Happening All Weekend
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Saturday, February 14 and Sunday, February 15, from Noon to 5:00 p.m. The Ransom Center celebrates 150 years of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland with an exhibition for the curious and curiouser of all ages. Learn about Lewis Carroll and the real Alice who inspired his story. See one of the few surviving copies of the first edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Discover the rich array of personal and literary references that Carroll incorporated throughout Alice. Explore the surprising transformations of Alice and her story as they have traveled through time and across continents. Follow the White Rabbit’s path through the exhibition, have a tea party, or watch a 1933 paper filmstrip that has been carefully treated by Ransom Center conservators. The Center’s vast collections offer a new look at a story that has delighted generations and inspired artists from Salvador Dalí to Walt Disney. FREE! Harry Ransom Center, 300 W 21st St, Austin.
Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote– Saturday, February 14 at 11 a.m. and Sunday, February 15 at 2 p.m. Pancho Rabbit meets danger at every stage of his journey to find his missing Papá, but the greatest danger of all is his untrustworthy guide. Kids will be inspired and cautioned by this resonant and powerful story. Live music and imaginative scenes fill the Scottish Rite Theater stage. Curricular materials created by master teacher Caroline Sweet are available to teachers. Recommended for K-5th Grade. Tickets: Available online at Brownpapertickets.com and sold at the door. $8 for kids 12 and under, $12 for adults. School day show bookings available. Austin Scottish Rite Theater, 207 W 18th St., Austin.
Friday, February 13, 2015
Valentine Decorating – 2-4 p.m. Decorate to your heart’s content with paper, glitter, stickers, and all other supplies provided. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Each adult may bring a maximum of three children. FREE! Terra Toys, 2438 W Anderson Ln, Austin.
Daddy Daughter Date Night- 4-8 p.m. Create with the ones you LOVE! Daddies bring your girls to the third annual Daddy/Daughter Date Night. The Art Garage will be transformed with Valentine decor and we’ll be serving treats and drinks. They’ll be special surprises and photo ops, too. Cost: $20. We are taking reservations for this special event, call to reserve a spot: 512-852-9900. The Art Garage, 11190 Circle Drive, Suite 202.
Villain-tine Party (Round Rock) – 6-8 p.m. Teens are invited to celebrate Valentine’s Day by dressing as their favorite villains while enjoying games, food, and fun. FREE! Round Rock Public Library, 216 E Main St, Round Rock.
Teen Valentine’s Dance – 7-9:30 p.m. The DJ will play the hottest jams, plus there will be door prizes, guessing games, free food, drinks, and maybe even a freestyle battle and dance contest. Ages 13-17 welcome. FREE! Turner-Roberts Recreation Center, 7201 Colony Loop Dr, Austin.
Valentine’s Escape – 7:30 p.m. Feeling the love in the air? Celebrate a perfect Valentine’s weekend with popcorn and a movie in the park, featuring 50 First Dates. FREE! (Parents can send their children to Parent’s Night Out from 6-10 p.m. Appropriate for ages 5-11; starting at $26 per child.) Dittmar Recreation Center, 1009 W Dittmar Rd, Austin.
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Robot Open House – 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. See a dozen robots, each over 100 pounds, in a pre-scrimmage match. This is the final week of a six-week robot build competition. The robots will be nearly ready to play the game, but major work will still need to be done. Spectators are encouraged! Come and see teams in the Pits as they put the final touches on their ‘bots and put them in the arena for the first time. There will be epic failures and grand successes. FREE! Highland Mall, 6001 Airport Blvd, Austin.
Heart Party (RSVP) – 10 a.m. – noon. Join the Carver Museum for Valentine’s Day crafts, candy and fun, while you create tokens of love for Mom, Dad, family and friends. This kid-friendly event is FREE and open to the public. To RSVP, email gaila.sims@austintexas.gov. The George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center, in the Carver Drum, 1165 Angelina Street, Austin.
The Que Pastas at Strange Brew – 10 a.m. Some say The Que Pastas are people from another planet. That planet, which may or may not have had oceans of hot cheese sauce and beaches of macaroni noodles, parmesan rain and mountains made of meatballs, might have sent The Que Pasta family to earth to entertain kids of all ages with quirky, original music. Others claim The Que Pastas is the brainchild of Gene Davis, a young alt-country musician who found a surprise calling doing kindie music. One thing that everyone can agree on, however, is that The Que Pastas are a funny and interactive family friendly band that serves up their music with a generous helping of fun sauce. FREE! Strange Brew, Lounge Side, 5326 Manchaca Rd, Austin.
Lowe’s Build and Grow: Love Note Holder (RSVP) – 10 a.m. Bring your child to Lowe’s to build a Sweetheart Picture Holder. Each store only offers 50 spaces and they do fill quickly. Reserve your child’s spot here. FREE! Your local Lowe’s store.
Hands On History (Georgetown) – 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Hands on History is a FREE, come and go event held monthly at the Museum. Celebrate Valentine’s Day by learning about past valentine traditions. Children will make their own vintage valentine. The Williamson Museum, 716 S Austin Ave, Georgetown.
