Austin, TX

It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful weekend to be out and about in our wonderful city. I don’t know about you but I just love this time of year. The weather has cooled down and yet it’s still sunny. I throw open the windows and enjoy the breeze.

What better to do at this time of year than to attend a pumpkin festival? Is there any other thing that symbolizes fall than the pumpkin? Lucky for you it’s once again time for Elgin Christmas Tree Farm’s annual Pumpkin Festival. There will be face painting, hay rides, kids activities, blue grass music, pumpkin painting, animals to pet and more.

The Elgin Pumpkin Festival
When: October 11 & 12 and October 18 & 19
Where: Elgin Christmas Tree Farm, 120 Nature’s Way, off Roy Davis Rd. Elgin, TX
$$$: Adults $6, Children $5 (3-12 years)

Tomorrow is also family day at the Austin Museum of Art (AMOA). This is a great way to introduce art and culture to the kidlets. Kids can even make their own modern-day mobile!

Family Day at the AMOA
When: Saturday, October 11, 2008, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Where: Austin Museum of Art Downtown, 823 Congress
$$$: $7 per family; $5 Member families

The coolest event of the weekend may well be Aeromodelers Big Bird Fly-in. Radio-controlled planes fly overhead while the people that fly them show you how to do barrel rolls or build your very own miniature flyer.

Aeromodelers Big Bird Fly-in
When: Saturday and Sunday October 11th and 12th, 9:30am-4pm
Where: Mary Moore Searight Municipal Park (off Slaughter Lane between South First and Manchaca)
$$$: Free

If you’re looking for a bit more adult oriented entertainment then you might be interested Apocalypse Wow. Kitty Kitty Bang Bang burlesque and the No Salvation Army Band join forces to turn it up and turn you on. Meow!

Apolcalypse Wow
When: October 11th, 2008, 9pm
Where: The Compound, 1300 E. Fourth
$$$: $15

This is your last weekend to catch the Black Arts Movement Festival which ends October 14th. This multidisciplined and multivenued festival offers audiences the wide range of African-American voices in the arts. Expect theatre, dance, opera, and hip-hop performances throughout the festival. Comedian Charles Dutton will be performing as part of this event at 8pm on October 13th at the Long Center for the Performing Arts. All proceeds will support Pro Arts Collectives’ continued fundraising efforts and programming. all proceeds will support Pro Arts Collectives’ continued fundraising efforts and programming. Tickets are just $20.

Black Arts Movement Festival
When: Oct. 3-14
Where: Check www.bamaustin.org for a complete schedule
$$$: $15 individual event, $50 festival pass

If your little one is more of the four-footed variety then Barktoberfest may be more your speed. Hosted by the Central Texas SPCA, this is a pooch and family friendly fundraiser. There will be a walk, vendor booths and even a canine costume contest! This is a great cause at a great location.

6th Annual Barktoberfest
When: October 11th, 2008, 9:30am-2pm
Where: Old Settler’s Park, 3300 E. Palm Valley Round Rock
$$$: Festival, free; walk, $20

Another fun sounding fundraiser is the Violet Crown Fall Arts Festival which benefits an oral history project underway for the Brentwood and  Crestview neighborhoods. Dozens of local artisans will offer their wares at the event, and local musicians  and other performers will entertain. There will be activities for children, as well as 
neighborhood history and other information.  It’s also a great opportunity to visit 
the 120‐foot mosaic Wall of Welcome, which was dedicated last spring. 

The Violet Crown Fall Arts Festival
When: Saturday, October 11, 10 am-4 pm
Where: Crestview Shopping Center, 7100 Woodrow
$$$: Free

This weekend is definitely going to the dogs. Not only do we have Barktoberfest but we also have Dogtoberfest. This one is put on by the Blue Dog Rescue Group. Blue Dog Rescue is a volunteer organization whose purpose is to end the needless killing of homeless dogs. Live music, food, silent auction, and we will pull the winners for our BIG TIME raffle, featuring a Spaten Cruiser Bicycle and a custom Gibson Epiphone Dot 335 Guitar.

Dogtoberfest
When: Sunday, October 12 2008, 1:00pm - 8:00pm
Where: The Ginger Man, 304 W 4th St
$$$: Free

If you love our Texas Rollergirls, and how could you not, then you won’t want to miss the Calvello Cup Championship! The Hellcats are on top of the world since their hard-won victory against the Cherry Bombs, but the Holy Rollers are still feeling the sting of their hellacious defeat at the hands of the Rhinestone Cowgirls, who recently smashed the Rollers’ two-season winning streak in the biggest upset in TXRD history. The Hellcats are staring down their first chance at the Calvello Cup since 2002, but the defending champion Holy Rollers aren’t gonna give up that title without a serious battle royale. Who will walk out of the Austin Convention Center with that coveted cup, and who will walk out bruised up and empty handed? One thing’s absolutely certain: this bout is not to be missed.

TXRD Lonestar Rollergirls Calvello Cup Championship
When: October 11 2008, 7:00pm
Where: Austin Convention Center, 500 E Cesar Chavez St
$$$: $13.00-15.00

Are you’re an Alice in Wonderland fan you’ve just got to get out to Pioneer Farms this weekend for their Lewis Carroll Halloween. For three nights only, Oct. 11, 18, and 25, many characters from the writings of Lewis Carroll will inhabit Pioneer Farms. Hayrides will transport visitors to the world of Lewis Carroll to meet such characters as Alice in Wonderland, Jaberwocky, Hiawatha, and many more. Seating is limited so make your reservations early. Appropriate for all ages so bring the whole family out! RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED

Lewis Carroll Halloween
When: October 11 2008, 6:30p-10:00p
Where: Pioneer Farms, 10621 Pioneer Farms Drive
$$$: $10.00 ($11.24 w/service fee)