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Young readers have so much to explore at this year's Festival on November 5-6! We're once again bringing authors and activities to Congress Avenue, including the Read Me a Story Tent, Children’s Entertainment Tent, and the Next Chapter Tent. Children’s authors can also be found in the Latinx Lit Tent and Kirkus Tent, so check out the 2022 Festival Schedule.

Bring the whole family down to meet amazing authors, including Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen, the Pumphrey Brothers, Jasminne Mendez, Nathan Hale, Yuyi Morales, Nicholas Solis, Carmen Tafolla, and so many more!

Best of all: these events are all FREE and open to the public!

The average costs for school supplies every year is $35 which creates an extra burden for already challenged families as well as for teachers, who often spend their own money buying missing supplies for their classrooms and students.

In order to ease the burden of both families and teachers, school districts that are continuously facing tighter budgets, are trying to outsource the financial obligation by requesting that parents help provide  these supplies. 

Here is a list of Back-to-School Programs and School-Supply Drives in and around Austin.

Cirque Musica Holiday Spectacular brings the joy and excitement of the holiday season to the H-E-B Center Cedar Park on December 27th, like never before. This all-new production features some of the greatest holiday songs of all time performed with the world-renowned cast of Cirque Musica. Audiences will be amazed by acrobats, aerialists, hilarious hijinks, and holiday cheer. 

Experience the chills, thrills, and excitement of the best Cirque performers from around the world performing to your holiday favorites and stunning symphonic music from classical, POPS, and popular repertoire.

Read on for details and enter for a chance to win a a family four pack of tickets to the show.

How about an Elf on the Shelf that requires no moving around? You heard that right, the elf's doing it all by itself! How? Find out below.

This holiday season, the beloved tradition that has captured the hearts of families everywhere returns to the live stage at the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park on Friday, December 10th!

The Elf on the Shelf: The Musical is the thrilling spectacle of music and dance that transports audiences to the North Pole to glimpse the magical lives of Santa’s Scout Elves. Featuring an original story and score, dazzling sets and costumes, and heartfelt moments that will bring the family together, this joyous and uplifting celebration will leave audiences captivated by the splendor of the season.

Read on for details and enter for a chance to win a family-4-pack of tickets to the show!

“Welcome home!” we were greeted when we set foot in Bankersmith, TX, located in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, about halfway between Fredericksburg and Comfort. The old railroad town was founded in 1913 but was abandoned and turned into a ghost town by the 1940s.

Today, Bankersmith is a unique event venue with a wooden live music dance hall, a saloon and restaurant/bar, a large patio area with lawn games, picnic tables, fire pits, a playground area for kids, and farm animals incl. goats, pigs, turkeys, chickens, bunnies, cats, who like to be fed and petted.

Read on for more and to enter for a chance to win a $100 Gift Certificate and 2 free VIP Passes for an upcoming Bankersmith event.

The world’s largest bounce house ever assembled is on tour and will make its way to Austin from Friday, November 5 through Sunday, November 7, 2021!

Featuring 13,000 square feet of inflatable elation, The Big Bounce America is not your average bounce house. People of all ages are invited to get big-air on the basketball court, compete against one another on an obstacle course, and plummet from a giant slide into a massive ball pit outside the main structure. 

Read on for details and to enter for a chance to win a family-4-pack of tickets!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, May We Present: The Venardos Circus - The Little Circus That Could!

From September 22 to October 3rd, 2021, the Venardos Circus will put on 16 shows under The Big Top, their intimate red-and-white striped circus tent.
The Venardos Circus, is a small (really - it literally fits in a 32-foot trailer), unique, Broadway-style, animal-free circus, with big dreams and spectacular performances, that bring joy to young and old.  

Read more about the Venardos Circus and enter for a chance to win a family-4-pack of tickets to opening night on Wednesday, September 22.

Broken Hearts and Calloused Hands, a non-profit organization located in Lago Vista, TX, with the mission to combat abuse and domestic violence is hosting a fundraiser to raise awareness and funds to help and bring hope to domestic violence victims transitioning out of dangerous situations through providing resources, temporary shelter and counseling for individuals and families.

Prizes include gift cards to local business, incl. Painting with a Twist, Amy's Ice Cream, The Melting Pot, Flat Creek Winery and many more. Read on for details and to get your raffle tickets.

Enter our Halloween Costume Contest!

While many families in the Austin area have decided to skip trick-or-treating this year, kids and parents alike aren’t even thinking about not dressing up for Halloween!

Therefore, we’re looking for the cutest, coolest, scariest, ugliest, you-name-it kids in costumes, the 512 has ever seen!

We have some fun prizes sponsored by local businesses.

Read on for details and how to enter.

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