Fall in Love with Science on Valentine’s Day– 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., On this special grand opening Saturday, the Science Mill will host a day-long carnival of hands-on science fun (in addition to our regular exhibits). Enjoy a fun-filled day for the whole family! Exciting and unique exhibits, Hands-on science activities, Great White Shark 3-D movie, Create a personalized avatar “science buddy”, Snack at the Lady Bird Lane Cafe. Cost: free for 2 and under, Ages 2-18 (or with student ID) – $6.50, Adult – $8.00, Senior (65+) and Military – $6.00. Hill Country Science Mill, 101 South Lady Bird Lane, Johnson City.
Valentines on the Prairie– 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Celebrate an old-fashioned Valentine’s Day with your sweetie at our 1800s Victorian celebration, with Cupid making guest appearances all day. Make this Lover’s Day a special one to remember. Ride in a horse-drawn carriage, do Valentine’s crafts, see our exhibits and have family fun on this one-day special outing amid Texas history. Pioneer Farms, 10621 Pioneer Farms Drive.
Second Saturdays Are for Families: Tabletop Biospheres– 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. This month’s art-making workshop explores how nature affects art. Build a miniature underwater ecosystem and watch how your submerged art changes over time. Drop in and create! Cost: $10 per family, $5 member families.
The Contemporary Museum at Laguna Gloria, 3809 W. 35th Street.
East Austin Handmade Market – 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Bring your sweetie to the backyard of The Vortex for a celebration with more than 20 local artist / entrepreneurs, where you are sure to find a unique gift for somebody special! Enjoy live music and tunes from DJ Baron Mind while you shop. This is a FREE show for all ages! The East Austin Handmade Arts Market features creations in a wide variety of mediums, all handmade and appropriate for all ages! The Butterfly Bar Austin will be serving up sweet drink specials all day! There is lots of convenient parking, it is on an easy bus route, and pets are also welcome! The Vortex, 2307 Manor Road, Austin.
Valentine’s Day Storytime – 11 a.m. Enjoy a Valentine’s Day storytime and activities featuring I Love You Just Like This. There are many ways to say, “I love you” – and Elmo and his Sesame Street friends are ready to tell you. FREE! Your local Barnes & Noble store.
Titan Moon Comics Kids Club (Cedar Park) – 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Come and make a comic book photo frame to keep or give as a present! FREE! 1540 Cypress Creek Road, Cedar Park.
Kids Club with Silly Angel – 12-2 p.m. Make your own Valentine’s Day cards with local greeting card maker Silly Angel. FREE! Whole Foods Domain, 11920 Domain Dr, Austin.
Free Kite Making Workshop – 1-3 p.m. Fly on by for a afternoon of fun, then enter your creation in the Kite Competition at the Fest on March 1! South Austin Recreation Center, 1100 Cumberland Road, Austin.
Come & Go Crafts – 1:30-3 p.m. Make Valentines during this drop-in craft time at the library. FREE! Lake Travis Community Library, 1938 Lohmans Crossing, Austin.
Cajun Aces at Central Market North Lamar – 6:30-9 p.m. Get in the Mardi Gras spirit with a special performance by cajun dance band Cajun Aces at Central Market North Lamar from 6:30-9pm. This is part one of their upcoming Mardi Gras celebration. FREE! Central Market North Lamar, 4001 North Lamar Blvd, Austin.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Staci Gray at Cherrywood Coffeehouse – 10 a.m. Staci Gray will be playing a FREE show for kids! She will sing two sets of bubbly fun. Cherrywood Coffeehouse, 1400 E. 38 1/2 Street, Austin.
Afternoon in the Garden: Faeries and their flowers- 1-4 p.m. Family activity, free with Garden entry. Match the unique faeries with their specific plant allies. Help plant flowers that attract faeries and learn about the healing and mystical qualities of plants. Go on a scavenger hunt through the garden in search of faeries favorite plants, herbs, and flowers. Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Road.
Monday, February 16, 2015
Free Admission to The LBJ Presidential Library – 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. To ensure President Johnson’s wish for the library to “be available to all,” entrance fees are waived on several days during the year, including Presidents’ Day. FREE! LBJ Presidential Library, 2313 Red River St, Austin.
Signing Storytime (Round Rock) – 10:00 a.m. Join the Baby Signing Time revolution. This class is geared toward children 0-5 years and their parents. Amy from the Signing Connection will lead this storytime that incorporates classic children’s books to help you learn basic American Sign Language signs. FREE! Kaleidoscope Toys, 110 N IH 35, Ste 375, Round Rock.
Mr. Will’s Music Class for Kids (Bee Cave) -10:00 a.m. Mr. Will is back in action with his weekly kid’s music class. Arrive early to get a seat. FREE! Whole Foods Bee Cave, 12601 Hill Country Blvd, Bee Cave.
Storytime with Dr. Candra – 11:00 a.m. Dr. Candra will captivate your children with stories, songs, dances, and games. FREE! Brilliant Sky Toys and Books, 701 S Capital of Texas Hwy, Ste D-480, Austin.
Looking for more fun?
— Take the kids to Halcyon for S’mores!
— Check out this month’s Austin Theatre Mama Roundup.
