Good Morning Waco! This is The Waco Buzz, the newsletter that feels like flipping your pillow to the cool side.
In this edition:
Date Night Passport Preview💖
The Best Midweek Live Music and Events 🎶🎶
What’s Happening in Waco in September 📆
City of Waco reviews the 2026 Budget 💰
Let’s get to it!— Sam Harper
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BUZZWORTHY NEWS
What’s Happening Waco
❤️ The Waco Buzz Date Night Passport
Date nights in Waco are about to get a serious upgrade. I’m putting the finishing touches on the first-ever Waco Buzz Date Night Passport which will be your golden ticket to eating, sipping, and relaxing your way across town without breaking the bank. The goal is to have it in your hands by the end of the month.
A few sneak peeks:
Appetizers at Pignetti’s
Dessert at Di Campli’s
A charcuterie board at Olive Branch
50% off a wellness session at Dreamscape Spa
…plus a couple dozen more surprises
It’s 100% local, it’s fun, and it’s designed to give you more reasons to actually go out instead of scrolling Netflix and calling that “quality time.”
👉The Waco Buzz Date Passport - Interest
✈️ The Waco Buzz is your home for Waco’s best flight deals
Last week we tested flight deals out of Waco Regional Airport… and 99% of you voted yes to keep them coming (over 250 votes!). So here’s your first official deal: Waco → Boston roundtrip later this month. Perfect timing for fall colors, clam chowder, and pretending you’re in a Wahlberg movie. See the deal.
📅 September Preview
A packed month ahead in Waco:
To Kill a Mockingbird at Waco Civic Theatre runs September 4-14
Gov. Abbott’s State of the State at the Baylor Club on Wednesday at 11:30 AM
Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh speaking at MCC on September 11
Lauren Daigle live at Foster Pavilion on September 12
Art on Elm returns to the Waco Farmers Market on September 20
The Waco Margarita Festival at The Backyard on September 20
BUSINESS NEWS
September Openings & Moves
Tia Juanita’s Fish Camp Waco Opens on September 8
Waco’s getting a fresh lineup of openings this month:
Sept. 2 — ☕ Starbucks (China Spring)
Sept. 8 — 🌮 Tia Juanita’s in Central Texas Marketplace
Sept. 10 — 👗 Uptown Cheapskate
Sept. 15 — 🏌️ Swing Waco
Sept. 18 — 🌭 Dog Haus
🎢 Ripley’s Believe It or Not has acquired Hawaiian Falls Waco marking the first time Ripley’s (yes, the museum and classic TV show once hosted by Dean Cain) has ever dipped into the waterpark world. With Ripley’s known for oddities and surprises, could we see slides with shark teeth, Guinness-record attractions, or even a sideshow twist on the lazy river? Whatever it is, everyone will be excited to see improvements made at our beloved waterpark.
👉 Reply with your best guess with what you think they will add to the park by next season, best response gets featured in Friday’s Buzz.
🍩 Longtime Buzz reader Marcia emailed me last week asking for an update on the just-opened Slumber Rollz (yep, the bright pink building at 101 S New Rd). Turns out, the owner has already listed it for sale: $395,000 asking, $150,000 cash flow. Ready to roll up your sleeves and step into the cinnamon roll world? Here’s the listing.
Civic News
Budget Season
City Council meets Tuesday, 6 PM at the Bosque Theatre (Waco Convention Center) to keep working through the 2026 city budget.
Big picture:
This $759.6M plan covers day-to-day services plus $109.8M in capital projects (think: water lines, roads, bridges, zoo exhibits). It’s the roadmap for how Waco grows.
Spotlight: Tourism District
The Tourism Public Improvement District is presenting updates. Their job? Bring in conferences, tournaments, and visitors who stay in hotels which fuels hotel tax dollars that circle back into Waco for infrastructure, safety, and quality-of-life projects.
Quick FAQs locals ask:
💰 Where does the money come from? Property + sales tax, hotel taxes, utility/parks fees, fines, grants.
