Rattan Fest[/caption]

Here are five things to do this weekend in and around Northwest Austin:


1. Rattan Fest

The Rattan Creek Neighborhood Association hosts its annual event at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The free event is at the Rattan Creek Community Center, 7617 Elkhorn Mountain Trail. Activities include live music, vendor booths and bounce houses as well as food and drinks available for purchase. Visit www.facebook.com/rattancreek/events for more details.

2. Grand opening of new Pinballz Arcade

Co-owners Darren and Mikki Spohn celebrate the grand opening of their newest and largest arcade, Pinballz Lake Creek, 13729 Research Blvd., Ste. 1350. The event is from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday. Festivities include a ribbon cutting ceremony with Mayor Steve Adler at 2 p.m. Pinballz hosts tournaments throughout the day as well as  an Austin Humane Society pet adoption event. Pinball enthusiast Ed Robertson of the band Barenaked Ladies is scheduled to perform. Tournaments cost between $5 and $10 to play. Visit www.pinballzarcade.com/pinballz-lake-creek-grand-opening for a full schedule.

3. Adaptive Sports Expo

For those willing to make the trek to downtown Austin, the YMCA of Austin is hosting its second annual expo from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at its Town Lake branch, 1100 W. Cesar Chavez St. The free event is geared toward individuals who have visual, hearing, mobility and/or intellectual disabilities. Activities include food, games, programs and resources for people to learn more about participating in adaptive sports. Visit www.austinymca.org for more information.


4. Pecan Street Festival

Also in downtown Austin, the 36th annual festival runs from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sunday. The arts festival features local and national artisans who sell wares in a variety of forms, including metal, wood, fiber, clay, leather, glass and stone. The event is free to attend and is located in the Sixth Street Historic District between Brazos Street and I-35. Visit www.pecanstreetfestival.org for more information.

Visitors can skip the drive downtown by taking a Capital Metro bus or MetroRail. The transit agency is offering extended MetroRail hours beginning at 10:20 a.m. Saturday from the Kramer Station near The Domain. At 11:08 a.m., service will be every 34 minutes between the Lakeline and downtown stations. The final train departs downtown Austin northbound at midnight, and MetroRail does not operate Sundays. Attendees may also take a MetroRapid bus. Visit capmetro.org/specialevents for schedules and fare information.

5. Seton Northwest 25th anniversary

On Sunday, the hospital celebrates its 25th anniversary from 3-5 p.m. at 11113 Research Blvd. with storyboards detailing the history of the hospital in the facility’s hallways and atrium. The free event will include music, door prizes, refreshments, biometric health screenings and meet-and-greets with doctors. The hospital also selling memorial bricks to be used to resurface the hospital’s outdoor courtyard, which is frequented by hospital employees, patients and visitors, said Margaret Butler, Seton Northwest chief operating officer. Visit www.seton.net/locations/northwest for more information.