May give us the big preview for summer. The temperatures rise. The fun is just around the corner. We are filled with anticipation about the three months to come.
Don’t skip ahead to June, July and August. Check out these May adventures to be had with the kids:
Events
Lemonade Day. Set up your own lemonade stand May 5. lemonadeday.org/austin
Finn Holt won Lemonade Day one year. This year, that event will take place on May 5. Photo from Austin Lemonade Day.
Maker Faire Austin. See artists and scientists and crafters make things and make some things with them. $12-$42. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 5-6. Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road. austin.makerfaire.com
Maker Faire Austin features interactive exhibits and hands-on workshops on everything from making soaps to using 3D printers. Contributed by Maker Faire Austin
Field Day. Waller Creek Conservancy hosts this event to get you moving, help you learn about healthy food and more. Free. 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. May 12. (Rain Day is May 19.) Palm Park, 711 E. Third St. wallercreek.org.
Sustainable Food Center: Family Friendly Beehive Tour. Take this special class just for kids. 1 p.m. May 5. Sustainable Food Center, 2921 E. 17th St. $40. with adult. sustainablefoodcenter.org.
Car seat check. 9 a.m. May 1, Dove Springs Recreation Center, 5801 Ainez Drive. 9 a.m. May 10, BabyEarth, 106 E. Old Settlers Blvd. Suite 100, Round Rock. 9 a.m. May 12, Buda Fire Station 2, 151 FM 2001, Buda. 9 a.m. May 14, CommUnity Care Clinic, 211 Comal St. 9 a.m. May 24, Turner Roberts Recreation Center, 7201 Colony Loop Drive. austintexas.gov
Safe Baby Academy. Learn how to care for your baby. 9 a.m. May 5, Seton Southwest Medical Center, 7900 FM 1826. 1 p.m. May 5, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Round Rock, 300 University Blvd., Round Rock. 5 p.m. May 7, People’s Clinic, 1101 Camino La Costa. 9 a.m. May 12, Seton Northwest Medical Center, 1113 Research Blvd. 9 a.m. May 19, Seton Medical Center Williamson, 201 Seton Parkway, Round Rock. 2 p.m. May 20, Scott & White Medical Center Lakeway, 200 Medical Parkway, Lakeway. In Spanish: 5 p.m. May 25, CommUnity Care Clinic, 2901 Montopolis Drive. austintexas.gov
Woodland Faerie Trail. See fairy houses on this trail. May 26-Aug. 10. Free with admission. Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Road. zilkergarden.org
Zilker Botanical Garden will open up the Woodland Faerie Trail this month.
Credit: Zilker Botanical Garden
CelebrASIA Austin Asian Pacific American Food & Heritage Festival. See cultural performances, taste different foods and enjoy kids activities. This year it’s the year of the mango with mango-themed foods and activities. Free, food for purchase. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 12. Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Road. www.austintexas.gov/aarc
GirlStart Starry Nights. Look at the mini planetarium and enjoy hands-on activities. 5:30 p.m. May 3. GirlStart. 1400 W. Anderson Lane. girlstart.org
Domain Northside Kids. Come to the lawn at the Domain Northside for activities for kids 18 months to 6 years old. This month it’s all about the Kentucky Derbey. Free. 10 a.m. to noon May 2. Register at domainnorthside.com
Museums
Bullock Museum. Living History Days: Re-enactors stroll through the museum, 10 a.m. May 3. H-E-B Free First Sunday. Math Happens. Noon to 5 p.m. May 6. Free. Little Texans: Splatter. Splatter paint on canvases. For ages 2-5, 10 a.m. May 10. Science Thursdays: 10 a.m. May 17. Story time: Inch by Inch. A story time about size. 10 a.m.May 24. Bullock Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave. thestoryoftexas.com
Contemporary Austin. Saturdays are for Families: Recycled Robots. Enjoy a nautical-themed art-making day. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 12. Free. Laguna Gloria, 3809 W. 35th St. thecontemporaryaustin.org
George Washington Carver Museum First Saturdays. Enjoy special family activities. Noon, May 5. 1165 Angelina St. austintexas.gov
Neill-Cochran House Museum. Get the Job Done: Simple Machines. 1 p.m.-4 p.m. May 6. Neill-Cochran House Museum. 2310 San Gabriel St. nchmuseum.org
Science Mill. Fun with Chemistry. University of Texas Women in Natural Sciences group sponsors hands-on activities. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 5. Homeschool Day Technology. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 10. Scavenger Hunt. Become a code-breaking secret agent. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 26-28. Science Mill, 101 Lady Bird Lane, Johnson City. sciencemill.org
