Weekend Top 10 FREE Events (Oct 19-21, 2012)

1. Free Harry Potter Wand Making - Friday, October 19, from 5 - 7 p.m.  You just can't have enough wands! Join The Art Garage for their popular FREE Harry Potter wand-making event. Make a wand to accessorize your Halloween costume or just for fun! There will be other studio specials and surprises, too!  The Art Garage, 11190 Circle Drive #202-3, Austin.
2. Free Movies at Mueller Lake Park - Friday, October 19 at 6 p.m.  Kids’ activities begin at 6 p.m. followed by a FREE screening of Puss in Boots beginning at dusk (around 7:30 p.m.). Grab your family and your blanket (please no chairs) and head to Mueller Lake Park Amphitheater.  Saturday, October 20 at 7 p.m. Return for Movie Music in the Park, Halloween Edition, which includes a FREE screening of Ghostbusters (1984).  Mueller Lake Park Amphitheater, near the roundabout along Simond Avenue, Austin.
3. Metz Movies in the Park: Ghostbusters - Friday, October 19 at dusk (7:30 - 7:45 p.m.) Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and snacks to enjoy a movie under the stars. Enjoy FREE popcorn and drinks. Metz Recreation Center, 2407 Canterbury Street.
4. Leander Movies in the Park: The Adventures of Tintin - Friday, October 19 at dusk.  Leander's fall Movies in the Park series wraps up with a FREE screening of The Adventures of Tintin. Bring lawn chairs, blankets and a picnic dinner to enjoy this movie under the stars on a 20-foot tall screen. Concessions will be available for sale. Alcohol and glass containers are prohibited. Friendly pets on a leash are welcome. Robin Bledsoe Park, 601 S. Bagdad Road, Leander.
5. Free Williamson County Symphony Orchestra Concerts - Friday, October 19 at 7:30 p.m. Enjoy a FREE concert at Anderson Mill Baptist Church (Directions and Program). Saturday, October 20 at 7:30 p.m. The orchestra will perform again for FREE at Hutto High School Performing Arts Center (Directions and Program).
6. Chisholm Trail Days in Georgetown - Saturday, October 20, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. This FREE family event features living history encampments, western demonstrators, working blacksmiths, a children’s corral, authentic chuckwagons, a BBQ cook off, and live western music. There will even be a cattle drive along the river beginning at 4 p.m.  Activities are free, excluding food and outside vendors (for example, there will be a fee for pony rides). A cowboy breakfast will be served beginning at 9 a.m. for $3 per meal.  A BBQ dinner will be held at the Community Center from 5:15 – 7 p.m. for $10 per person. Proceeds from this year’s event benefit The Nest, Head Start, CASA, and the educational programs of The Williamson Museum. San Gabriel Park, 445 E Morrow Street, Georgetown.
7. DogToberFest Austin - Saturday, October 20, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. DogToberFest is an Austin based non-profit organization that aims to raise awareness about dog rescue, as well as to raise funds for local rescue organizations. The event includes a silent auction, Canine Costume Contest, demonstrations from Texas Hearing and Service Dogs and the Austin Police Department K9 Unit, wiener dog races, and more fun for the entire family.  Admission is FREE. The Phase II section of The Domain (between iPic Theaters and The Range Golf Club), Austin. 
8. I Spy Pie! at Central Market - Saturday, October 20, from noon - 3 p.m.  Join Creative Action for an afternoon of arts and crafts, live music and pie tasting! Enjoy performances by Emmy Award winning The Biscuit Brothers and Jungle Jill and the Jay Birds as five bakeries compete for the honor of having the best pie in Austin. Competing are Texas Pie Kitchen, Jeffrey's, Central Market Bakery, Central Market Cooking School, and Tiny Pies.  Admission to the event is FREE. Pie-tasting tickets, which give attendees the opportunity to taste all pie entries, as well as vote for their favorite entry are $5. Proceeds will benefit Creative Action, formerly Theatre Action Project (TAP).  If you'd like to stick around Central Market following the event (there's a playground and good eats at the cafe), you can also catch a free fiddle performance by The Ruby Jane Show, starting at 6:30 p.m. Central Market, 4001 North Lamar Blvd., Austin.
9. Halloween Spooktacular at Dittmar - Saturday, October 20, from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Put on your best costume and come celebrate Halloween with Dittmar Recreation Center! There will be a carnival set up with lots of fun games, food, prizes, and a costume contest! Carnival tickets will be 25¢ each.  The carnival will begin at 5:30 p.m. There will also be a haunted house located in the main building for brave youngsters, teens, and adults to enjoy. To finish off the evening, the Rec Center will be showing the movie Casper on the athletic field, so bring a blanket to save your spot on the grass! The FREE movie begins at 6:45 p.m. Dittmar Recreation Center, 1009 W. Dittmar Rd., Austin.
10. Arabic Hafleh at Long Center City Terrace - Sunday, October 21, 2012, from 8 - 10 p.m. World Music & Dance Productions and Putumayo World Music proudly present Austin resident and internationally acclaimed Arabic singer/songwriter Zein Al-Jundi and The Phoenicia Band in an Arabic Hafleh - a celebration of Arabic culture, music and dance - and the official CD Release Party for Putumayo's latest Arabic music compilation, Arabic Beat. In addition to the live music performance with Zein and her band, the evening will include an elaborate bellydance and Dabkeh Folkloric dance showcase, featuring, in a rare dancing appearance, Zein herself, The Bint El Balad Bellydance Ensemble and guest dance company, The UT Dabkeh Group. General admission for the concert is FREE and open to the public. General admission is standing room or lawn seating only. 701 W. Riverside Drive, Austin.

