Mark your calendars for February 20th, and plan to bring your whole family for a whole lot of fun! Our friends at the nonprofit Education Transformation Alliance are gearing up to put on the annual Austin Alternative School Fair, and I can see already that it’s going to be the best ever.

I’m pleased and proud that Alt Ed Austin is sponsoring the fair again, along with the good people at Whole Foods Market and Free Fun in Austin. I always have a great time talking with families at the fair, so please don’t be shy! Come on up to the Alt Ed Austin table and feel free to ask me your burning questions about Austin area schools, from pre-K through high school.

Then make your way around the Whole Foods rooftop plaza and playground, visiting with educators from 21 innovative schools, enrichment programs, and educational services. Each booth will offer a different hands-on activity for kids—including some very cool stuff for teens!—so while they're happily engaged, you can talk to the educators about their unique programs. Check out who will be there:

If you have kids in the preschool-to-elementary range, don’t miss the special show at noon! Lizzie Samples has been enchanting young audiences and their parents all over Austin with her Happy Face Storytime Performances. This is a perfect chance to see Lizzy enact a beloved children's story, in costume, with her signature charm and artistry. And, just like the fair itself, it's FREE!

Thinking ahead to potential hunger meltdowns or thirst-induced doldrums at the fair? The friendly folks at Whole Foods Market will be on hand with healthy snacks and beverages for sale! So plan to stay a while, play, talk, munch, and learn with us. If you have questions for me or any of the participating program directors before the fair, please leave them in the comments below, and we’ll do our best to answer them. Be sure to follow our Facebook event page for updates as we announce more fun, engaging activities for your kids.

See you at the fair!

Teri