Thinkery. Art Start: My Many Colored Days: 9:45 a.m. Wednesdays (1-year-olds), 10:45 a.m. Wednesdays (2-year-olds), Wednesdays through May 9. $20 a class, $140 for the series. Namaste and Play: Sense-ational: 9:45 a.m. (2-year-olds), 10:45 a.m. (3-year-olds), Fridays, through May 11. $20 a class, $140 for the series. Baby Bloomers: Away We Go. Learn about things that take flight. 9 a.m. Mondays and Saturdays, except May 14 and May 28. For birth to age 3. $5. Parents’ Nights Out. Go see a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse or go out to dinner nearby while your kids play. Children must be 4 and up and potty-trained. 5:30-10 p.m. May 11. $45 first child, $25 each additional child. Early Learners: Color Wonders. Mix colors and make portraits. 9:30 a.m. May 28, age 1, 10:30 a.m. age 2, 11:30 a.m. Age 3. $20. Birdhouses. Ages 4 and up. 10:30 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. May 12-13, May 26-28. $8. Soap Making. Ages 4 and up. 10:30 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. May 5-6, May 19-20. $8. Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. thinkeryaustin.org
Toybrary Austin. Gardening Class. 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. Free with admission. Music Class with Miss Ariel. 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays. $10. Mother’s Day professional photo session. $10:30 a.m. May 4. $7. Daddy & Me Playdate: Make Mommy a Gift. $12. 10:30 a.m. May 5. Diaper Derby. Crawling babies race. 1 p.m. May 5. Free. Emo Visits. 10:30 a.m. May 15. $12. Toybrary Austin, 2001 Justin Lane. toybraryaustin.com
Umlauf Sculpture Garden Family Day. Learn different forms of exercise as a family, plus make art. Noon to 4 p.m. May 13. Free. Umlauf Sculpture Garden, 605 Robert E. Lee Road. umlaufsculture.org
Wildflower Center. Movies in the Wild: “The Lorax.” See the movie outside. 6 p.m. May 4. $12, Free for children 4 and younger. Garden Bug Trackers. Find bugs in the wild as a family and create tools to find them in your yard. Noon, May 12. $15 each parent/child. Nature Nets. Explore creatures in the creek with a net. Noon May 26. $15 each parent/child. Sprouts. Preschool program. 10 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Free with admission. Nature Play Hour. 10 a.m. Saturdays. Free with admission to the gardens. Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave. wildflower.org
Williamson Museum. Pioneer Days at Old Settlers’ Park in Round Rock. Learn how to churn butter, make corn hust dolls and dip candles. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. May 5. Free. Hands-on History. Learn about Texas wildflowers during National Wildflower Week. Free. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 12. Williamson Museum, 716 Austin Ave., Georgetown. williamsonmuseum.org
Theater
Zach Theatre presents “Goodnight Moon.” The classic children’s book comes to the stage. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through May 27. $18-$24. Kleberg Stage, 1421 Riverside Drive. zachtheatre.org
Pollyanna Theatre. “The Secret of Soap & Spin.” 10-year-old Vic finds magic in the laundry map as his mother goes missing. For grades 2-5. 2 p.m. May 12-13, 19-20. $10.50-$12. Long Center, 701 Riverside Drive. pollytheatre.org
Ballet Austin. “Peter Pan.” Watch as Ballet Austin sprinkles a little pixie dust on the story. 8 p.m. May 11-12, 2 p.m. May 12, 3 p.m. May 13. $27-$99. Long Center, 701 Riverside Drive. balletaustin.org.
“Daniel Tiger.” (PBS)
Movies
Alamo Drafthouse. PBS Kids at the Alamo: “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.” 10:25 a.m. May 5 and 10:15 a.m. May 6, Slaughter Lane. “Speed Racer.” Noon May 26, and 6:45 p.m. May 29, Ritz. drafthouse.com
Movies in the Park. “The Emperor’s New Groove.” 8 p.m. May 10, Dick Nickols Park.Free.
“Coco.” 8 p.m. May 17, Dove Springs Park. austinparks.org
Books
BookPeople events: Michael Fry: “How to Be A Supervillain: Born to Be Good.” 2 p.m. May 6; Hena Khan: “Power Forward,” 6 p.m. May 8; Cat Berry: “Penguin & Tiny Shrimp Don’t Do Bedtime!” 2 p.m. May 20. 10:30 a.m. storytimes: Mighty Mice, May 1; Brand New Books, May 2; We Love Austin Authors, May 5; I Love Mom, May 8; Ms. Staci, May 9; Author Mary Sullivan, May 12; Armstrong Community Music School, May 15, Tiny Tails Petting Zoo, May 16; 5 Book Dive Presents: The Summer Reading Splash at AISD Performing Arts Center, 10 a.m. May 19; Elephant and Piggie, May 23; Baby Signs, May 23; Modern First Library, May 26; BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd. bookpeople.com
Barnes & Noble 11 a.m. Saturdays, story times at all locations: “Llama Llama Loves to Read,” May 5. Mother’s Day Story Time, May 12; “Fancy Nancy and the Wedding of the Century,” May 19; An Elephant & Piggie Story time, May 26.
“Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” is at the library in May. Industrial Light & Magic/Lucasfilm
At the library
Art Smart: Around the World. 10:30 a.m. May 1, Terrazas Branch. 11:15 a.m. May 9, Yarborough Branch. 10:15 a.m. May 16, Cepeda Branch. 6:30 p.m. May 22, Willie Mae Kirk. 11 a.m. May 31, University Hills Branch.
Art Smart: Celebrating Asian Dragons. 3:30 p.m. May 3, Pleasant Hill Branch. 4:30 p.m. May 10, Twin Oaks Branch. 6 p.m. May 16, Cepeda Branch. 3:30 p.m. May 30, Milwood Branch.
Tabletop Tuesday. Play games. 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Central Library.
Pajama Storytime. 6 p.m. May 1, Yarborough Branch. 6 p.m. May 22, Old Quarry Branch. 6 p.m. May 24, Spicewood Springs Branch. 11 a.m. May 30, Spicewood Springs Branch.
Bow Wow Reading with Aussie. 3:30 p.m. May 2, North Village Branch. With Roo. 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Little Walnut Creek Branch. With Bonnie. 11:30 a.m. Thursdays, Yarborough Branch. With George. 3:45 pm. May 9, Pleasant Hill Branch. With Daisy. 11:15 a.m. May 24, Ruiz Branch.
Lego Lab. 3:30 p.m. May 2, Willie Mae Kirk Branch. 3:30 p.m. May 9, Spicewood Springs Branch. 6:30 p.m. May 30, Carver Branch.
Savvy Shopper for ages 7-12. 3:30 p.m. May 2, Yarborough Branch.
May the Fourth Be With You. 2:30 p.m. May 4, Yarborough Branch.
Saturday Family Movie: “Ferdinand.” 1 p.m. May 5, St. John Branch.
2 O’Clock Tunes: Rollfast Rambers. 2 p.m. May 5, Twin Oaks Branch.
Revenge of the 5th: “The Last Jedi.” 2 p.m. May 5, Central Library.
Ricado Parra, Chilean singer-writer. 2 p.m. May 5, Manchaca Road Branch.
Tech Connect: Python Coding. 6 p.m. May 8, Twin Oaks Branch. Screen Literacy for Kids. 11 a.m. May 9, Old Quarry Branch. Managing Your Personal Archive. 7 p.m. Austin History Center. Hacking Your Homework. 3:30 p.m. May 10, Carver Branch. Exploring the Austin History Center Archive. 6 p.m. May 10, North Village Branch. Robots in the Library, 2:30 p.m. May 11, Yarborough Branch. Digital Drawing for Kids. 3:30 p.m. May 11, Carver Branch. 11 a.m. May 12, Pleasant Hill Branch. Stop Motion Animation. 1:30 p.. May 12.
Crafternoon: Gifts for Caregivers. 3:30 p.m. May 9, Carver Branch. Crafternoon. 4:30 p.m. May 10, Twin Oaks Branch. 3 p.m. May 14 and 21, Dove Springs Recreation Center. 3:30 p.m. May 22, Howson Branch. Crafternoon: Piñatas. 3:30 p.m. May 29, Howson Branch.
Tech Thursday. 4:30 p.m. May 10, Ruiz Branch.
Teen Book Club: “In Real Life.” 6:30 p.m. May 10, Spicewood Springs Branch. “Falling Kingdoms.” 3 p.m. May 12, Central Library. “Alex & Eliza: A Love Store.” 10:15 .m. May 15, Howson Branch.
Friday Movie Matinee: “The Last Jedi.” 3:30 p.m. May 11, Carver Branch. “Rio 2,” 3:30 p.m. May 11, Old Quarry Branch.
Perler Bead Saturdays. Noon, May 12, University Hills Branch.
Austin Ukestra Ukulele Group. 1 p.m. May 13, Recycled Reads Bookstore.
Music and Movement. 11 a.m. May 14, Pleasant Hill Branch.
Mother Daughter Book Club: Book Share. 6 p.m. May 16, Hampton Branch.
Family Craft Night. 6:30 p.m. May 16, Howson Branch.
NBTween Book Club: “From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.” 6 p.m May 17, Spicewood Springs Branch. “Little White Duck.” 6 p.m. May 17, Twin Oaks Branch.
Tween Anime Club: “Wolf Children.” 3 p.m. May 25, Twin Oaks Branch.
Kids Create: Make Art like Alma Thomas. 2:30 p.m. May 18, Yarborough Branch.
Summer Camp Resource Fair. 1 p.m. May 19, Carver Branch.
El día de los niños/El día de los libros Celebration. 11 a.m. May 19, Pleasant Hill Branch. 3 p.m. May 25, St. John Branch. 10 a.m. May 26, Milwood Branch.
Teen Harry Potter Club. 2 p.m. May 20, Central Library.
Kids Summer Movie Series: “Monster Trucks.” 11:15 a.m. May 24, Old Quarry Branch.
Kids Create: Engineering Challenge. 2:30 p.m. May 25, Yarborough Branch.