If your weekend plans are still open, there's a free, family-friendly option worth a look just north of Austin. Round Rock Premium Outlets is turning 20, and it's marking two decades with a full weekend of community events, games and in-store experiences from Thursday, October 15 through Sunday, October 18. The whole thing is free, so it's an easy one to drop into without a ticket or a reservation.
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The bulk of the action falls on the weekend, and the hours shift a bit each day. Friday and Saturday both run from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday winds down earlier, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you're bringing kids, Saturday is the day to aim for: from noon to 5 p.m. there's a set of family activations running, with a touch-a-truck, face painting, balloon twisting and slime making. Sunday keeps the momentum going with its own round of activities.
Beyond the kids' stuff, the anniversary is built around the shopping itself. The mall is layering in exclusive in-store experiences, special promotions and entertainment across the center, so it's not just a case of the usual stores with a few balloons. It's the kind of setup that rewards browsing rather than rushing in and out, which is really the point of an anniversary weekend like this.
For context on where you're heading, the Round Rock Premium Outlets is a 430,000-square-foot center spread over 200 acres, owned and managed by Simon Property Group as part of its Premium Outlets family. It carries around 125 stores, so there's plenty to wander through regardless of whether you're there for the anniversary events or just for the shopping. The address is 4401 N. I-35 in Round Rock, which puts it right off the highway and easy to reach from Austin.
If you're planning your visit, it's worth knowing the Saturday window is the busiest part of the weekend, so that's the slot to build your day around if the family activities are the main draw. Otherwise, Friday and Sunday offer a more relaxed pace to take in the promotions and in-store experiences at your own speed. Either way, it's a low-stakes way to spend a few hours with the kids in tow, and since it's free, there's no real downside to stopping by.
Published Date
13 October 2026