Bonus mostly free events (because it's so hard to stop at 10):

1. Shakespeare on the Farm - Friday, October 19, Saturday, October 20 and Sunday, October 21 at 7 p.m.  Present Company Theatre will host their fourth installment of Shakespeare on the Farm, with Julius Caesar. The show runs from October 19 - November 4, 2012, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, beginning at 7 p.m. with the Shakespeare Field Guide pre-show. Bring a picnic and come spread your blanket under the stars at the Rain Lily Farm in East Austin. Promoting the philosophy of accessible and sustainable art, Shakespeare On the Farm is FREE, but a suggested donation of $10 helps support the event. Rain Lily Farm, 914 Shady Lane, Austin.
2. Viva la Vida Festival - Saturday, October 20, from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. The traditional street festival is no longer scheduled to occur, but the festival will go on. The event will move inside the Mexic-Arte Museum and will still feature Latino artists, music, entertainment, Day of the Dead-themed exhibitions, and educational programs. Although the procession will not take place this year, festival participants are encouraged to wear costumes to the event as there will be a costume contest at 7:30 p.m. Attendees will also enjoy traditional foods from local restaurants, hands-on art activities, and artist demonstrations.  Admission for children 12 and under and Museum members will be FREE all day. From 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., admission will be FREE for everyone. From 1 - 10 p.m., admission will be $5 for adults.  Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress Ave., Austin.
3. 2012 Aki Matsuri ~ Japan Fall Festival - Saturday, October 20, from 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. Taiko drums, traditional and festive Japanese dance and musical instruments, the beauty of the tea ceremony, Kendo swords, Okinawan traditional dance, and Eisa Taiko performace -- all this will bring the esthetic gifts of Japanese culture to Austin and Central Texas during the 2012 Aki Matsuri, Japan Fall Festival. Visitors will enjoy a range of Japanese food, drink samples, art collections, Yukata photo booth, calligraphy, origami workshop, and Japanese games and entertainment. FREE for JASGA members and children under 18; $5 for non-members.  O. Henry Middle School, 2610 W 10th St, Austin.
4. Hutto Olde Tyme Days - Saturday, October 20, from 10 a.m. - midnight. More than 100 vendors, live music, carnival rides, a petting zoo, an antique car show and more. FREE admission during the day. The evening concert and street dance is $5 (gates open at 7 p.m.). Go here for the full schedule. Parking is $2 per car at the city’s Co-op on U.S. Hwy 79 in Hutto.
5. Pfall ChiliPfest - Saturday, October 20 at 11 a.m.  Enjoy tons of activities such as washers, a classic car and hot rod show, raffles and door prizes, food and arts and crafts vendors, children's activities, and of course a chili cook off. ChiliPfest is FREE and open to the public.  For $5 you receive 25 sample cups, 25 voting tickets and 5 spoons. Sample chili from chili cooks and CASI cooks lined up along the road. Give your chili tickets to your favorites to help them win People’s Choice! Chili is served from noon – 4 p.m. or while supplies last. Parking is available at Pflugerville High School, 1301 W. Pecan, with free shuttles dropping off at 4th and Main. Downtown Pflugerville. 

For more events, check out the Free Fun Calendar and the 2012 Fall Festivals and Halloween Events roundup.  There is plenty going on this weekend and it looks like the weather will be beautiful.  Have a great one!