Weekend Top 10 FREE Events (Jan 20-22, 2012)

1. Star Party at Sunset Valley City Hall - Friday, January 20, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Take a tour of the night sky, learn star lore stories, and how to use star charts. There will be activities inside City Hall as well. Snacks and drinks provided. If you have telescopes or binoculars bring them along for a great evening. For more information, please contact Carolyn Meredith at cmeredith@sunsetvalley.org or call 891-9103. Sunset Valley City Hall, 3205 Jones Rd., Sunset Valley.
2. Stargazing at the Roughs - Friday, January 20, from 8:30 - 10 p.m. Explore the galaxy as a family as an astronomer takes you on a tour of the Milky Way. Learn about the constellations and marvel at the beauty and mystery of the universe in this spectacular free program for the whole family. Bring lawn chairs, refreshments and blankets for comfort and enjoy this family event. The gates to McKinney Roughs will open at 8 p.m. Admission to the Nature Park will be free. Program will be canceled in the event of inclement weather. McKinney Roughs Nature Park, 1884 Hwy 71 West, Cedar Creek.
3. What's the Story Steve? - Saturday, January 21 at 10 a.m. What's the Story Steve? is a fully improvised theatrical journey through a story of the audience's making. Inspired by the PBS kids show Wishbone and featuring Steve the improvising poodle, audience members are invited to join in on the action or sit back and watch. Free, but donations are appreciated. The show is appropriate for all ages. ColdTowne Theater, 4803 Airport Blvd. (adjacent to I Luv Video), Austin.
4. Dragon Dancers at Wells Branch Community Library - Saturday, January 21, from 10 - 10:30 a.m. Join the library for a Chinese New Year celebration! The Texas Dragon Dance Team will perform traditional Chinese Dragon Dances! Learn about the Chinese New Year holiday and then watch the dancers perform. Free, all ages. Wells Branch Community Library, 15001 Wells Port Drive, Austin.
5. Free Day of Dance - Saturday, January 21, from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Austin Uptown Dance is proud to sponsor the fourth annual Free Day of Dance, a city-wide event aimed at getting Austin dancing! That means FREE dance classes all day! Austin Uptown Dance is offering 8 hours of Level 1 and Level 2 classes. Visit the Austin Uptown Dance website for the schedule of classes, or visit the Free Day of Dance website for more information.  
6. The Fairy Godmother Series Author at BookPeople - Saturday, January 21 at noon.  In celebration of the release of the 5th installment of The Fairy Godmother Series, Sumi's Book, author Jan Bozarth will be appearing at BookPeople. Put on your wings and sprinkle on some fairy dust! The author will read from the book, share beautiful props from the story, and invite kids into the enchanting world of Aventurine in an afternoon of discovery, magic and fun.  BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar, Austin.
7. ParentU Baby Expo - Saturday, January 21, from 1 - 5 p.m. ParentU will host a free Baby Expo at Get Babied Doula Collective. The first 50 guests will receive a free swag bag. Every guest will receive a free class pass to any ParentU lecture. Come visit with over 25 exhibitors and find treats on every table. There will also be free refreshments, free belly shots for all pregnant mamas, free infant portraits for the little ones, free car seat inspections for all parents, free belly or hand henna, free seminars on meditation, yoga, fitness, nutrition, sleep, and more.  Anyone who RSVPs online will receive a free $10 gift card to use at the Baby Expo gift card table. Options at the table are ParentU lecture passes ($5 each), Ultimate Labor Kits, Raffle tickets for free doula care ($1 per ticket), or a prenatal yoga class pass. Get Babied Doula Collective, 1825 E 38 1/2 St., Austin.
8. Mr. Johnny and Sharon at Ruta Maya - Sunday, January 22 at 10:30 a.m. Free kids show with singing and jumping and dancing.  Ruta Maya, 3601 S. Congress, Austin.
9. Identification Day at Texas Memorial Museum - Sunday, January 22, from 1 - 4:45 p.m. Bring in an object you would like identified. Scientists and guest experts will be on hand to examine fossils, bones, rocks, arrowheads, points, scrapers, and other natural and archeological materials. Admission to the Texas Memorial Museum is always free.  For more information visit the Museum website, contact Pamela R. Owen at 512-232-5511 or send her an email at p.owen@austin.utexas.edu. Texas Natural Science Center, (in the Texas Memorial Museum), 2400 Trinity Street, Austin.
10. Octavitas at the Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance & Cultural Center - Sunday, January 22, from 2 - 5 p.m. Christmas is not over for the Puerto Rican community! Come celebrate the Octavitas as the Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance and Cultural Center honors Linda Irizarry-Crockett, our first honoree, for her contribution to our community. Come enjoy with your familia, this traditional holiday festival that will kick off our 15th year! There will be antojitos Boricuas, music, artist exhibitions, a Parranda sing-along, and folkloric to contemporary music and dance performances by Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance.  Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance & Cultural Center, 701 Tillery Street, Austin.

For more family activities happening around town this weekend, visit the Free Fun Calendar.  Have a great weekend!