Weekday picks for families for the week of Nov 2 to Nov 6 in San Antonio and Boerne: the Pearl's free Monday movie is Pixar's Coco and the DoSeum opens its doors free Monday evening, Boerne's library runs Maker Mondays plus a special Story Rug family program on Friday, story times are on the calendar at SAPL branches all week, and the Botanical Garden's Storytime in the Garden returns Thursday.
These are the weekday standbys I hand to newcomer families: free, close to home, and run by institutions that have been doing them for years. Every pick below has its date, time, and place as published by the organizer.
November settles into a calmer rhythm than October, and this week leans on the library circuit in both cities. The Pearl opens with a free outdoor screening of Pixar's Coco on Monday, and the DoSeum's monthly Free Family Night lands the same evening. Boerne adds a one-off this week: a Story Rug family program at the library on Friday morning. Two heads-ups: the Botanical Garden's story times are included with regular Garden admission (free for members), and Twiglet Storytime at The Twig Book Shop asks for a heads-up RSVP. Library branches occasionally adjust weekly schedules, so a quick check of the official calendar before heading out keeps this list honest. Weekend preview: the Cibolo Farmers Market at Herff Farm runs Saturday Nov 7 in Boerne.
Monday, Nov 2
Movie Monday at the Pearl: Coco
Free open-air movie night at Pearl Park. This week's screening is Pixar's Coco, a warm family pick about music, family, and remembering. Bring chairs and blankets, and grab dinner from the Food Hall.
Pearl Park, The Pearl, San Antonio · Monday Nov 2, 6:30-8 p.m. · Free
Free Family Night at The DoSeum
San Antonio's children's museum opens its doors free on the first Monday of the month. Explore the exhibits, make something hands-on, and play in the outdoor backyard until 7:30.
The DoSeum, 2800 Broadway, San Antonio · Monday Nov 2, 5:30-7:30 p.m. · Free
Maker Mondays at Boerne Library
Drop-in make-and-take crafts and building activities in the library's Youth Activity Room, part of the library's weekly fall lineup. Free, no registration.
Patrick Heath Public Library, 451 N Main St, Boerne · Monday Nov 2, drop-in during library hours · Free
Baby Story Time at Landa Library
A free story time for babies 0-18 months with their grown-ups, Monday afternoons at the Landa branch near Monte Vista. Check the SAPL calendar to confirm the week's session.
Landa Library, San Antonio · Monday Nov 2, 1-2 p.m. · Free
Tuesday, Nov 3
Bubbletime Bookworms
A free baby and toddler story time for ages 0-2 with stories, songs, movement, bubbles, and stay-and-play time, Tuesday mornings at Boerne's public library.
Patrick Heath Public Library, 451 N Main St, Boerne · Tuesday Nov 3, 10 a.m. · Free
Story Time with Miss Constance at The Boerne Bookshop
A free, no-registration story time with songs, reading, and interaction for readers of all ages at the downtown Boerne bookstore on the Hill Country Mile.
The Boerne Bookshop, 153 S Main St, Boerne · Tuesday Nov 3, 10:30-11:30 a.m. · Free
Little Sprouts Hike at the Botanical Garden
A nature-based lesson hike for early childhood explorers through the garden grounds, Tuesday mornings through mid-November. Included with Garden admission or membership; all-terrain strollers recommended.
San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Pl, San Antonio · Tuesday Nov 3, 10-10:30 a.m. · Included with admission
Paws 4 Reading
Early readers practice reading aloud to trained therapy dogs in a relaxed, judgment-free setting. A free weekly program at Boerne's public library.
Patrick Heath Public Library, 451 N Main St, Boerne · Tuesday Nov 3, 3:30-4:30 p.m. · Free
Boerne Farmers Market
A weekly Tuesday market on the grounds of the old Town Hall, with local vendors, produce, and food. Free to attend.
402 E Blanco Rd, Boerne · Tuesday Nov 3, 4-7 p.m. · Free to attend
Día de los Muertos at The Pearl
The Pearl's free community celebration winds down this week: artist-curated ofrendas and a community altar stay on view through Nov 3, a gentle way to introduce kids to Día de los Muertos traditions.
