School is lurking. Some of this weekend’s events are helping you directly get ready for school. Others keep the brain active, which is a good thing as we get closer and closer to the school bell ringing.
Check out our weekend calendar of fun family events in and around Austin:
Explore the Thinkery without your parents during Parents Night Out. RESHMA KIRPALANI / AMERICAN-STATESMAN 2013
FRIDAY
Parents’ Night Out, 5:30-10 p.m. Friday. Kids must be 4 or older and potty-trained. $45 first child, $25 each additional sibling. Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. thinkeryaustin.org
Toybrary Austin. Henna Fridays. 10 a.m. Friday. $5. Toybrary Austin, 2001 Justin Lane. toybraryaustin.com
Teen Videogame Free Play. 2 p.m. Friday, Central Library.
Music and Movement. 11 a.m. Friday, Old Quarry Branch.
Teen Book Club. “Uglies,” 10:30 a.m. Friday, Cepeda Branch.
FRIDAY-SATURDAY
Summer Stock Austin’s “Rob1n” musical by Allen Robertson and Damon Brown explores this possibility. 11 a.m. Friday. 10 a.m. Saturday. $9-18. thelongcenter.org
FRIDAY-SUNDAY
Zilker Botanical Garden Woodland Faerie Trail. The trail is full of homes people have created for the fairies. It’s open through Aug. 10. Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Road. zilkergarden.org
Zilker Summer Musical “All Shook Up.” Zilker Summer Musical returns with the music of Elvis. 8:15 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays through Aug. 18. Free, but donations are welcome. Zilker Hillside Theatre, 2206 William Barton Drive. zilker.org
Summer Stock Austin’s “The Music Man.” 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Friday. 2 p.m. Sunday, Saturday. $26-33. The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive. thelongcenter.org
“Beauty and the Beast” comes to the stage at Zach Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through Sept. 2. $25-$150. Zach Theatre, 202 S. Lamar Blvd. zachtheatre.org
Alamo Drafthouse Kids Club offers movies for a $1-$5 donation. Plus you can collect stamps for prizes. “Paddington 2.” 10 a.m. Friday 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Slaughter Lane. “Prince of Egypt.” 10 a.m. Friday-Sunday, Lakeline. Events: PBS Kids Back to School with “Daniel Tiger,” 10 a.m. Saturday, Slaughter Lane. “Christopher Robin” Cereal Party. 10:20 a.m. Saturday, Lakeline. 10:45 a.m. Sunday, Mueller. drafthouse.com
Last year Bryan Mondragon, 7, yells for his mother and siblings to wait up as he packs his new backpack with more school supplies during the Austin Independent School District’s Back to School Bash. RODOLFO GONZALEZ / AMERICAN-STATESMAN 2015
SATURDAY
AISD Back to School Bash. Get free backpacks and supplies, medical screenings and vaccinations with shot record, and haircuts and more. Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. 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
Heart screenings for student athletes. Call ahead at 512-478-3627, or visit StDavids.com/YoungHeart to schedule your screening. 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. Heart Hospital of Austin, 3801 N. Lamar Blvd.
Nordstrom and the Kindness Campaign Back to School Bash. See the fashion show, meet Enoughie and the magic mirror. Noon to 3:30 p.m. Saturday. $15 VIP tickets. Barton Creek Square. tkckindness.org
Hey Lolly Music Sing-Along. 10 a.m. Saturday. $3. Scottish Rite Theater, 207 W. 18th St. scottishritetheater.org
Thinkery. Baby Bloomers for children younger than 3. 9 a.m. Saturday. $5. Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. thinkeryaustin.org
Dr. Kold. Watch what happens when you play with liquid nitrogen. 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday. Science Mill, 101 S. Lady Bird Lane, Johnson City. sciencemill.org
Toybrary Austin. Unicorn Swimming. Swim in the unicorn pool. 10 a.m. Saturday. Toybrary Austin, 2001 Justin Lane. toybraryaustin.com
BookPeople. 10:30 a.m. story times. Shapes and Sizes, Saturday. BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd. bookpeople.com
Barnes & Noble events. 11 a.m. Saturday story time. “Cece Loves Science.” barnesandnoble.com
SATURDAY-SUNDAY
Felt Food, for kids 4 and older. Learn to sew by making food out of felt. 10:30 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Saturday. $8. Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. thinkeryaustin.org
From top left, Jennifer and Kevin Miller react as their daughter, Laurel, 4, center, takes part in an inertia game at the Bullock Texas State History Museum. DEBORAH CANNON / AMERICAN-STATESMAN
SUNDAY
Paramount Theatre’s summer series. “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” 1 p.m. Sunday. $6-$12. Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave. austintheatre.org
Bullock Museum. Free First Sunday: Friendship. Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Bullock Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave. thestoryoftexas.com
Austin Symphony Hartman Concerts in the Park. 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Free. The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive. thelongcenter.org