Good Morning Waco! This is The Waco Buzz, the local newsletter that makes you feel more accomplished than parallel parking perfectly in one go.
In this edition:
Get Your Date Night Passport 💌
When will Fall Arrive 🍂
Chip & Jo on Shark Tank This Week 🦈
State of the City Recap 🎤
The Best Live Music and Events Happening This Week🎶
Let’s get to it!
— Sam Harper
Together With Baylor New Play Initiative
Giancarlo Restuccia / iStock / Getty Images Plus)
Be part of Waco’s newest arts tradition.
From Sept. 26–28, Baylor Theatre launches the Baylor New Play Initiative—a first-of-its-kind festival showcasing four new works by emerging and established playwrights. Across three days, you’ll experience staged readings, panel discussions, and community conversations that bring artists and audiences together.
The mission of BNPI is clear: to foster excellence and innovation in new American works while cultivating dialogue, expanding artistic horizons, and enriching communities in Waco and beyond. Thanks to the visionary support of Preston & Ronda Kirk, this festival connects Texas theatre to the national stage and fuels the creation of bold new stories.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of Waco’s newest arts tradition.
BUZZWORTHY NEWS
What’s Happening Waco
🍂 Fall in Waco
Fall is officially here even if it doesn’t quite feel like it yet. The back half of this week will finally bring temps in the 60s. 🙌
Curious when Waco’s leaves will actually change? Check the map here…spoiler: it won’t be until around Thanksgiving.
Need a taste of fall to tide you over? Nightlight Donuts just rolled out their pumpkin cake donut. Pair it with a cold glass of apple cider along with your A/C on full blast and boom — instant fall vibes.
✈️Waco Flights.
This week’s standout: Waco to Denver for $275 roundtrip. Crisp mountain air, fall colors, and a short flight from home.
Stay tuned every week — we’ll keep digging up the cheapest ways to get out of town (and back).
💌 Date Night Passport Update
Good things come to those who wait… The passports are in transit, but one perk I think you’re going to like is a locals-only staycation discount at the Element Hotel. As soon as they arrive, I’ll send out the link so you can grab yours.
BUSINESS NEWS
Openings & Moves
👖 Wrangler in Waco
Big denim news: Wrangler is opening its own storefront at 1001 Webster Ave on Friday the 26th, next to Uptown Cheapskate and Casa do Brazil. While you can find Wrangler gear in plenty of stores nationwide, it’s rare to see a dedicated Wrangler-branded shop—and Waco is getting one.
📺 Shark Tank x Chip & Jo
Waco’s power couple is swimming with the sharks! Chip and Joanna Gaines join the panel on Shark Tank this Wednesday (9/24). Tune in and start your office betting pool on how long it takes for the company they buy into to show up in Waco.
This week’s movers:
Dog Haus has pushed its opening to October 18.
Uptown Cheapskate is aiming for early October.
Scooter’s Coffee celebrates its official grand opening Friday with BOGO drinks all day.
Slow Rise on the Brazos is now pouring coffee with riverfront views and it’s called Slow Rise Shine….morning lattes by the water, pizza by night.
📌 Career Opportunity
American Amicable is hiring a Claims Analyst right here in Waco. Apply here.
Civic News
State of the City Recap
@CityofWaco
Mayor Jim Holmes delivered his State of the City address recently to a record crowd at the Greater Waco Chamber. His theme: “Waco is a City of Momentum.”
Here are the highlights:
Strong Foundations: Waco is posting its lowest crime rate in 30 years and continues to invest in public safety, with a new fire station under construction and a long-term water and wastewater expansion plan.
Smart Growth: City assets have more than doubled in the last decade—from $11B to $23B—and this year’s $650M budget kept the tax rate steady while delivering $134M in infrastructure upgrades.
Downtown & Riverfront: More than 400 new housing units, restaurants, and public spaces are reshaping downtown. (No updates on the ballpark or Savannah Bananas — we checked 😉)
Quality of Life: Major park investments are underway at the new Alice Martinez Rodriguez Park (formerly Floyd Casey), China Spring Park, and Cameron Park Zoo’s Penguin Shores. Waco Regional Airport also got a terminal refresh.
Economic Momentum: In the past 8 years, Waco has welcomed 35 new companies, 4,500 jobs, and $3.3B in capital investment. The new 30,000 sq. ft. training center with TSTC is already preparing locals for high-demand jobs, and the Bledsoe-Miller STEAM Center will open in 2026.
Mayor Holmes closed by saying: “Our story continues. Together, we’re building a safer city, a stronger economy, a vibrant downtown, and neighborhoods where families can thrive.”
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.
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LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN & MIDWEEK EVENTS
Coming up this week 📆
📆 Tuesday:
Lemonade Lab @ Carleen Bright Arboretum - 6 PM
Waco Run @ Redwood Shelter Cameron Park - 6:15 PM
Beer Garden Yoga @ Brotherwell Brewing - 7 PM - $15
Smarty Pints Trivia @ Southern Roots Brewing Co - 7 PM
Trivia Night @ Dancing Bear Pub - 7 PM
Slap Stix Trivia @ Freight Bar - 7:30 PM
📆 Wednesday:
The Meetup @ Startup Waco – 9 AM
Story Time @ Fabled Bookshop & Café – 10:30 AM
Prevention 2 Prosectution @ Heart of Teas Council of Governement - 11:30 AM Learn More
Levitt AMP Waco Music Series with the Waco Downtown Farmer’s Market @ Bridge Street Plaza - 6 PM
Wednesday Game Night @ The Will - 6 PM
Trivia Night @ Hemingway’s Watering Hole - 6 PM
Slap Stix Trivia @ Torchy’s Tacos - 6:30 PM
Music Bingo @ Brotherwell Brewing - 7 PM
Mics with Benefits @ The Backyard - 7 PM
📆 Thursday:
Music Bingo @ Waco Ale Co - 6 PM
Cruz N Chill Car Meetup @ So-Cal Speed Shop - 6 PM
Trivia @ Brotherwell Brewing - 7 PM
Dance Hall Night (Free Lesson at 7) @ The Will - 7 PM
Kelly Hunt & Sara Morgan LIVE @ Texas Music Cafe - 8 PM - $15
Notable Events This Weekend
Ying Yang Twins @ The Backyard - 8:30 PM Friday
StarBridge Pickleball Open @ Camp Fimfo - 9 AM Saturday - REGISTER
Looking Ahead
👟 IronKids Waco
Give your kids their own race day moment! On Oct. 4 at 8:30 AM, little runners can take on the Toddler Trot, mile runs, or the new Splash & Dash at Bridge Street Plaza. Learn more here.
SPORTS
Baylor Sports This Week
@bufootball
🏈 Baylor Football
Baylor fell to Arizona State on a walk-off 43-yard field goal, 27–24, Saturday night at McLane. QB Sawyer Robertson threw for 250 yards and three touchdowns, while Bryson Washington topped 100 rushing yards for the third straight game. Costly turnovers proved the difference as the Bears dropped to 2–2.
Next up: Baylor heads to Stillwater to face Oklahoma State this Saturday with a 2:30 PM kickoff.
🏐 Baylor Volleyball
The Bears host TCU at the Ferrell Center Saturday at 2 PM. 🎟️ Grab tickets here.
THANKS!
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