Yes, plenty is free with little kids in Austin this week: we found 25 free outings, including Viva La Vida Festival & Parade, Nature Sensory Playgroup (Terrazas Branch) and All Ages Storytime: Roots & Wings Edition (University Hills Branch), plus 11 library programs. Five free days and events are coming up, including two museum or zoo free days, each with its date. And nine places never charge admission, like Austin Central Library and Twin Oaks Branch Library.
This week
Every free outing on this week’s Austin list, rebuilt every Thursday. Library programs may need a quick sign-up.
Central Library · 710 W. César Chávez St., Austin, TX
A free Austin Public Library program for babies (0–1), preschoolers (3–5), toddlers (1–3); no registration listed.
Terrazas Branch · 1105 E. César Chávez St., Austin, TX
A free Austin Public Library program for babies (0–1), preschoolers (3–5), toddlers (1–3); no registration listed.
University Hills Branch · 4721 Loyola Ln., Austin, TX
Read, sing, dance and play at an all-ages storytime tied to the library’s Roots & Wings Festival. Free; no registration listed.
Windsor Park Branch · 5833 Westminster Dr., Austin, TX
A free Austin Public Library program for babies (0–1), preschoolers (3–5), toddlers (1–3); no registration listed.
Hampton Branch at Oak Hill · 5125 Convict Hill Rd., Austin, TX
A free Austin Public Library program for toddlers (1–3); no registration listed.
Windsor Park Branch · 5833 Westminster Dr., Austin, TX
A free Austin Public Library program for babies (0–1), preschoolers (3–5), toddlers (1–3); no registration listed.
John Gillum Branch · 2505 Steck Ave., Austin, TX
A free Austin Public Library program for babies (0–1); no registration listed.
Milwood Branch · 12500 Amherst Dr., Austin, TX
A free Austin Public Library program for preschoolers (3–5), toddlers (1–3); no registration listed.
Terrazas Branch · 1105 E. César Chávez St., Austin, TX
A free Austin Public Library program for babies (0–1), kids (6–10), preschoolers (3–5), toddlers (1–3); no registration listed.
Hampton Branch at Oak Hill · 5125 Convict Hill Rd., Austin, TX
A free Austin Public Library program for babies (0–1), preschoolers (3–5), toddlers (1–3); no registration listed.
Twin Oaks Branch · 1800 S. Fifth St., Austin, TX
A free Austin Public Library program for babies (0–1), preschoolers (3–5), toddlers (1–3); no registration listed.
Little Walnut Creek Branch · 835 W. Rundberg Ln., Austin, TX
A free Austin Public Library program for preschoolers (3–5); no registration listed.
Southeast Branch · 5803 Nuckols Crossing Rd., Austin, TX
A free Austin Public Library program for babies (0–1), preschoolers (3–5), toddlers (1–3); no registration listed.
Howson Branch · 2500 Exposition Blvd., Austin, TX
A free Austin Public Library program for toddlers (1–3); no registration listed.
Howson Branch · 2500 Exposition Blvd., Austin, TX
A free Austin Public Library program for preschoolers (3–5); no registration listed.
Central Library · 710 W. César Chávez St., Austin, TX
A free Austin Public Library program for babies (0–1), preschoolers (3–5), toddlers (1–3); no registration listed.
Central Library · 710 W. César Chávez St., Austin, TX
Music and movement for toddlers in the Children’s Area on the 3rd floor.
Milwood Branch · 12500 Amherst Dr., Austin, TX
Sensory play with natural materials for toddlers and preschoolers.
Windsor Park Branch · 5833 Westminster Dr., Austin, TX
An outdoor music time for babies with Austin Soundwaves.
Mexic-Arte Museum · 419 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701
Austin’s biggest Día de los Muertos celebration starts with a noon procession of costumes, floats, music and dancers, then fills E. 4th St. and Congress Ave. with hands-on art activities, food, a low-rider show and live performances until 6.
Twin Oaks Branch · 1800 S. Fifth St., Austin, TX
Read, sing, dance and play together; for babies through preschoolers.
Spicewood Springs Branch · 8637 Spicewood Springs Rd., Austin, TX
Stories and songs in Ukrainian.
North Austin Community Garden · North Austin YMCA, 1000 W. Rundberg Ln., Austin, TX 78758
A free fall nature festival and Spooktacular for families, listed on Austin Public Library’s calendar.
Central Library · 710 W. César Chávez St., Austin, TX
Stories and seed-ball making for preschoolers and up.
Little Walnut Creek Branch · 835 W. Rundberg Ln., Austin, TX
Música y movimiento: songs and movement in English and Spanish.
Nothing free on this day yet. Try an always-free place.
Mark the calendar
Museum and zoo free days, free festivals and other one-off free events, soonest first. Some free days are only for residents or cardholders, so each one says who gets in free.
North Austin Community Garden · North Austin
3–6pm
Bullock Texas State History Museum; The Contemporary Austin (Laguna Gloria, Jones Center); Thinkery · Austin
Only the cardholder gets in free, so bring the card and an ID.
Zilker Park · 2100 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX
7–10pm. Parking must be bought online ahead; shuttle passes include admission on paid nights. ZIP passes allow entry from 6pm.
Thinkery · Mueller, 1830 Simond Ave.
Buy at the front desk (not online) and bring a photo ID.
Any day
Parks, gardens, nature centers and museums that don’t charge admission.
Every week
Free Books and Babies, toddler and all-ages storytimes, many in Spanish and other languages, at branches across Austin.
Most days, including some Saturdays
Keep planning
Good questions
This week we found 25 free outings for ages 0–6, including Viva La Vida Festival & Parade, Nature Sensory Playgroup (Terrazas Branch), All Ages Storytime: Roots & Wings Edition (University Hills Branch) and Pajama Storytime (Windsor Park Branch). See free this week; the list is rebuilt every Thursday.
Nature Festival & Spooktacular: Sat Oct 24. Bank of America Museums on Us weekend: Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8, Sat Dec 5 and Sun Dec 6. Austin Trail of Lights free nights: Next: Thu Dec 10, Fri Dec 11, Sun Dec 13, Mon Dec 14 and 3 more. Museums for All at Thinkery: Any open day ($16.95 off general admission and $6 off Baby Bloomer tickets, for up to six guests, with a Texas Lone Star/SNAP EBT, WIC, CHIP or Medicaid card). Dates come from each venue’s own page; see free days and free events.
Austin Trail of Lights is free this season. Dates and times are on each card under free days and free events.
Austin Central Library, Twin Oaks Branch Library, Terrazas Branch Library, Girard Kinney Park and Mayfield Park and 4 more don’t charge admission. Some charge for parking or special exhibits; the cards say so where the place does.
Yes: Austin Central Library. See all of them on indoor play places in Austin.
Yes. Austin Public Library runs free storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Times change by branch, so check the calendar linked below.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 19, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday for dated events and once a month for free places. How we choose and check.
Littles Weekly
One short email every Friday morning with the best things to do with little ones in Austin that weekend, free ones flagged.
Indoor play in Austin
Thanksgiving weekend in Austin