🎉 27 Things to Do in Waco This Weekend

Good morning, Waco! This is The Waco Buzz, the local newsletter that’s like doing a cannonball into the pool on the last day of July.

In this edition:

☕ Waco’s Coffee Boom Keeps Brewing
🚁 Drones Are Coming for Your McDonald's Order
🎶 Your Full Weekend Game Plan
💼 4 Jobs Worth Knowing About

Let's get to it!
— Sam Harper

☕ Waco’s Coffee Boom Keeps Brewing

Waco’s coffee scene is having a moment and it’s happening in two very different ways.

On one side, drive-thru coffee is exploding. Brands like 7 Brew and Scooters are moving quickly into Waco. At the same time, local coffee makers are creating something different: places built around slowing down for a few minutes and actually smelling the coffee.

It’s not just one shop driving the momentum. For Keeps Coffee is preparing to expand with a second location, Pinewood Coffee Bar continues earning attention beyond Waco, THRST Coffee Shop has become a neighborhood favorite, Dichotomy Coffee has doubled down on its coffee service, and Mila Cafe recently opened a second location downtown, adding another stop to the growing list of places to grab a great cup.

The common thread? Waco’s coffee scene is getting bigger, better, and more diverse.

Enter the latest: Paloma Coffee. The Waco-based roaster will open the doors to its first storefront this Saturday at 205 Elm Ave, next to The Cutting Edge Salon.

You may have already had their coffee at JD’s Cafe or Luna Clean Food Cafe, where their beans have been served while founder Christian Spinner worked toward this next step. This weekend marks the next chapter for a coffee company that has spent years quietly building a following around Waco.
👉 205 Elm Ave | Saturday 9 AM–1 PM | PALOMA

🚁 Drones Are Coming for Your McDonald's Order

DoorDash just became the eighth company in the country approved by the FAA to operate its own drone delivery fleet. Amazon has been doing Prime Air drone deliveries around town for nearly a year, meaning we could soon have two companies competing for the skies above Waco. It will be called DoorDash Air

The company says drone deliveries could launch this fall, but it hasn’t announced which cities will get the first flights.

So yes, there’s a real chance that one day soon you’ll look up and see a drone carrying a McRib and McFlurry over I-35 instead of sitting in traffic on its way to a hungry Wacoan.

📌 Quick Hits

💬 On Tuesday I asked if you wanted a new space to connect with others, no algorithm, no ads, no influencers. Local social media built by The Waco Buzz to help you be social. 97% of you said yes. More on this coming soon.

⚡ Your Hogwarts letter finally arrived. Fabled Bookshop transforms into the wizarding world this weekend with Harry Potter trivia Friday night, a free family-friendly improv show and costume contest Saturday, plus themed treats, potions, and plenty of magical surprises all weekend long.

🏈 Enjoy the quiet. This is the last weekend of the year with zero football anywhere on TV.

🃏 Central Texas' largest card show comes to the Waco Convention Center this weekend. Sports cards, Pokémon, and more Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM–5 PM.

Most halls of fame are decided behind closed doors by a small group of voters.

The Texas Sports Hall of Fame does things differently. Sports fans can become voting members and help decide which athletes, coaches, and teams earn a spot among Texas sports legends.

The 2027 ballot features 32 candidates, including Art Briles and Thomas Everett. Voting is open through Aug. 16, but you have to become a voting member by Monday, Aug. 3 to receive a ballot.

👉 Become a voting member here and help choose the next class of Texas sports legends.

The Baylor Line | Staff Writer + Revenue Development Manager
The independent nonprofit newsroom is hiring for two roles: a Staff Writer to tell long-form and investigative stories about Baylor alumni, and a Revenue Development Manager to grow sponsorships across its magazine, digital platforms, and events.

Mobility Equipment Technician at Access 2 Mobility ($20–28/hr), Install and service wheelchair-accessible vehicles and adaptive equipment that help people stay independent.

Executive Director | Taylor Museum of Waco & McLennan County History ($90k–$110k/yr)
Lead the future of one of Waco’s historic institutions by overseeing operations, fundraising, programs, collections, and the museum’s “Museum Reimagined” vision.

Hiring? Post a Job
Hunting? View all open roles

A Free Dirty Soda + A Chance to Win a Hotel Stay

HOTWORX Woodway is celebrating its first anniversary with a blood drive alongside Carter BloodCare on Saturday, Aug. 1, from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM at 13702 Woodway Dr.

Donor slots are already full, but the party isn't. Swing by for raffles and prizes, including a one-night stay at the AC Marriott, a $100 gift card to The Butcher's Cellar or Hilltop Tavern, a Scentsy gift basket, and stretches from Stretch Zone Waco.

