Family events in San Marcos, TX

Cool Kids Party Co. is hosting a Back to School Drive to help families get ready for a successful school year. This free community event offers 200 backpacks filled with school supplies while they last, complimentary haircuts, free food, and bounce houses for kids. The focus is on bringing neighbors together so every child can start the year feeling prepared and confident. Presented in partnership with Change Through Faith Foundation and Bounce With Joy Rentals. Changing lives, restoring hope, and building futures.

Browse and shop at The Peddler Show in New Braunfels, a weekend-long marketplace with vendors offering a wide variety of items. General admission is good all weekend, and there is also a free kids 12 and under option valid for any one day. Show hours run Friday 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Sunday 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Children, families, and neighbors from Austin’s Rundberg community and nearby areas are invited to a free back to school skate gathering at Pins & Wheels, formerly Playland. Enjoy roller skating, music, and family activities along with complimentary food and drinks, plus raffles and giveaways. Every student can receive a free backpack filled with school supplies while supplies last. Admission is free, and organizers ask families to register so they can plan accordingly. The event is presented by Upbring’s Child Wellbeing Zone program in partnership with JPMorganChase, The PFaith House, and the Bertha Carson Heart Foundation. Upbring has supported children and families for more than 150 years through foster care, education, residential treatment, community services, and prevention, including Child Wellbeing Zones in Austin’s Rundberg neighborhood and Dallas’s Oak Cliff community.

Catch Texas singer-songwriter Jackson Wendell live at Gruene Hall. Doors open at 7:00 PM, with an opener listed as TBA starting at 8:00 PM. Jackson Wendell takes the stage at 9:30 PM. This is an all-ages show.

An annual back-to-school celebration at The R.O.C.K. offers complimentary backpacks and school supplies while stocks last, along with laptop giveaways. Attendees can connect with community vendors sharing local resources, enjoy inflatables and games, tour a fire truck, and visit food trucks. Door prizes and music round out the activities. The event centers on preparing students for success and celebrating the new school year.

Unparalleled Preparatory Academy, in partnership with LeadHer to Purpose, hosts a free Community Resource Fair that connects Austin-area families with educational, health, and community support ahead of the new school year. Families can meet local organizations and service providers, take tours of UPA's new campus, enjoy free snacks, and participate in activities for all ages. Registered families may pick up backpacks and school supplies. Guests can also explore school information, community programs, and other helpful local services. The fair is free and open to the entire community.

POP Cats 2026 brings an immersive, pop-meets-feline festival to Austin, transforming the Palmer Events Center into a playground for cat lovers and pop culture fans. Expect creative environments to explore, adoption areas known as catios, interactive workshops, standout cat art, and cat-themed activities. Browse exhibits from rescue organizations and vendors, hunt for hard-to-find merchandise, capture plenty of photo moments, and even get playful cat-themed tattoos. Designed as a weekend experience, it offers something engaging for families, hobbyists, and superfans alike.

Nature's Treasures Texas presents its ninth annual celebration of rocks and fossils at a new location, offering an educational and family friendly experience. The gem and fossil dig returns for kids, and aura photography will be available along with additional activities. Visitors are welcome to bring rocks for professional identification by the Austin Gem and Mineral Society and the Paleontological Society of Austin. The Austin Gem and Mineral Society will also host a membership booth and share lapidary demonstrations.

The 15th Annual Paddle for Puppies brings dog lovers and paddlers together on Lady Bird Lake, hosted by Austin Subaru and Rowing Dock. This community tradition raises essential support for Austin Pets Alive!’s Parvo Puppy Program, which treats a contagious yet curable virus and helps hundreds of puppies each year. Every registration directly funds the specialized care that helps vulnerable puppies recover. Participants launch from Rowing Dock and can paddle single or double kayaks, canoes, SUPs, or dog friendly RUFF SUPs. Personal watercraft are welcome, and rentals are available through the dock. Registration is required for each individual, including kids and additional guests. Fees are nonrefundable, and if attendance changes the payment is counted as a donation to the cause. Dogs are welcome on the water, but please keep water safety in mind. Avoid letting pets swim or drink if the water is warm or stagnant, or if there is visible scum, surface film, or algae mats. Bringing a pet is at your own risk, and an additional waiver acknowledging these risks will be signed during on site check in. Parking near Zilker Park is limited, so consider ride share, biking, or CapMetro. A large gravel lot east of Mopac offers paid parking and a short walk to the dock. Stratford Drive is a no parking zone with enforcement, so use designated areas only to avoid tickets or towing. Please avoid bus and accessible lanes at the neighboring Nature and Science Center. A small number of first come, first served spaces may be available under the Mopac bridge. Do not leave valuables in vehicles due to recent thefts in the area.

Second Sunday at Mueller is a family-friendly gathering with activities for kids, held every second Sunday.

FunkyFoot, hailing from Austin, brings a high energy mix of soulful, funky blues to Gruene Hall, turning the venue’s historic floors into a lively dance scene. Led by John Gaar, the performance features vocals steeped in soul, gritty guitar work, tight groove-driven rhythms, bold horns, memorable hooks, sharp lyrics, and vivid storytelling. The road tested chemistry of the group powers a sound that moves easily from blues and rock to country, folk, and Americana, keeping feet in motion throughout the set. The lineup includes John Gaar on lead vocals and guitar, Glenn Fukunaga on bass, Paul “Buddha” Mills on vocals and drums, Tommy Robinson on saxophone, and David Webb on keys. Families are welcome, with a chance to eat, drink, and enjoy the music together.

Paramount Summer Classic Film Series presents a Family Film Series Double Feature at Stateside at the Paramount, pairing The Princess Diaries with The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. The original 2001 film marks its 25th anniversary and follows Mia Thermopolis as she learns she is heir to Genovia, navigating etiquette lessons, a media whirlwind, jealous classmates, and a scheme against the throne. Directed by Garry Marshall, it screens in color from DCP, runs 115 minutes, and features Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway with Hector Elizondo, Heather Matarazzo, Mandy Moore, Sandra Oh, and Robert Schwartzman. The 2004 sequel continues Mia’s journey as the future queen who discovers she must marry quickly to keep her family’s crown, sparking a comedic search for identity and true romance. Also directed by Garry Marshall, it is presented in color from DCP, runs 113 minutes, and stars Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway with Callum Blue, Hector Elizondo, John Rhys-Davies, Heather Matarazzo, and Chris Pine.

The Hideout Theatre revives its family improv with Pick Your Own Path, an interactive performance where the audience helps steer the story. The cast builds a lively tale and pauses along the way so everyone can choose between different directions. If a selection leads down a dark, twisty dead end, they rewind the action and, with the crowd’s help, take another route. After a brief hiatus following the closure of the theatre’s former home, these family-friendly shows return at the Annex space, creating a new adventure every time.