It’s going to be a rainy weekend, at least through Saturday. When the sun comes back out on Sunday, be sure to head to The Domain from 3-7:30 p.m. for Rock + Chalk at The Domain, a FREE family music showcase featuring local and national musicians.
Be sure to check the links below for any event cancellations due to inclement weather.
Happening All Weekend
Pan Americana Festival – Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21, from 4-11 p.m. All ages show featuring performances by: Master Blaster Sound System, Celso Piña, Kinky, and Los Master Plus. FREE! ESB-MACC, 600 River St, Austin.
Free SXSW Shows at Auditorium Shores – Friday, March 20, from 5-9 p.m. and Saturday, March 21, from 2:40-9 p.m. The Auditorium Shores Stage on Lady Bird Lake features a three-day series of free-to-the-public, charity beneficiary concert events with the beautiful Austin skyline serving as the backdrop. See the schedule here. Admission is FREE with a free SXSW Guest Pass wristband, which can be picked up in advance or onsite at the gate. Auditorium Shores, 800 W Riverside Dr, Austin.
SXSW Eco Light Garden – Friday, March 20 – Saturday, March 21, from 7 p.m. – 2 a.m. Celebrate the intersection between innovative lighting technology and interactive public art. This annual project provides a peaceful escape from the crowd and offers a chance to interact with the latest efficient LED technologies. This year, explore projects from Aerosol Warfare Studios, Barco, Crash Alchemy, Charles Gadeken, Gavvot Productions, Houndstooth, Ink Tank Art Collective, Lumenpulse, and Praxis Creatives. FREE! Republic Square Park, 422 Guadalupe Street, Austin.
The Three Little Pigs at ZACH Theatre– Saturday, March 21 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Sunday, March 22 at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Take three little piglets, their devoted single-parent mom, and a misunderstood Big Bad Wolf, and you’ve got the perfect “Great Big Little Broadway Show” for audiences ages 3 and up. Filled with humor, this endearing tale will leave you squealing with glee and howling with laughter! Tickets: $15 youth, $20 adults. ZACH Theatre, Kleberg Stage, 1510 Toomey Road.
Jack and the Beanstalk– Saturday, March 21 at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.; Sunday, March 22 at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. After selling the family car on Craigslist in exchange for magic beans, Jack ascends to new heights as he tries to make things right. Does this story sound a little bit familiar? It’s The Scottish Rite’s new twist on a classic, Jack and the Beanstalk. Live music, puppets, and lots of action make this the perfect show for young kids. At Scottish Rite Theater, kids can get the best seats in the house—on the big carpet close to the action! Open seating for all. Tickets available online and at the door one hour before showtime. Austin Scottish Rite Theater, 207 W 18th Street.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizza Party– Saturday, March 21 at Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline and Sunday, March 22 at Alamo Drafthouse on Slaughter Lane at noon. They’re the world’s most fearsome fighting team; they’re heroes in a half-shell, and they’re assembling for an ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT PIZZA PARTY! COWABUNGA! Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline and Slaughter Lane locations.
Friday, March 20, 2015
Girls Rock Austin SX Day Party – 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. See over a dozen girls rock the Cherrywood Coffeehouse stage. FREE! Cherrywood Coffeehouse, 1401 E 38 1/2 St, Austin.
First Day of Spring Free Ice Celebration – 12-9 p.m. All guests will receive a FREE limited edition cup of Italian Ice in the available flavor of their choice to celebrate the arrival of Spring. Rita’s Italian Ice, 6001 W Parmer Ln, Austin.
Friday Night Storytime at Barnes and Noble- 7 p.m. Enjoy two delightful new books about animals this evening: I’m Not Cute! by Jonathan Allen and Matilda in the Middle: A Bunny Ballet Story by Cori Doerrfeld. FREE! Barnes and Noble, 2701 Parker Lane in La Frontera Village, Round Rock.
