Family-Friendly Things to Do in Austin This Week: Nov. 9 to Nov. 15

The second week of November is a big one for book lovers and night owls, with plenty of family-friendly events in Austin this week. The free Texas Book Festival fills the blocks around the Capitol with storytimes and kids' tents on Saturday and Sunday, Creek Show lights up Waterloo Greenway starting Friday with a special Family Night on Saturday, and Hutto throws a 150th birthday party that ends with fireworks. If you're searching for things to do with kids in Austin that won't cost much, you'll also find a free day at Zilker Botanical Garden on Veterans Day and a long list of free library crafts, Lego labs and performances.

Below you'll find 30 activities, limited-time attractions and kids' meal deals happening from Monday, Nov. 9 through Sunday, Nov. 15, sorted by area of town so you can find something close to home. Each one's marked free or paid, and every item links to its official page. Plans can change, so it's always a good idea to check the link before you load everyone into the car.

What family-friendly events are happening in Austin this week?

If you only have time for a few outings, these are the ones we'd pick:

• Texas Book Festival (Free): storytimes, a children's activity tent and author meet-and-greets around the Capitol on Saturday and Sunday.
• Creek Show Family Night (paid, kids 5 and under free): glowing art installations along Waller Creek, with family activities at Creek Monster Cove on Saturday.
• A Charlie Brown Christmas sensory-friendly show (paid, lap babies free): a relaxed 40-minute performance at ZACH on Saturday morning.
• Hutto 150th Celebration (no tickets listed): an afternoon party at Adam Orgain Park on Saturday with fireworks at 7:20 p.m.
• Free Day at Zilker Botanical Garden (Free): a Veterans Day stroll through the gardens on Wednesday.

Kid-friendly events in Downtown and Central Austin

• Texas Book Festival (Free). Sat., Nov. 14 and Sun., Nov. 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Congress Avenue and around the Texas State Capitol. The festival includes picture-book storytimes, a children's activity tent, middle-grade and teen tents, bilingual programming and chances to meet authors and illustrators. A few special author sessions need paid tickets, and listings disagree slightly on Sunday's start time (10 or 11 a.m.), so check before you go. Event details
• Creek Show 2026 (general admission tickets, kids 5 and under free). Opens Fri., Nov. 13 and runs nightly through Nov. 21, 6 to 10 p.m., Waterloo Greenway, main entrance at 4th and Sabine streets (703 ½ E. Fourth St.). Light and art installations line Waller Creek from Fourth Street down to Lady Bird Lake, and Saturday, Nov. 14 is Family Night, with family-friendly activities at Creek Monster Cove. You'll pick a 6 to 8 p.m. or 8 to 10 p.m. entry window, a discounted 4-pack is available, and the show goes on rain or shine. Tickets and details
• A Charlie Brown Christmas (paid, lap babies free). Sat., Nov. 14 at 11 a.m. (sensory-friendly) and 2 p.m., and Sun., Nov. 15 at 1 p.m., ZACH Theatre, 202 S. Lamar Blvd. This 40-minute holiday show is recommended for ages 4 and up, and ZACH says kids are free to come and go and be kids. ZACH's Pay-What-You-Wish family tickets open at noon on the first Tuesday of each show's run, so it's worth checking the page on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Tickets
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (paid, lap babies free). Sat., Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. and Sun., Nov. 15 at 1 p.m., ZACH Theatre, 202 S. Lamar Blvd. Two actors bring Narnia to life in this hour-long show for ages 5 and up, and ZACH notes it includes stylized battles and representations of loss. Tickets
• Free Day at Zilker Botanical Garden (Free). Wed., Nov. 11 (Veterans Day), 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 2220 Barton Springs Rd. No registration is needed, and it's a lovely morning to let little ones wander the paths and the Grow Green demonstration garden. Event details
• Art Smart: Native American Celebration (Free). Sat., Nov. 14, 11 a.m. to noon, Central Library Children's Area (3rd floor), 710 W. César Chávez St. A hands-on art hour for preschoolers and kids celebrating Native American Heritage Month. Event details

