Author
Addie Gross
Addie has written for numerous local lifestyle websites and founded both Austin Fun For Kids and Round Rock Moms. She is always on an adventure to find the coolest and most exciting activities with her husband and three boys. Finding local hikes is her specialty! Welcome!
About Me
Mom, Writer, Photographer
Hi! I’m Addie and I love to have fun! I have written for local websites for the past 6 years and decided to start my own thing, so here I am. Welcome! I’m always out and about with my family, finding cool stuff to do, and then sharing it here with you.
I’m so grateful to be able to share my experiences with you, and love to play even a small part in helping you find fun things to do with your family.
Hope to see you out there having fun!
💖 KIDS GIVING BACK IN AUSTIN
Here’s a few ways you can volunteer with kids in Austin:
💟 @generationserve makes it super easy for kids as young as 4 to volunteer. Just go to their calendar each month and sign up! My kids love doing the trash pick up days.
💟 @austinpetsalive lets kids 12 and up volunteer with a parent. We’ve signed up for this. They start you off with a day of laundry (or another chore they need done). Then you work a shift in their thrift store. After that, you can choose what you’d like to help out with.
💟 We always donate a birthday party and gifts to a child in foster care through @popupbirthday in honor of my daughter. You can find out the kid’s age and what they like and purchase supplies for a party and what gifts they want.
💟 @safeinaustinrescue will often put out a call for days they need help. Kids 8 and up can go and work and visit with the animals.
💟 @austinparksfdn offers family friendly volunteer opportunities for It’s My Park Day so you can clean up Austin parks.
💟 @givepulse is another place where families can volunteer together. We signed up for an event planting milkweed at Pease Park which was so much fun.
💟 You can always make cards and cookies and deliver them to your local fire station!
💟 For even more ideas, go here: https://austinfunforkids.com/kids-giving-back-in-austin/
Garey Park in Georgetown: HALF PRICE TUESDAYS are back starting tomorrow! They also leave the splash pad on all month long, making this the perfect park for these “chilly-hot in the middle-perfect at night” days. The playground isn’t shady, but there are plenty of covered pavilions if you need a break from the sun. They normally charge $4/person (non resident), but on Tuesdays it’s just $2! We love this park for the zip line swings (they have 3!), both playgrounds, and the splash pad.
🥾 There’s also a hiking trail that leads to the San Gabriel River (just ask about it when you arrive and they can give you a map)!
🍔 Shark Burger on Ronald Regan Blvd is a short 5 minute drive away if you need something to eat up there!
It’s officially park weather season! Here are a few of our favorites around town:
❤️ Walnut Creek Metro Park
💚 Katherine Fleischer in Wells Branch
💙 Creative Playscape in Georgetown
💚 Waterloo
🧡 Alliance Children’s Garden in Butler Park
🤎 Pease Park
💜 Play For All Abilities in Round Rock
💛 Balcones District Park
💚 Joanne Land Playground in Round Rock
🎃 NEW THIS YEAR! 🎃
@roundrockpumpkinfestival is now open in Round Rock!
At Old Settlers Park, right across from Dell Diamond
$5-10, 3 & under and seniors are free
Train rides, bounce house, corn pit, goats, lawn games
To be honest, the price is kind of high for what you get. However, it’s worth it if you live close by and don’t want to drive an hour for a pumpkin patch/festival experience.
@indianspringsranch pumpkin patch opens today! The thing that makes this patch unique is all the cool animals you get to see (and even feed)!
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👉SEPTEMBER 30
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🍺Oktoberfest celebrations at @JesterKingbrewery. Barvarian food specials, live music, keg rolling contest, beer, and more!
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🍺 @walburgrestaurant has a month long Oktoberfest on Fri and Sat nights from 6-11 p.m. This cute little German spot in Georgetown is great for kids! There’s an indoor restaurant, a fun patio, live music, and a little indoor arcade.
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🍺 Fredericksburg’s Oktoberfest is at Marktplatz downtown 9/30-10/2.
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🥨 @kokosbarvarian has Oktoberfest all weekend long.
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👉OCTOBER 1
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🐄 @crowesnestfarm Family Fall Fest is every weekend in October.
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🍺 Oktoberfest at @thefieldhousetexas is from 4 p.m. until close.
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🔨 Home Depot has FREE Kids DIY Workshops the first Sat of every month from 9-noon.
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🎃 The Pumpkin Patch at @bartonhillfarms is open on weekends, $19-22.
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🎃 @thejerseybarnyard Pumpkin Patch is open! Free pumpkin painting with purchase of a pumpkin every Sat in Oct from 10-noon.