Star Party – 7:30-9 p.m. Join the Austin Astronomical Society to view the night skies through telescopes! No registration necessary and all ages welcome. FREE! Wells Branch Community Library parking lot, 15001 Wells Port Drive, Austin.
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Nowruz Festival – 4-9 p.m. Celebrate the Spring Equinox, which is also the Persian New Year at Central Market. The festival lineup includes the 1001 Nights Orchestra, Austin’s award-winning world music band Atash, UT Middle Eastern Ensemble Bereket, and the Ravaan Persian Dance Company. Be sure to stop by the henna booth, children’s drawing table, and the special Nowruz “Haft-Seen” table. The Nowruz Festival is one of the most popular annual events at Central Market, so arrive early to find parking. The event is rain or shine and is completely FREE and open to the public. Children and families are welcome to attend! Central Market, 4001 N Lamar Blvd.
Michael’s Kids Club: Crayon Resist Cards– 10 a.m. – noon. Drop in. Take home a completed project. Just $2 per child for 30 minutes of creative craft fun, including supplies. Ages 3 and up. From 1-4 p.m., the entire family can create a fun Easter Bunny shirt for just $10 per family. All participating Michael’s locations.
Edmund Unravels Storytime– 11 a.m. This delightful debut picture book celebrates both the joy of venturing into the unknown and the value of staying connected to loved ones back home. It stars a little ball of yarn who can’t resist the tug of adventure, the twists and turns of discovery. FREE! All participating Barnes and Noble locations.
Spring Has Sprung Storytime at BookPeople– 11:30 a.m. Today is the first official day of Spring! This means flowers and sunshine and picnics and bugs and smiles. So join us today to read books like Flowers Are Calling and other stories that remind us of Spring. FREE! BookPeople. 603 N. Lamar Blvd.
Lonestar Dance Performance at Zilker Hillside -7:30 p.m. Stop bullies. Build confidence. Love one another. Come support the Lonestar Dance Center dancers in an evening of self-affirmation in a world telling us we aren’t good enough. The show, “Matters of the Heart,” is presented by Lonestar Dance Center, featuring MUV Dance and Fitness and Performing Arts Studio Georgetown. FREE! Rain date is Sunday, March 22.Zilker Hillside Theater, 2201 Barton Springs Road.
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Step Into Spring – Mad Tiger Festival – 1-5 p.m. The City of Austin and community partners have transformed and expanded the Austin New Year celebration, canceled this year due to inclement weather, into three days of FREE, family-friendly events celebrating the arrival of spring. The first event is a musical showcase featuring Riders Against The Storm (1 p.m.), Koo Koo Kangaroo (2 p.m.), Mother Falcon (3 p.m.), and Peelander-Z (4 p.m.). Mueller Lake Park, 4550 Mueller Blvd, Austin.
Ivy and the Wicker Suitcase– 2 p.m. Join the Austin Public Library and local artists Brian Beattie and Valerie Fowler for another performance of Ivy and the Wicker Suitcase. This epic surreal ear movie musical story is told with tunes, dialogue and sound effects, now with two new crankie scrolls by Brian Beattie and Valerie Fowler! FREE! Faulk Central Library, 800 Guadalupe Street.
Rock + Chalk – 3-7:30 p.m. Children of all ages are invited to rock out and celebrate the final weekend of spring break! Local and national favorites include Ralph’s World, Groundwork Music Orchestra, Elizabeth McQueen, Joe McDermott, and Koo Koo Kanga Roo. For the full lineup, visit the Facebook event page. In addition to enjoying live music on the lawn, kids will have a blast in the chalk art zone presented by All Things Kids and other free activities throughout Domain II, including music lessons, a musical instrument petting zoo, temporary tattoos, costumed character appearances, a dance contest with prizes, giveaways and more. FREE! The Domain II, Lawn in front of iPic Theater, 3225 Amy Donovan Plaza, Austin.
