For Local Blog
The Weekenders, February 29- March 2 Events for Austin Families
I am ashamed to say that I’ve never been to the rodeo. I’ve been in Austin for thirteen years now and think that maybe one of these years I will make it out there- just for the full experience of living in Texas! If you are not a fan of rodeos, don’t lose hope- there are many fun things to do this weekend in Austin. I’ve got my weekend plans all laid out already! Hope you and your family have a wonderful and safe weekend.
Cowboy Breakfast- Free breakfast to celebrate the beginning of the rodeo with live music, entertainment and family friendly activities. Rodeo mascots like Elsie the Cow, chuck wagons and many more displays of true Texas pride and Western heritage. Friday, 6:00-9:00am, Auditorium Shores. Free parking at Palmer Events Center. The Carnival at the Rodeo is offering a sneak peak with $1 rides, Free parking and Free gate admission! www.rodeoaustin.com
Rodeo Rumble 5K and Kids 1K- Rodeo Rumble 5 K Race around the fairgrounds, for persons 12 years of age and older. Registration Fee: $27 Includes a Short Sleeve T-Shirt. This event will be chip timed. Start time is 8:00am on Saturday. Rodeo Rumble Kids 1K Race immediately following the Adults 5K. Kids will race around the Fairgrounds, by the Youth Activities Center filled with animals, through Old West Town and around the Rodeo Arena. Free registration! For kids ages 12 and under. First 500 Kids to register get a free t-shirt! www.rodeoaustin.com
The African Children’s Choir- Prepare to be moved beyond belief when The African Children’s Choir brings the sheer, spine-tingling beauty of Africa’s choral tradition to the Texas Hill Country. The choir is comprised of children ages seven to eleven, many of whom have lost one or both parents to poverty or disease. Saturday, 7:30pm, tickets, $30-40. Kathleen C. Cailloux Theater, 910 Main, Kerrville.
Texas State Arts Festival- The festival will feature all that is great about Texas! Arts and crafts vendors will show off their works, Texas food, bands and theatrical performance companies, and all sorts of children’s activities. Admission is $5, but children 12 and under are Free. Saturday and Sunday, 10:00am-7:00pm, 2400 Trinity Street. Click here for more details.
Texas Ho and Away We Go- Pioneer Farms is looking for families willing to brave the untamed wilderness of Texas! Explore the westward movement into Texas- Who came, how they came, why they came, how they traveled and how they lived upon arrival. They’ll have a complete history of Texas. $10 Adults, $8 Child, $25 max per family. Saturday, 1:00-5:00pm, Pioneer Farms, 10621 Pioneer Farms Dr.
Texas Independence Day Parade- The parade will feature hundreds of musicians from area high school bands, including the 300-plus member Austin All City Band and the Texas Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. Period reenactment groups, floats, car clubs and other organizations. FREE! Saturday, 10:30am. Congress Ave. www.celebratetexas.org
Hot Art Hip Kids- Take a tour of the Blanton Museum where families can examine the relationship between well loved stories and artwork in the museum collection and a 30 minute story time. FREE! Saturday, 10:00am-4:00pm, The Blanton Museum of Art, 200 E. MLK.
Zilker Kite Festival- An annual Austin tradition that fills the sky over Zilker Park with kites. There will also be kite making workshops, flying demonstrations, design and flight contests, a moonwalk and other activities for kids. Food and t-shirt sales benefit local charities. FREE! Sunday, 10:00am-5:00pm. www.zilkerkitefestival.com
Mr. Johnny and Sharon at Ruta Maya- Mr Johnny & Sharon perform highly interactive sound and music shows at book stores, libraries, schools and special events. They have worked with children in Austin since 1990 with experience including theatrical productions at the Paramount, Zachary Scott and Dougherty theatres as well as more than 500 music shows in central Texas. www.mrjohnny.com
Just for Mom:
I’m in the mood for… a farmers’ market. Maybe it’s because the weather has been so fine lately, it puts me in the mood for walking around, eying all of the fresh fruits and veggies that are in season. I’ve also been in the mood for eating lately, so these two things will blend perfectly for me! A nice Saturday would be spent at the Austin Farmers’ Market- Republic Square at 4th and Guadalupe. They are open from 9:00am-1:00pm. I will most likely be there at 12:30 since Saturday mornings are best spent under the covers at my house.
February 29th, 2008 at 9:58 am
I need to start getting in the habit of going to the farmer’s market. I am going to start Blake on solids at 6 months, and have it planned that I will make his own baby foods. Plus, I bought Deceptively Delicious, and want to hide some pureed veggies in my daughter’s foods, because she is the pickiest. Eater. EVER.
February 29th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
gotta chime in with how FUN the kite festival is.
my daughter was only one last year and she loved all the craziness (read: kite flying)
here’s hoping it doesnt rain!
Carla
February 29th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I have VERY sweet memories of my dad taking us to the kite festival each year. Being a native Austinite this is one of the few festivals remaining from my childhood. Austin has changed so much it is nice to remember what things were like before mixed use building and condos took over.