🎁 An end of an era for the Waco holiday scene...

Good morning, Waco. This is The Waco Buzz, the local newsletter that hits just right after an extra hour of sleep.

In today's Sunday Sip:
🎄 What Happened to Deck the Halls?
🏡 Home of the Week: 711 Austin Ave #C
📅 Three Events to Circle This Week
💛 Waco Gem: Anna Cheri Foundation
☕️ Origin Story: Be Kind Coffee

Let's get to it!
- Autumn Newman, Sam Harper

You got an extra hour this morning. Here’s one way to spend it.

Thanksgiving is less than four weeks out, and somewhere in Waco a smoker, three folding tables and a very large turkey need a ride. Chevy of West’s Silverado Selldown on 2026 Silverado 1500s gives you a reason to look: 0% APR for 5 years for well-qualified buyers who finance with GM Financial, plus no monthly payments until next year.

Ask for General Sales Manager Mark Varia or owner Leo Pacheco, and tell them you saw it here. Browse the 2026 Silverado 1500s before you go.*

Whether you’re planning to get your Christmas tree out this afternoon or you prefer to wait until after Thanksgiving (like a normal person), one event has unapologetically marked the start of the holidays in Waco for the last 20 years: the Deck the Halls Holiday Gift Market. Picture endless rows of booths featuring sweaters and sweets, toys and tools, and artisanal goods galore.

As a kid growing up in Waco, Deck the Halls meant spending a Saturday morning out with my mom smelling candles, taking a picture by a Christmas tree with the weather still in the high 80s, and circling back to the fudge booth two or three times for samples.

This year brings sad news for shoppers: Junior League announced they’re putting a pause on the market, indefinitely. President of the Waco chapter, Bronda Hayes, explained, “We knew it was a crowd favorite, but we needed to diversify our funding.” 

To put it simply, Deck the Halls is a fundraiser that was not exactly…raising funds. 

Every dollar made from Junior League events goes right back into supporting women and children in Waco. Changing strategies allows them to put their hands to smaller events that will contribute better to the cause and allow for more leadership development of the members themselves—which is a core value of the organization.

One of these new fundraisers will bring back the Mother-Daughter Tea from Deck the Halls as a Mother’s Day celebration next May. And coming up this month is a 1960s throwback, the “Ciao, Charity Ball!” on Saturday, the 14th. You can get tickets and read more about it here. 

For those of you who are still itching to start your Christmas shopping–never fear! A for-profit holiday market called Home for the Holidays is hosting a similar event at the Convention Center this weekend. You can catch the tail end today from 11 AM to 4 PM. 

Welcome to Home of the Week. We'll give you a few clues about a local home for sale. You guess the price.

You might not find a Slurpee machine at 711 Austin Ave, but there’s plenty else to make this cozy apartment a rare gem.

👉 You guess the price, then take a look here.

Want to see it in person? Connect with Lezlie Roark to tour it as a buyer.^*
Listing courtesy of Camille Johnson, Camille Johnson Realtors. Lezlie Roark, our Home of the Week partner, is not the listing agent on this property. She represents HBL Realtors and can help if you're buying.

Start November off right with casting a ballot, basketball, and planting trees.

🗳️ Election Day
Tues, Nov. 3 | 7 AM to 7 PM | For registered voters
If you’ve somehow avoided the flurry of texts, fliers, and yard signs that signify a midterm election year, 1) please share your secrets and 2) you might want to mark your calendar. This Tuesday is the last day you can cast your ballot for governor as well as state and local reps. Check out the list of Vote Centers in McLennan County here.

🏀 Baylor Basketball Opening Night Mon, Nov. 2 | Foster Pavilion | Women's: 6 PM ($6+) | Men's: 8:30 PM ($25+)
The women tip off against Fairleigh Dickinson at 6 PM, followed by the men taking on Northwestern State at 8:30 PM. Both teams have plenty of buzz heading into the season: the women were picked third in the Big 12 preseason poll, while the men are looking to bounce back with a revamped roster and some promising preseason wins over Florida and Illinois. Grab a ticket to one or make a night of it and catch both!

🌱 Texas Arbor Day Tree Planting
Fri, Nov 6 | 9 to 11 AM | Pecan Bottoms Park | Free
I’m sure National Arbor Day in April is already circled on your calendar, but did you know that each state chooses its own Arbor Day too? Turns out Texas has picked Friday, November 6th as the best time to plant new trees, and Waco Parks and Rec. wants you to be a part! Come out to Pecan Bottoms Park at 9 AM to help out, learn all things aborism, and enjoy nature. More details here.

There are over 140 million orphans worldwide in need of a family, but adoption can often be very expensive and difficult to navigate. The Anna Cheri Foundation is a non-profit in Waco dedicated to smoothing out the adoption process and making way for orphans worldwide to find their “forever family.” They do this through inspiring local families to adopt and raising funds to help them every step of the way.

If any of our readers have started the adoption process, Anna Cheri Foundation wants to connect! You can apply for a scholarship here. 

For everyone else, giving financially is the best way to contribute to the cause. The goal of their current campaign is to raise $1 million to assist 1,000 families.

The upcoming Cowboy Casino Night is a fun way to get involved. The event will be at the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame on Saturday, Nov. 14th. More details here.

Origin Story is a recurring series where you learn a little more about Waco's coffee shops, because a new one seems to open every month. Find the one you like best, become a regular, learn the baristas' names, and maybe they'll learn yours (and your drink order).

Be Kind Coffee | 📍 1534 Washington Avenue

Be Kind Coffee is brewing more than coffee. Co-owner Alex Sanchez started a run club three years ago that now brings together everyone from middle school runners to retirees, four times a week. The shop also hosts creative community events, from a Fourth of July hot dog-eating contest to an annual Labor Day mile race where every participant gets a free drink.

That same welcoming spirit carries into the menu, with house-made syrups, the popular churro latte, the signature Bee Kind latte, and vegan-friendly baked goods. For Sanchez, it's all about creating a space where people can connect, have fun, and feel welcome.

👉 Read the full story → by Alexandra Brewer

The goal of The Waco Buzz is to help you get local again: know your neighbors, meet new people, and make this big small town feel even smaller.

📅 See what's happening this week →
🤝 25 ways to make Waco better this week →
🍝 Where to meet people in Waco →

Thanks for reading The Waco Buzz today. If you found something useful, share it with your co-worker most likely to show up to work an hour early because they didn’t set their clocks back.

Whenever you're ready, here are few ways to get more involved: