mireles. Learn to make cardboard relief prints like Mireles does. Free. 1-4 p.m. Aug. 6. Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress Ave.
Contemporary Austin. Families Create: Ice Painting. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 12. Free. Laguna Gloria, 3809 W. 35th St. thecontemporaryaustin.org
Texas Museum of Science & Technology. Wee-Searchers for children 5 and younger. Learn about science through song, play and stories. 9 a.m. Aug. 9 and 23. Science Saturday: The Sun. Noon-4 p.m. Aug. 19. Star Party. Look at the stars. 9 p.m. Fridays. Texas Museum of Science & Technology, 1220 Toro Grande Drive, Cedar Park. txmost.org
Hill Country Science Mill. The Incredible Ball Machine grand opening. Step inside a large ball track that you can control with levers and pulleys. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 16. 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
Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum. Family Day. 10-4 p.m. Aug. 13. Free. Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum, 605 Robert E. Lee Road. umlaufsculpture.org
Toybrary Austin. Gardening Class. 10:45 a.m. Tuesdays. Free. Salt painting. 10:30 a.m. Aug. 2 $7. Date night babysitting. For ages 1-5. $25 first child, $10 siblings. 5-8 p.m. Saturdays.Pizza Party with Spunky Kids. 10:30 a.m. Aug. 10. $10 per child/adult pair. Africa Safari with Elizabeth Kahura. $10. 10:30 a.m. Aug. 11. Daddy & Me Drum Classes. 10:45 a.m. Aug. 15. $10. Clown Show with Silly Sparkles. 10:30 a.m. Aug. 24. $10. Toybrary Austin, 7817 Rockwood Lane, Suite 101. toybraryaustin.com
“Back to the Future” will be at Paramount Theatre.
Movies
Austin Film Society Sunday School. “The Incredible Shrinking Woman.” Austin Film Society presents this Lily Tomlin classic. 1 p.m. July 306 p.m. Aug. 1. “Small Change.” Francois Truffaut’s tale of raucous children. 11 a.m. Aug. 27, 7 p.m. Aug. 30. $9. Austin Film Society Cinema, 6406 N. Interstate 35, Suite 3100. austinfilmsociety.org
“E.T.” 1 p.m. Aug. 5. $5-9. Paramount Theater, 713 Congress Ave. austintheatre.org
Deep Eddy Splash Party Movie Night: “Moana.” 8 p.m. Aug. 5, Deep Eddy Pool. 401 Deep Eddy Ave.Pool admission applies.
“Back to the Future.” 3:30 p.m. Aug. 5, 4:10 Aug. 6. $11. Paramount Theater, 713 Congress Ave. austintheatre.org
“The Parent Trap.” See the original. 1 p.m. Aug. 13. $11. Paramount Theater, 713 Congress Ave. austintheatre.org
Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse. Offers $1 movies 10 a.m. Monday through Thursdays at Round Rock 8. “The Angry Birds Movie,” July 31-Aug. 3, “Sing,” Aug. 7-10. cinemark.com/summer-movie-clubhouse.
Regal Summer Movie Express. 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays at Westgate Stadium 11 and Gateway Stadium 16. “Storks,” and “The Lego Batman Movie,” Aug. 1-2. Tickets are $1. regmovies.com/movies/summer-movie-express.
Alamo Kids Club. $1-$3 children’s movies, which support a local nonprofit. “Speed Racer.” 10 a.m. Aug. 1, Aug. 3, Lakeline. “Jumanji.” 10 a.m. Aug. 1-3, Slaughter Lane. 10 a.m. Aug. 4-10, Lakeline. 10 a.m. Aug. 11, Village. “The Secret Life of Pets.” 10 a.m. Aug. 1-3, Mueller. 9:50 a.m. Aug. 4, 10 a.m. Aug. 5-10, Slaughter Lane. 10 a.m. Aug. 11-17, Lakeline. “Song of the Sea.” 10 a.m. Aug. 1-3, Village. 10 a.m. Aug. 4-10, Mueller. 10 a.m. Aug. 11-17, Slaughter Lane. “Speed Racer.” 10 a.m. Aug. 11-Aug. 17, Mueller.