The Pearl, San Antonio · on view through Tuesday Nov 3 · Free
Wednesday, Nov 4
Outdoor Family Story Time at Schaefer Library
Stories, songs, and movement in the open air at the Schaefer branch on San Antonio's Northeast Side, a weekly Wednesday morning program for ages 5 and under.
Schaefer Library, San Antonio · Wednesday Nov 4, 10:10-11 a.m. · Free
Preschool Story Time at Patrick Heath Library
The library's free school-year story time for ages 2-5, with stories, songs, and movement, Wednesday mornings in Boerne.
Patrick Heath Public Library, 451 N Main St, Boerne · Wednesday Nov 4, 10:30 a.m. · Free
Nature Exploration in the Family Adventure Garden
Guided nature play and exploration for ages 5 and under in the garden's Family Adventure Garden, Wednesday mornings through November. Included with Garden admission or membership.
San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Pl, San Antonio · Wednesday Nov 4, 10-10:30 a.m. · Included with admission
Let's Build: Blocks & More at Schaefer Library
Open-ended building fun with blocks and more for little engineers at the Schaefer branch, a free Wednesday afternoon program.
Schaefer Library, San Antonio · Wednesday Nov 4, 4-5 p.m. · Free
Pearl Night Market
A free outdoor Wednesday night market at the Pearl with local vendors, food, and family-friendly shopping, running every Wednesday through Nov 25.
The Pearl, San Antonio · Wednesday Nov 4, 5-9 p.m. · Free
Thursday, Nov 5
Bubbletime Bookworms
The Thursday morning session of Boerne library's free baby and toddler story time for ages 0-2, with bubbles and stay-and-play time.
Patrick Heath Public Library, 451 N Main St, Boerne · Thursday Nov 5, 10 a.m. · Free
Storytime in the Garden
A nature-themed story time on the San Antonio Botanical Garden grounds, recommended for ages 5 and under. Included with Garden admission or membership; bring a blanket to sit on.
San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Pl, San Antonio · Thursday Nov 5, 10-10:30 a.m. · Included with admission
Game On! at Patrick Heath Library
Free Nintendo Switch gaming for ages 7 and up in the library's youth area, a weekly Thursday afternoon program in Boerne.
Patrick Heath Public Library, 451 N Main St, Boerne · Thursday Nov 5, 3:30-4:30 p.m. · Free
Tween Time at Parman Library
A free afternoon activity time for tweens at the Parman branch in Stone Oak, a weekly Thursday program.
Parman Library at Stone Oak, San Antonio · Thursday Nov 5, 4 p.m. · Free
Friday, Nov 6
Story Rug Family Program at Boerne Library
A special free family program inspired by Sophie Blackall's picture book Story Rug: children and families work together to create, Friday morning at Boerne's library, as listed in the Boerne Star.
Patrick Heath Public Library, 451 N Main St, Boerne · Friday Nov 6, 10 a.m. · Free
Baby Story Time at Parman Library
A free story time for babies and their grown-ups at the Parman branch on the far north side, a weekly Friday morning program with a toddler session at 11:15.
Parman Library at Stone Oak, San Antonio · Friday Nov 6, 10:15-11 a.m. · Free
Family Story Time at McCreless Library
Free stories, songs, movement, rhymes, and play for ages 0-5 at the McCreless branch, a weekly Friday morning program.
McCreless Library, San Antonio · Friday Nov 6, 10:30-11:15 a.m. · Free
Twiglet Storytime at The Twig Book Shop
Miss Anastasia's free Friday story time at the Pearl, just outside the shop's west door facing Pearl Park, with a craft after the reading. An RSVP heads-up is appreciated.
The Twig Book Shop, 306 Pearl Pkwy, San Antonio · Friday Nov 6, 10:30-11:30 a.m. · Free
Anytime this week
Event dates, times, locations, and free status are as published by the organizers at the time of writing. Library branch schedules and story time times vary by branch and week, so verify on the official calendar before heading out.