Dirty Fix will be there serving free dirty sodas, which makes this the second dirty soda mention in today's edition.

📍 13702 Woodway Dr
🗓️ Saturday, Aug. 1 | 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM*

Save The Date 📆

Everyone's asking the same three questions: Which AI tools are actually worth using? How are other people using them? And how can you use AI to make your work and life better?

The YOU × AI Summit answers all three. Join me, Baylor’s Dr. Hope Koch, Rogue Media Network’s Mike Hamilton, Startup Waco’s Nicholi Martinez, Jermaine Malcome, April Leman and numerous others from around Waco on Sept. 12 at PACC for a full day with 18 speakers and two tracks, whether you're just getting started or already using AI every day.

Early Bird tickets are just $59 through tonight, then prices increase. Use code YOUXAIBUZZ for an extra 20% off.

👉 Get your ticket here*

🎈 Friday, July 31:
Community Barbecue & Back-to-School Picnic @ TSTC - 5 PM
Triwizard Weekend @ Fabled Bookshop & Cafe – 6–9 PM
KWBU x Brotherwell Brewing Back-to-School Bash @ Brotherwell Brewing – 6–8 PM (free school supplies while they last)
Harry Potter LIVE @ PACC – 7–10 PM | $12.50
Puffs @ Waco Civic Theatre - 7 PM

Live Music
Stan Wilfong @ The Grape Wine & Bistro, 6 PM
Mark and Zach @ Uncle Dan's BBQ, 6:30 PM
Eric & Thomas @ Twisted Sisters Patio Bar, 8 PM
Los Roachez @ The Will, 8 PM
Mac Hankins & The Moonlighters @ The Backyard Bar Stage and Grill, 8:30 PM

🎈 Saturday, August 1:

Waco Downtown Farmers Market @ Bridge Street Plaza – 9 AM
Homestead Monthly Festival @ Homestead Heritage - 9 AM - 3 PM
SuperHero 5K & Fun Run (Waco ISD Family Fest) @ Waco High - 10 AM
Collect 'Em on the Brazos Card Show @ Waco Convention Center – 10 AM–5 PM | $5
Waco Kids Market @ Crestview Church of Christ - 2-4 PM
Puffs @ Waco Civic Theatre - 2 PM and 7 PM
Dreamfest 254 (wrestling) @ PACC – 6 PM
Improv Comedy @ Brazos Theatre - 7 PM
Summer Soundwaves pool party @ AC Hotel Waco Downtown – 7–10 PM | 21+
The Elvis Eras feat. Al Joslin @ Waco Hippodrome Theatre – 7 PM

Live Music
D-Rail Acoustic @ Tia Juanita's Fish Camp Waco - 6 PM
Pat McKee Trio @ Segovia Wine Bar - 7 PM
Mark McCallister, Sean West & Alton Ray @ The Will - 8 PM
Luke Borchelt @ The Backyard Bar Stage and Grill - 8:30 PM
Spirits of Mars @ Twisted Sisters Patio Bar

🎈 Sunday, August 2:

Homegrown Sundays @ The Will – Market 1–5 PM, live music 12–5 PM
Puffs @ Waco Civic Theatre - 2 PM

Want your event featured? Reserve an upcoming Featured Event listing here.

🧗‍♀️ This summer, Basin Climbing + Fitness is offering $25 off its final summer camp week (July 27-30) using code WACOBUZZ.

🔥 Waco Buzz readers can join HOTWORX Woodway for their first workout free.

🚗 Your neighbors at Chevy of West have been taking care of Waco drivers for years with new and pre-owned trucks, SUVs, and cars just 20 minutes up I-35 in West, TX. Stop by or browse their inventory today.

✨ Skin & Body Refinery delivers top tier injectors and natural looking results. Botox to Bellafill, they've got you covered.

💧 Need a boost? IViT Hydration & Wellness offers IV therapy and wellness treatments to help you feel better, recover faster, and boost energy. Waco Buzz readers get $35 off.

💪 Move better. Recover faster. Live stronger. Waco Bodymend is a space designed for everyday movers, athletes, and anyone who wants to feel their best.

Thanks for reading The Waco Buzz today. If you found something useful, share it with your friend who is counting down the days until Baylor football kicks off.

Whenever you’re ready, here are three ways to get more involved:

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2. Dinner Club: Meet five other locals (recent movers and lifelong Wacoans) over dinner on August 26. You’ll make new friends regardless of stage of life and help make Waco a smaller town.

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