Recreation listings

Thursday, December 04, 2008

FAIRS & FESTIVALS

Bazaar Arte. Art bazaar with food, raffles and more. Noon to 9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday . Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress Ave. Free. 480-9373, www.mexic-artemuseum.org.

Competitive Charades Championship. Teams of four compete in a charades tournament. 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday . Salvage Vanguard Theater, 2803 Manor Road. Team registration $20, audience tickets $5. www.myspace.com/austinsoundslikefun.

First on First. Shopping, artwork, live entertainment, workshops and more. Noon to dark Saturday . S. First St. Free. 373-4242, www.myspace.com/southfirst78704.

First Thursday. Merchants, live music, food and special activities. 6 to 10 p.m. today . South Congress Avenue between Barton Springs Road and Live Oak Street. Free. www.firstthursday.info.

Wheatsville Arts Festival. Unique arts and crafts and live music. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday . Adams Park, 300 W. 30th St. Free. 478-2667, www.wheatsville.coop.

Whisky Festival. Scotch whisky tastings and hors d'oeuvres. 7 to 10 p.m. today . Opal Divine's Penn Field, 3601 S. Congress Ave. $40-$45. 707-0237.

MUSEUMS & EXHIBITS

Austin Children's Museum. Hands-on and educational exhibits. Current exhibit: 'All Systems Go.' 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. 201 Colorado St. $3.50-$5.50. 472-2499, www.austinkids.org.

Bullock Texas State History Museum. Three floors of interactive and traveling exhibits, plus an IMAX theater. Current exhibit: 'Cowboys and Presidents.' 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, noon to 6 p.m. Sundays. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and North Congress Avenue. $4-$7. 936-8746, www.thestoryoftexas.com.

Texas Memorial Museum. Natural science exhibits featuring fossils, gems and minerals. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. 2400 Trinity St. Free. 471-1604, www.texasmemorialmuseum.org.

AMUSEMENT PARKS & ZOOS

Animal World & Snake Farm. View more than 400 reptiles including anacondas and cobras at this old-fashioned novelty roadside attraction. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. 5640 S. Interstate 35, New Braunfels (Exit 183). Free for children 2 and younger; $6.75 for children 3 to 12; and $9.75 for adults. 830-608-9270.

Austin Steam Train Association. Old-fashioned Hill Country railroad trips, operating weekends year-round. Various times and locations. $15-$36. 477-8468, www.austinsteamtrain.org.

The Austin Zoo. Primates, big cats, birds, reptiles and other animals inhabit this kid-oriented, privately run sanctuary. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; no admittance after 5 p.m. 10807 Rawhide Trail. Free-$7. 288-1490, www.austinzoo.org.

Capital of Texas Zoo. Nonprofit zoo dedicated to education and conservation. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 376-A Jenkins Road, Cedar Creek. $4.49-$6.99. 303-6675, www.capitaloftexaszoo.org.

SeaWorld San Antonio. Sharks, whales and other sea life, plus rides and a water park. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday . 10500 SeaWorld Drive. $38.99-$48.99. 800-700-7786, www.seaworld.com.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Theme park. 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday . Interstate 10 West and Loop 1604 in San Antonio (Exit 555). $31.99-$46.99. 210-697-5050, www.sixflags.com/fiestaTexas.

NATURE & OUTDOORS

Austin Farmers' Market. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, Fourth and Guadalupe streets. 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays, the Triangle, 46th Street at North Lamar Boulevard and West Guadalupe Street. Free. 236-0074, www.austinfarmersmarket.org.

Austin Nature and Science Center. Nature exhibits such as the Dino Pit and Zilker Nature Preserve. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. 301 Nature Center Drive in Zilker Park. Free. 327-8181, www.ci.austin.tx.us/ansc.

Barton Springs Pool. 68-degree spring-fed pool. 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays-Sundays (closed Thursdays for cleaning). 2101 Barton Springs Road. $1-$3. 476-9044.

Bee Cave Farmers Market. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday . 13908 W. Texas 71. Free. 750-9152, www.beecavefarmersmarket.com.

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Botanical center dedicated to native Texas plants. This Friday-Sunday : Wild Ideas Shopping Event, free. 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, noon to 5:30 p.m. Sundays. 4801 La Crosse Ave. Free-$7. 232-0100, www.wildflower.org.

Manor Farmers' Market. 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday . 104 E. Rector St., Manor. Free. www.manorfarmersmarket.org.

Sunset Valley Farmers Market. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday . Burger Center, 3200 Jones Road. Free. 280-1976, www.sunsetvalleyfarmersmarket.org.

SPORTS & FITNESS

Austin Toros. Austin's minor-league basketball team. 7:30 p.m. Friday : Toros vs. Idaho Stampede. 11 a.m. Tuesday : Toros vs. Sioux Falls Skyforce. Austin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez St. $8-$100. 236-8333, www.nba.com/dleague/austin.

Children's martial arts classes. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Saturdays. Tukong Martial Arts, 2501 Montopolis Drive. Free. 385-1008.

FAMILY EVENTS

Children's Puppet Show. 4 p.m. Saturday . Central Market North, 4001 N. Lamar Blvd. Free. www.thirdcoastschool.com.

Family Fun Night. 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday . Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex, 1156 Hargrave St. Bowling, $2.99; movies, $2; roller skating, $3. 472-6932, www.myec.net.