Austin News Report 2026-10-01

Movies Behind the Museum: Hoppers

Join Texas Science & Natural History Museum for a special outdoor screening of the family favorite “Hoppers” on Saturday, Oct. 10! Admission includes access to both the museum and the movie. Guests can bring blankets for the lawn or camp chairs for the patio, and are welcome to bring their own snacks (no glass containers). Museum doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the movie starts at 7:30 p.m., so come early to explore the museum and pick a perfect spot to watch the movie.

Visual Arts (Film, Painting, Arts & Crafts) classes in the Austin area

Find visual arts classes for kids in the Austin area, including Film, Painting, Arts & Crafts and more.

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History in Play

Oct 2-3, 2026. Combine hands-on learning with outdoor play at our monthly series of games, crafts, and activities! For October's History in Play, put your archeologist skills to the test by playing the Arche-Olympics! Race to the finish while tracing the steps of a real archeological dig - from excavating and cleaning artifacts, to labeling your find and piecing together clues. History in Play is included with sites admission and is held at the Outdoor Interactive Exhibit Space. Parental supervision at the playscape required.
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The Wildflower Center presents Fortlandia

Oct. 2, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027- Fortlandia aims to connect people of all ages to the environment by evoking a sense of childhood play and wonder. Get ready to explore a brand new lineup of custom designed forts in our Family Garden this fall. Your secret hideout awaits!
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Dig into Archaeology

October has been declared Archaeology month in Texas and to celebrate, the Frontier Times Museum is inviting everyone to Dig Into Archaeology with a fun family activity day. On October 3rd from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, the museum will be giving everyone a chance to be an archaeologist with demonstrations and arts and crafts.Activities include Digging for Artifacts, Atlatl Throws, and Make Your Own Pottery Bowl—hands-on experiences that highlight the work of archaeologists. Archaeologists study the traces left behind by ancient peoples, from fragments of pottery and stone tools to animal bones and other remains. Visitors can try their hand at uncovering “buried treasure” in a mini-archaeology dig.
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Uhland Fall Fest

Uhland Fall Fest (UFF) is located 25 miles south of Austin, Texas (near Kyle) on a beautifully-shaded historical farmstead. UFF features 50+ fall-inspired games, activities, and attractions across 12 fun zones. Attendees visit from around the world to enjoy animal encounters, artisan markets, curated photo ops, family-friendly entertainment, live music, our massive pumpkin and gourd patch, seasonal foods and beverages, themed weekends, and so much more.
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ArtFest

October 3, 2026 | 2-6 p.m. Celebrate creativity and community spirit at ArtFest, presented by the City of Leander Public Arts and Culture Commission. Set along the scenic Lakewood Park Sculpture Trail, ArtFest features a wonderland of live entertainment, delicious food, art contests, and unique booths showcasing artists from Leander and across Texas.
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Family Fall Festival

Back for another year! Join us on October 3rd from 2:00pm - 5:00pm for our Family Fall Fest! Our Family Fall Fest will feature a unique hop-on-hop-off hayride that takes attendees to activity stations around our 130 acre park! Each activity/craft station will showcase a different Parks and Community Services department or local Dripping Springs organization, non profit, or business!
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Clue By Sandy Rustin

It’s a dark and stormy night, and our cast of oddball characters has been invited to a very unusual dinner party. Each of the guests has an alias, the butler offers a variety of weapons, and the host is, well, dead. So whodunit? Join the iconic oddballs known as Scarlet, Plum, White, Green, Peacock, and Mustard as they race to find the murderer in Boddy Manor before the body count stacks up. Based on the cult classic film and the popular board game, Clue is a madcap comedy that will keep you guessing until the final twist.
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H-E-B Free First Sunday: Fall Celebrations

Celebrate the change of the seasons and learn about Fall celebrations in the Lone Star State during H-E-B Free First Sunday with free exhibit admission from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and family activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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Lake Travis Zipline Adventures 2026 Season

Austin’s greatest zipline adventure returns for the 2026 Season!
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Parents' Night Out at My Gym Children's Fitness Center- Austin

First Friday of each month from 5:30–8:30 pm at My Gym Children’s Fitness Center in Austin, Parents’ Night Out gives kids three hours of active fun while grown-ups get an evening to themselves. Children can enjoy games, rides, songs, dances, relays, obstacle courses, and more, with pizza and juice provided for dinner. Families should reserve online in advance so the event can be staffed appropriately, and children should bring any needed personal items clearly labeled. If plans change, 24 hours’ notice is required to move a reservation to the next available Parents’ Night Out.
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Fridays at the Museum

Our very first event for our new educational program, “Fridays at the Museum,” with more activities every Friday until the end of the school year. Perfect for BISD students who have Fridays off! Activity subjects will rotate between Language Arts, STEM, Social Studies, and Arts & Crafts — be sure to check the calendar to see what’s coming up!
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Sweet Eats Fall Festival

Explore Our 4.5-Acre Themed Corn Maze and Texas-Sized Pumpkin Patch featuring over 40 unique varieties of pumpkins! Enjoy daily pig races, a petting zoo, pony rides, wagon rides, apple cannons, and over 30 exciting farm-themed activities all included with your general admission ticket. Join us for thrilling fireworks displays every Friday and Saturday night in October. (*Excluding Halloween Night). Dive into a world of fun with our October-only shows, including Floki Fire, Sky Kings Falconry, and Zoofari on weekends. Don’t miss out on the fun!
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Smart Kid Safety Challenge

Saturday, October 3rd, 11:30-12:30 at Impact Martial Arts: A FREE event! The Smart Kid Safety Challenge is a fun, interactive event that teaches kids practical skills to stay aware, make smart choices, and respond confidently in potentially unsafe situations. Through discussion, role-playing, and hands-on activities, kids will practice real-world safety skills they can use every day. Parents are encouraged to attend and participate so you can continue reinforcing these important skills at home.
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Fall Family Fun Days at Crowe's Nest Farm

Fall Family Fun Days are every Saturday & Sunday from10-5 in October at Crowe's Nest Farm in Manor. Join us for Fall Family Fun Days every Saturday & Sunday in October from 10-5. Activities include special animal shows such as raptors, reptiles and cow milking demonstrations as well as Tractor rides to see the Bison, live music, pumpkins, food, crafts and much more!
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