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🎃 @mamamarysfarm & Pumpkin Patch Wednesday- Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Prices are: Wednesday-Friday: $7 (2 years and under FREE) includes pumpkin patch & limited farm activities. $14 on weekends. Advanced ticket reservations are required.
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🎃 @indianspringsranch has exotic animals, a playground, and pumpkin photo-ops. On weekends, they will also have food vendors, a jumping pillow, and face painting. Wed-Fri is $5 open 2-6 p.m. Sat & Sun is $12 open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Age 2 and under are free.
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👉OCTOBER 2
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🤩 @Thinkeryatx has free community nights every Sun from 3-5pm.
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🎃 @evergreenfarmselgin Pumpkin Hunt October 2-31. Free, each activity is $3. Weekdays from 12-5 p.m. Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1-5 p.m.
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⭐️ Free First Sunday at the @bullockmuseum is on October 2 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Get free admission into the museum. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month through performances and activities.
😍 2 AUSTIN POCKET PARKS 😍
🐚 SPARKY POCKET PARK
📍 3701 Grooms St, Austin
A charming little space that’s so Austin. Shells on the walls make interesting art, run through the structures, play in the open green space. There’s no playground here, but it’s quirky and cute and fun.
🥬 ALDERBROOK POCKET PARK
📍 North Austin, on the corner of Alderbrook Dr and Lamplight Village Ave
Brand new playground with sections for both big and small kids, a small covered table, and even a community garden!
Garey Park charges non residents $4/person to get in, but come October, you get half price admission on Tuesdays! 🙌 And the splash pad stays open the whole month of October!
🍺Oktoberfest at @jesterkingbrewery Sept 28-Oct 2
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🍺Oktoberfest at @thefieldhousetexasis Oct 1 from 4 p.m. until close
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🎃 @crowesnestfarm Family Fall Fest is every weekend in October
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🍺 @walburgrestaurant has a month long Oktoberfest on Fri and Sat nights from 6-11 p.m through Oct 29
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🍺Fredericksburg’s Oktoberfest takes place at Marktplatz downtown the first weekend of Oct
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🔨Home Depot has FREE Kids DIY Workshops the first Sat of every month
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😁 @Thinkeryatx has free community nights every Sun from 3-5 p.m.
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🎃Pumpkin Patch at @BartonHillFarms opens Oct 1
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🎃 @evergreenfarmselgin Pumpkin Hunt Oct 2-31
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😁Free First Sunday at @BullockMuseum is on Oct 2 from 10-5.
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🎶 Music on Main Street: FREE live music at Prete Plaza in @downtownRoundRock every Wednesday evening. Bring blankets and lawn chairs!
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🎸 Check out @ACLfestival with the kids on Oct 7-9 (or the following weekend)! Kids get in free with adult tickets. Take the kids to Austin Kiddie Limits!
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🖼The Chalk Walk is Oct 7 & 8 at Dell Diamond
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🍺Oktoberfest at @germantexans Oct 8 from 11-7.
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🎃 @TexasPumpkinFest Oct 8-30. CLOSED Mondays. FREE Tuesdays. 10am– 7pm. NEW LOCATION: 8760 FM 2243, Leander
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⛺️ Fortlandia at @wildflower center opens Oct 8
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🍺Pflugerville’s Deutschen Pfest at Pfluger Park is Oct 14-16
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👻Boo at the Zoo will be Oct 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 & 29. austinzoo
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🍺Slacktoberfest is at @slackersbrew on Oct 15
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🎃 @elginchristmas Tree Farm Fall Festival the last 2 weekends in Oct (22nd & 23rd and 29th & 30th). Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and Sundays from 12-5:30 p.m.
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😁@Thinkeryatx has free community nights every Sun from 3-5 p.m. Native American Heritage Event is on Sunday, Oct 23, at 3 pm!
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🎻 @austinsymphonyorchestra Halloween Children’s Concert is on Sun, Oct 23 at 3 p.m. at the @LongCenter
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Read more here: https://austinfunforkids.com/how-to-have-a-fun-october-with-kids-in-austin/
🚗DAY TRIP TO SAN MARCOS WITH KIDS
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🚤 Glass bottom boat tour at the Meadows Center. $6-10 (kids 2 and under are free)
See to the bottom of the San Marcos River/Spring Lake. This was the home of the very first amusement park in Texas-Aquarena Springs.
Boat tours are daily from 9:30-5.
🐠 Aquarium next door!
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🤤 Manske Roll Bakery for cinnamon rolls
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😎 Childrens Park is a huge playground that’s fenced all the way around with only one opening. Definitely stop here! There are bathrooms & picnic tables too.
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🍔 Ivar’s River Pub for riverside dining while you watch the people tubing the San Marcos River.
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🍺 Roughhouse Brewery has a large shady patio and kids play area.