Family things to do in East Austin this week

• Kids Create: Air Dry Clay Seed Mosaics (Free). Mon., Nov. 9, 3:30 to 6 p.m., Windsor Park Branch, 5833 Westminster Dr. An after-school craft for kids and tweens ages 6 to 12. Event details
• Lego Lab (Free). Mon., Nov. 9, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Cepeda Branch, 651 N. Pleasant Valley Rd. Drop in and build, with preschoolers and kids both welcome. Event details
• Make and Play: Woven Yarn Baskets (Free). Tue., Nov. 10, 4 to 6 p.m., Terrazas Branch, 1105 E. César Chávez St. Families make little woven baskets inspired by the picture book Berry Song as part of Native American Heritage Month. Event details
• Sew Much Fun: Pocket Frog and Toad Plushies (Free). Tue., Nov. 10, 4 to 5:30 p.m., Ruiz Branch, 1600 Grove Blvd. Tweens ages 9 to 12 sew their own tiny Frog and Toad friends. Event details
• Watch and Make: Paddington Party (Free). Fri., Nov. 13, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ruiz Branch, 1600 Grove Blvd. Preschoolers and kids can enjoy a Paddington movie and a craft as part of the library's 100th birthday celebrations. Event details
• Art in the Park at Colony Park (no cost listed). Sat., Nov. 14, 10 to 11 a.m., Colony Park, 7400 Loyola Ln. Austin Parks Foundation and Painting Pandas lead nature-inspired art projects outdoors for kids and grown-ups. Event details
• COTALAND (paid). Open Sat., Nov. 14, 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sun., Nov. 15, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd., Del Valle. Austin's newest theme park has kiddie rides and Kiddie Karting alongside the bigger coasters, and it's closed on weekdays this week, so plan for the weekend. Park hours

Kid-friendly events in North Austin

• ArtSmart: Native American Celebration (Free). Thu., Nov. 12, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Milwood Branch, 12500 Amherst Dr. A morning art program for preschoolers and kids. Event details
• STEM Builder Lab (Free). Thu., Nov. 12, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Spicewood Springs Branch, 8637 Spicewood Springs Rd. Kids and tweens ages 6 to 12 take on building challenges after school. Event details
• Kids Create: Woven Yarn Baskets (Free). Thu., Nov. 12, 4 to 5 p.m., John Gillum Branch, 2505 Steck Ave. Another chance to make Berry Song yarn baskets, this time for kids ages 6 to 10. Event details
• Kids Create: Frog and Toad Homes (Free). Sat., Nov. 14, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Milwood Branch, 12500 Amherst Dr. Kids and tweens build little homes for Frog and Toad, who turn 100 alongside the library this year. Event details

Kid-friendly events in South Austin

• Fortlandia at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (included with general admission, free for members). Open through Jan. 31, 2027, 4801 La Crosse Ave. Kids can explore custom-designed forts tucked into the gardens, and the cooler weather makes it a good week for a long walk. Event details
• Preschool Imagination Station: Ice Cream Shop (Free). Thu., Nov. 12, sessions at 10 and 11 a.m., Hampton Branch at Oak Hill, 5125 Convict Hill Rd. Preschoolers ages 3 to 5 play pretend in a library ice cream shop. Event details
• Powwow Dance Performance (Free). Sat., Nov. 14, 2 to 2:45 p.m., Twin Oaks Branch, 1800 S. Fifth St. The Native American Cultural Center shares powwow dance styles in a performance for all ages, babies included. Event details

Family events in West Austin, Bee Cave and Lake Travis

• Second Saturdays Are for Families: Fuzzy Frenzy (Free, all ages). Sat., Nov. 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., The Contemporary Austin at Laguna Gloria, 3809 W. 35th St. Families try wet felting with wool and water, inspired by the Moki Cherry exhibition, and you can reserve free tickets ahead of time. Reserve tickets
• Family Film Night: The Princess Bride (Free). Thu., Nov. 12, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Howson Branch, 2500 Exposition Blvd. A cozy evening movie for families with preschoolers through teens. Event details