🏠 Who sets my house value? McLennan Central Appraisal District.
📈 Will my taxes go up? Average homeowner will see about a $134 increase, even with Waco holding its lowest tax rate in over a decade ($0.755 per $100).
📊 How’s it balanced? Higher property values, steady sales tax, updated fees, and some fund balance for one-time costs.
📅 When does it start? October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026.
Why it matters:
This is how your tax dollars become better streets, stronger public safety, reliable utilities, and new community amenities. Council finalizes it before October 1, your chance to weigh in is now.
COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS
Local Businesses You Can Trust
🏢Cromwell Commercial Group - Your trusted partner to assist in finding and acquiring the perfect commercial property for your investment needs.
🏗️Arise Construction - Waco’s trusted commercial contractor, currently building the new Gibbons Island at Cameron Park Zoo.
🏠 Evergreen Enterprises - Honest, reliable, and on time general contractor
⭐Adam Rogers - Texas Farm Bureau Insurance - Local, trusted guidance designed specifically for your family.
Interested in connecting with our audience, supercharging your business, and supporting the growth of this publication? Reply to this email to get started.
LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN & MIDWEEK EVENTS
Coming up this week 📆
To Kill a Mockingbird Opens at Waco Civic Theatre on Thursday
📆 Tuesday:
Beer Garden Yoga @ Brotherwell Brewing – 7 PM
Smarty Pints Trivia @ Southern Roots Brewing Co. – 7 PM
Tuesday Trivia Night @ Dancing Bear Pub - 7 PM
Slap Stix Trivia Tuesday @ Freight Bar – 7:30 PM
Open Mic Night @ Thrst Coffee – 8 PM
📆 Wednesday:
The Meetup @ Startup Waco – 9 AM
Story Time @ Fabled Bookshop & Café – 10:30 AM
Levitt AMP Waco Music Series: Los Desechos with Sandtown TX & Maroon Monday @ Bridge Street Plaza - 5 PM
Open House & Networking Event @ Marie’s Wine Bar - 5:30 PM
Walk to End Alzheimer’s Kick-Off Party with Dave Innis @ Lounge ’93 - 5:30 PM
Wild Wednesday Hike @ Cameron Park – 5:45 PM
Trivia Night @ Hemingway’s Watering Hole - 6 PM
Wednesday Game Night @ The Will - 6 PM
Rebecca Ross: Wild Reverence @ Anthem STORIES - 6 PM Tickets
Slap Stix Trivia Night @ Torchy’s Tacos - 6:30 PM
Music Bingo @ Brotherwell Brewing - 7 PM
📆 Thursday:
Pint Night @ Dancing Bear Pub - 6 PM
KRIS with a K Music Bingo @ Waco Ale Co. - 6 PM
Slap Stix Karaoke @ Torchy’s Tacos - 6:30 PM
Trivia Night @ Brotherwell Brewing - 7 PM
To Kill a Mockingbird @ Waco Civic Theatre - 7:30 Tickets
SPORTS
Baylor Sports This Week
🏈 Football — Baylor fell to Auburn 38–24 on Friday despite 419 passing yards from Sawyer Robertson. Up next: at No. 16 SMU on Saturday, 11 a.m.
⚽ Soccer — Big 12–SEC showdown with Baylor vs. Texas, Thursday, at 7 p.m. CT at Betty Lou Mays Field. Reminder: All Baylor Soccer games are FREE to attend.
🏐 Baylor Volleyball has a three game homestand at the end of the week. All games are played at the Ferrell Center. Grab tickets here.
• Thu, Sept. 4, 6 p.m. vs Northwestern
• Fri, Sept. 5, 7 p.m. vs Saint Mary’s
• Sun, Sept. 7, 2 p.m. vs Rice
THANKS!
Thanks for reading The Waco Buzz today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who is already wearing sweaters because anything under 80º might as well be winter.
