Spring Break Fun Downtown
All Around Downtown
Who needs Daytona Beach when you've got Downtown Austin for a week of adventure? Whether you're taking a few hours, a day or the whole week off to frolic with the kids, you've got lots of very cool things to do that children of all ages will love. Here are some suggestions:
Saturday, 3/12:
FOXTALES
Scottish Rite Theatre,207 West 18th Street
scottishritechildrenstheatre.org
Start your weekend off with the 10:00 a.m. performance of FOXTALES - the great (internationally acclaimed) musical about a fox who learns lots of lessons on his journey to find his fortune. Based on the Aesops Fables, the whole family will get something out of this one. Tickets are a mere $5 for children under 12, $8 for adults and $7 seniors.
Austin Farmers' Market
Republic Square Park, 5th & Guadalupe
236-0074, austinfarmersmarket.org
Before or after the show, head over to Republic Square Park to browse around all the fresh food and hand-made items available from right here in Central Texas. Dance to free live music. Parking is free at 3rd & San Antonio or take Silver Dillo, #1, #3, #20, #21. The Market is open from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Have Lunch Downtown
Take a free 'Dillo ride to one of the dozens of eateries around Downtown. Let the kids order a Shirley Temple or Roy Rogers. Head over to downtownaustin.com for a full list of family-friendly restaurants.
Sunday, 3/13:
77th Annual Zilker Kite Festival Rescheduled
Zilker Park, Barton Springs Road
zilkerkitefestival.com
This Sunday should be a gorgeous day to fly a kite. Enchantment begins at 11:00 a.m. Free fun for the whole community! And the goodies you buy at the Festival go to support local charities.
Saturday and Sunday, 3/12-13:
Go Fishing!
The Castlow Group's Shallow Water Fishing Expo
Palmer Events Center, Barton Springs Rd.
castlow.com
Learn everything you ever wanted to know about shallow water and light tackle fishing from celebrity experts and guides, sit in on informational seminars, and browse name brands from hundreds of manufacturers. This show runs Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and Sunday, 10:00-5:00 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 per day, and children 13 and under get in free!
Explore Mind & Body!
Body Mind Spirit Expo
Palmer Events Center, Barton Springs Rd.
bmse.net
While at the Palmer Events Center, check out New Age frontiers at the Body Mind Spirit Expo. Show hours, Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission is $8.
Go Sailing! 
Town Lake Austin
austinrowing.org
Hosted by the Austin Rowing Club, the Heart of Texas Regatta will fill Town Lake with color and magic. All types of events are offered for all ages - 8+. Youth, Junior, Collegiate, Open, Master & Novice. Most of the action - start/finish, and food/vendors booths - happens at Festival Beach, 2101 Bergman St.
Throughout the Week
Sculptor to Be! Spring Break Workshops 
Umlauf Sculpture Garden, 605 Robert E. Lee Road
(512) 445-5582, umlaufsculpture.org
Four mornings (March 14-17) of sculpting fun for children 8 - 11. A different material taught by a different artist each day! $18.50 per session or 4 sessions for $65. Limited to 15 students. 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Reservations required.
Dinosaur Mania Spring Break Camp
Austin Children's Museum, 2nd & Colorado
(512) 472-2499, austinkids.org
Specially designed for dino-philes with tons of activities. Registration for this and summer camps is underway for members. Become a member and register for all the fun.
Explore the Story in Landmark Maps of Texas
Bob Bullock Texas State History Musuem, 1800 N. Congress
(512) 936-4649, thestoryoftexas.com
Experience the hands-on fun at the Landmark Maps of Texas exhibit. "X" marks the spot to "Explore the Story," featuring hands-on, interactive fun with maps, cartography equipment and artifacts to see for yourself how Texas maps were drawn from many experiences. You then have the opportunity to draw your own map of the Museum. Exhibit is free with admission to the Museum, which is $5.50 for adults, $4.50 for seniors/military and $3 for youth age 5-18. Time: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Celebrate Spring @ Austin Public Library
Faulk Central Library, 800 Guadalupe
(512) 974-7400, cityofaustin.org/library
Puppet shows, craft activities and films for youth and families are just part of the full array of programs for youth and families planned for Spring Break week. Saturday's kickoff at 2:00 p.m. features "Magic" with Gusto the Great. Monday through Friday, March 14-19, all day, Make and Take Crafts (in the children's area), For additional information, call (512) 974-7000 or visit cityofaustin.org/library. All events are free!
Other Fun Stuff to Do Downtown
Take a 'Dillo ride or a full-fledged bus journey. Adventure through Downtown and beyond. Go to capmetro.org for times and schedules.
Gallery hop through the arts. Check out the Gallery Watch section to see what's on display. Stroll through the West End galleries or just hop all over the place. You'll see great art everywhere! Go to inthegalleries.com for a complete list of artsy places Downtown
Meander through museums. There's always lots of fun in store at the Texas State History Museum, 1600 N. Congress. Check out the new Forces of Nature film (see Featured Event). Plan to take in an IMAX movie while there - thestoryoftexas.com has all the details you need. Or how about exploring the Harry Ransom Center, 21st & Guadalupe. and let them glimpse at the Golden Days of Hollywood and fascinating fashion photography. hrc.utexas.edu has the whole scoop on what's up and running at the Ransom Center. Or give them a clue about
what it was like to be around in the '60s at the LBJ Library, 2313 Red River (lbjlib.utexas.edu).
Again, downtownaustin.com has a full list of museums and other cultural activities you and your kids will enjoy.
Talk about tolerance. Take your children to see the magnificint, moving and insightful Coexistence Exhibition at Auditorium Shores. Talk to them about why respect for all human beings is vitally important - today more than ever!
Be a visitor to Austin. See Austin from a visitor's point of view. Stop by the Austin Visitor's Center on 6th Street or take a tour of the State Capitol.
Shop Downtown. Get fitted for one-of-a-kind hats at Vertigo in the Littlefield Mall, 106 E. 6th Street. Take a wild ride through music at Wild About Music, also in the Littlefield Building. Or splurge on some designer sneakers at Motive 807, 710 Brazos. Go check out the new Whole Foods World Headquarters at 6th & Congress. Or buy some funky sunglasses at Eclectic Eyewear, 2510 Guadalupe. Downtownaustin.com has a full list of shopping opportunities.
Romp around the Parks. Downtown Austin has some of the City's greatest green spaces. Let the kids run and play at Republic Square (4th & Guadalupe), Brush Park (4th & San Jacinto) where you can visit the O Henry House & Museum, Wooldridge Park (9th & Guadalupe), and Waterloo Park (12th & Trinity).
As you can see, there's tons to do in Downtown Austin - for the kids and you. Happy Spring Break!