Things to do with kids in Round Rock, Georgetown, Pflugerville and Leander

• Hutto 150th Celebration (no tickets listed). Sat., Nov. 14, 3 to 8 p.m., Adam Orgain Park, Hutto. The city's celebrating 150 years since the railroad stop that put Hutto on the map, and the evening ends with fireworks at 7:20 p.m. Event details
• NightMarket.fun (paid). Sat., Nov. 14, 4 to 10 p.m., Lakeline Park, 1510 Alexis Dr., Cedar Park. This one-night Asian pop culture festival brings food from across Asia, two stages of performances including lion dance and taiko, an outdoor film showcase and a kids' zone. Community Impact lists adult tickets from $32.55 and kids 12 and under at $0.99, so check the ticket page for current prices. Event details
• Ruan Sisters: Traditional Instrument Performance (Free). Sat., Nov. 14, 2 to 3 p.m., Round Rock Public Library lobby, 200 E. Liberty St., Round Rock. Two young sisters play traditional Chinese folk pieces on the ruan, a lute-like instrument with nearly 3,000 years of history, right under the library's big staircase. Event details
• Outdoor Family Storytime (Free). Thu., Nov. 12, 10:30 to 11 a.m., Discovery Garden (2nd floor), Round Rock Public Library, 200 E. Liberty St. Books, songs and rhymes outside, best for ages 18 months to 6, and it moves indoors if the weather turns. Event details
• Rockin' Kids Club: LEGO Free Build (Free). Mon., Nov. 9, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., Round Rock Public Library, 200 E. Liberty St. Come-and-go after-school building for ages 5 and up. The Round Rock library is closed Wednesday for Veterans Day. Event details

Family events near Kyle, Buda and Driftwood

• Kyle Veterans Day Parade (Free to watch). Sat., Nov. 14, 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., downtown Kyle near Mary Kyle Hartson Park, 101 S. Burleson St. The parade travels east along Center Street from Gregg-Clarke Park to Front Street on the City Square, and street closures start at 11:30 a.m., so arrive early for a good spot. Event details

Where do kids eat free in Austin this week?

• Pluckers (kids eat free Tuesday). Tue., Nov. 10, at Austin-area locations. Kids 10 and under get two free kids' meals per adult entrée, dine-in only. Details
• Vaqueros Cafe and Cantina (kids eat free Monday). Mon., Nov. 9, 4 to 9 p.m., at 1801 S. Capital of Texas Hwy. (Westlake) and 3810 N. Quinlan Park Rd. (Steiner Ranch). Kids under 12 eat free at both locations on Mondays, and it's a good idea to call ahead to confirm the terms. Details

Where can I take my kids for free in Austin this week?

If you're keeping it budget-friendly, all of these are free: Lego builds and the clay seed mosaic craft on Monday, woven yarn baskets and Frog and Toad plushies on Tuesday, the Zilker Botanical Garden Free Day on Wednesday, and a busy Thursday with outdoor storytime in Round Rock, ArtSmart, the ice cream shop Imagination Station, STEM Builder Lab and Family Film Night. On Friday, head to the Paddington Party, and on Saturday you can pick from the Texas Book Festival, Fuzzy Frenzy at Laguna Gloria, Art Smart at the Central Library, Frog and Toad Homes, the powwow dance performance, the Ruan Sisters concert and the Kyle Veterans Day Parade. The Texas Book Festival continues on Sunday, and kids 5 and under get into Creek Show free every night.

Planning a family outing with a new baby?

Evening events like Creek Show and the Hutto fireworks can run right into bedtime, and that can feel like a lot when you're recovering from birth or juggling a newborn and older siblings. Sometimes the best plan is an extra set of hands, and our Mother's Helpers can come along on the outing or stay home with the baby while you take the big kids out. If you're new to the area, you can learn more about MILK in Austin, and if you're wondering how a late night might affect your little one's sleep, our guide to newborn sleep by week walks you through what's normal in the first 12 weeks.

Want to know about new local events first?

We put together a new list of family-friendly Austin events every week. Send us a text at (512) 880-8845 with your email and either "I'm a parent" or "I'm a nanny," and we'll let you know every time we publish new local events.