“Jurassic Park” with UT Dino Museum. The museum brings the bones and other science materials. You watch the movie. 7 p.m. Aug. 19 and Aug. 26. $25 a car, plus admission for more than 2 people. Blue Starlight Mini Urban Drive-in. 12419 Lowden Lane. bluestarlitedrivein.com
PBS Kids at the Alamo. “Ready Jet Go! The Moon and More.” 11 a.m. Aug. 20, Lakeline.
Andrew Cannata, Hannah Roberts and Jordan Barron perform in “The Wizard of Oz,” the 59th annual Zilker summer musical presented by Zilker Theater Productions. (TAMIR KALIFA/ AMERICAN-STATESMAN)
Theater
“A Shoe Story: A Brand New Musical.” Summer Stock Austin presents this family theater show based on “The Elves and the Shoemaker.” It’s written by Allen Robertson and Damon Brown and directed by Allen Robertson. 7:30 p.m. July 25; 11 a.m. July 28, Aug. 3-4, Aug. 8; 10 a.m. July 29, Aug. 5, Aug. 11-12; 2 p.m. July 30. Tickets $17 and up. Summer Stock Austin also has one-day camps that include a performance Aug. 3, 4 and 8. $50. The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive. thelongcenter.org
“The Wizard of Oz.” Zilker Summer Musical returns with adventure on the yellow brick road. 8:15 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays through Aug. 12. Free, but donations welcome. Zilker Hillside Theatre, 2206 William Barton Drive. zilker.org.
Austin Summer Musical for Children: “Jungle Book.” 9:15 a.m. Aug. 12, 11 a.m. 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Aug. 12, 19 and 26, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Aug. 13, 20 and 27. Free. Boyd Vance Theater at George Washington Carver Museum. 1165 Angelina St.
Hideout Kids Presents “Once Upon a Whaa?!” 11 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays Aug. 5-27. Scottish Rite Theater, 207 W. 18th St. $12-$8. scottishritetheater.org
Music
Austin Symphony Hartman Concerts in the Park. 7:30 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 27. Free. The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive. thelongcenter.org
In ‘The Secret Life of Pets,’ Max’s life as a favorite pet is turned upside down when his owner brings home a mutt named Duke.
Books
LBJ Presidential Library Summer Storytime. Austin Fire Department Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr will read a story followed by a visit from Austin Fire Department firefighters and a fire truck. LBJ Presidential Library and Museum, 2313 Red River St. www.lbjlibrary.org
BookPeople events. Chandler Baker reads “This is Not the End.” 6 p.m. Aug. 12. James Crowley reads “Monsterland.” 6 p.m. Aug. 19. Duncan Jones reads “The Zebra Just Couldn’t Decide.” 6 p.m. Aug. 22. Saturday story times 11 a.m. at all locations: Austin Summer Musical. 10:30 a.m. Aug. 1. Siblings Rock. 10:30 a.m. Aug. 2. Milly McSilly. 10:30 a.m. Aug. 8. Ms. Staci. 10:30 a.m. Aug. 9. Get Your Giggles. 11:30 a.m. Aug. 12. Armstrong Community Music School. 10:30 a.m. Aug. 15. Tiny Tails Petting Zoo. 10:30 a.m. Aug. 16. Back to School. 11:30 a.m. Aug. 19. Bilingual Boogie. 10:30 a.m. Aug. 22. Luchador Legends. 10:30 a.m. Aug. 23. Global Stories. 11:30 a.m. Aug. 26. Heartsong Music. 10:30 a.m. Aug. 29. Modern First Library. 10:30 a.m. Aug. 30. BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd. bookpeople.com.
Barnes & Noble Events: Lego Boost. 3 p.m. Aug. 5, Lakeline. 11 a.m. Saturday story time at all locations: “Peterrific” and “Aqualicious.” Aug. 5. “Goodnight Lab: A Scientific Parody.” Aug. 12. “Nothing Rhymes with Orange.” Aug. 19. “How to Get Your Teacher Ready.” 11 a.m. Saturday.
At the library
Literature Live! Presents: “The Fifolet.” For ages 8-12.4 p.m. Aug. 1, University Hills Branch; 6 p.m. Aug. 3, Manchaca Road Branch; 3 p.m Aug. 4, Little Walnut Creek Branch; 2 p.m. Aug. 6, Faulk Central Library; 2 p.m. Aug. 7, Windsor Park Branch; 3 p.m. Aug. 19, Recycled Reads Bookstore.
Sew Happy. 5 p.m. Aug. 1, Manchaca Road Branch.
Camp Bluebonnet: “Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super-soaking Stream of Inventions.” 2 p.m. Aug. 2, Howson Branch. “Ada’s Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay.” 2 p.m. Aug. 7, Howson Branch. “The Storyteller.” 2 p.m. Aug. 9, Howson Branch. “Follow the Moon Home.” 2 p.m. Aug. 14, Howson Branch. “The Princess and the Warrior.” 2 p.m. Aug. 16, Howson Branch.
Tween STEAM: LittleBits Theme Park. 3 p.m. Aug. 2, Spicewood Springs Branch.
Puppet Happy Hour. 6 p.m. Aug. 3. Recycled Reads Bookstore.
Bow Wow Reading with Bonnie the Dog. 11:30 a.m. Saturdays, Yarborough Branch. Reading with Aussie. 2 p.m. Aug. 10, North Village Branch.
Saturday Family Movie: “Beauty and the Beast.” (2017). 2 p.m. Aug. 5, Windsor Park Branch.
ACT vs. SAT —What’s Right for Me? 10 a.m. Aug. 5, 12, 19, Ruiz Branch.
Family Movie Night: “Sing.” 6:30 p.m. Aug. 8, Twin Oaks Branch.
Music and Movement. 11:30 a.m. Aug. 9, Manchaca Road Branch.
NBTween Book Club: “The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairy Land in Ship of Her Own Making.” 4 p.m. Aug. 9, Howson Branch. “The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate.” 6 p.m. Aug. 17, Twin Oaks Branch.
Kids Summer Film Fest. “Secret Life of Pets.” 2 p.m. Aug. 10, Old Quarry Branch.
Teen Manga Book Club. “Blue Exorcist.” 5:30 p.m. Aug. 10, Little Walnut Creek Branch.
Super Science Saturday. 1 p.m. Aug. 12, Carver Branch.
Austin Ukestra, ukulele group. 1 p.m. Aug. 13, Recycled Reads Bookstore.
Storybook Dance Making. 2 p.m. Aug. 13, Recycled Reads Bookstore.
This image released by Disney shows Dan Stevens as The Beast, left, and Emma Watson as Belle in a live-action adaptation of the animated classic “Beauty and the Beast.” (Disney via AP)
Teen Book Club: “The Impossible Knife of Memory.” 6:30 p.m. Aug. 15, Howson Branch. “A Monster Calls.” 6:30 p.m. Aug 17, Spicewood Springs Branch. “The Cats of Tanglewood Forest.” 6 p.m. Aug. 30, Spicewood Springs Branch.
Crafternoon. 3:30 p.m. Aug. 15, Howson Branch.
Family Craft Night. 6 p.m. Aug. 16, Howson Branch.
Mother-Daughter Book Club. “Smile.” 6 p.m. Aug. 16, Hampton Branch.
Family Movie Matinee. “Beauty and the Beast” (2017). 4 p.m. Aug. 16, Cepeda Branch.
Teen Book Club: “A Monster Calls.” 6:30 p.m. Aug. 17, Spicewood Springs Branch.
Family Movie Matinee: “Wizard of Oz.” 3:30 p.m. Aug. 18, Old Quarry Branch.
Back to School Book Sale. 10 a.m. Aug. 19, 2 p.m. Aug. 20, Yarborough Branch.
Fix It Clinic. Learn how to fix your broken stuff. Noon Aug. 19, Recycled Reads Book Store.
Solar Eclipse Afternoon: Make Pinhole Projectors. Noon Aug. 21, Howson Branch.
Night Builders Family Lego Lab. 7 p.m. Aug. 24, Hampton Branch.
