🎃 Handing out candy or heading out?

Good morning, Waco! This is The Waco Buzz, the local newsletter that feels like finding a king-size bar at the bottom of your pillowcase.

In today's edition:
🎃 Halloween: handing out or heading out
🏈 Baylor parts ways with Dave Aranda
🗳️ Early voting ends Friday
💦 Chapel Park's new splash pad opens today
☕️ Bitty and Beau’s Gets a New Name

Let's get to it!
- Sam Harper

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🎃 Halloween Has Taken Over Waco
Saturday is Halloween, but apparently Waco couldn't fit all the fun into one night. There's something happening nearly every night this week, from neighborhood trunk-or-treats to community celebrations. So before you map out Saturday's candy route, check what's happening in your corner of town. Your kids may be able to score candy without making you wait until the weekend.

A few worth checking out:

Wednesday: Waco PD's trunk-or-treat at Waco ISD Stadium starts at 5:30 PM. Prefer a community-center gathering? Doris Miller Community Center hosts Pumpkinfest and a trunk-or-treat from 6–7:30 PM.

Thursday: McLennan Community College's trunk-or-treat runs from 6–8 PM. Another chance to wear the costume before Saturday, when your kid inevitably decides they're actually something else.

Friday: WIC's Boo Bash starts at 3 PM, and the city is hosting a drive-thru trunk-or-treat at South Waco Community Center at 6 PM. Yes, you can trick-or-treat without even getting out of the car.

Saturday: The Día de los Muertos parade and festivities at Indian Spring Park starts at 3 PM. It's a chance to celebrate the holiday's traditions of honoring loved ones and celebrating culture, alongside all the Halloween festivities.

And now, a word about candy. Candy corn remains one of Halloween's most controversial treats. Peanut M&M’s are the most popular in the state.

One rule from me: never leave a giant bucket on the porch with a sign that says "please take one." That candy belongs to the first kid who walks up. We all know how this ends.

Since 99% of you reading this will probably be handing out candy rather than going door to door, my kids asked me to put in a good word with Waco this year: If you're already spending $7 on a latte, why not splurge a little on the candy, too? Go king-size. The kids will remember you forever, and dentists around Waco will be thanking you for months to come. You're welcome. In other news…Christmas music was playing at Academy this week.

$190 roundtrip per person to Fort Lauderdale. American flies out of Waco Regional Nov. 23 and back Dec. 2, so you could swap Thanksgiving turkey for a beach. 👉 Check flights on Google*
*^{_{Price is subject to change and may no longer be available at the time you check the link.}}

📌 Community Corner

🏕️ We’ve teamed up with Camp Fimfo to give one winner a free two-night cabin stay and two more winners VIP passes to its Nov. 13 to 14 concert weekend, and you have one more week to enter. 👉 Enter to win*

🍌 Saturday, Oct. 31 at 10:59 PM is your last chance to enter the free ticket lottery for Banana Ball at McLane Stadium, May 7 to 8, 2027. 👉 Enter at BananaBall.com

⛳ Topgolf Live at McLane Stadium has been postponed to March 4–7, 2027, so the Baylor community can enjoy Homecoming next week and I can get my slice fixed.
👉 Read more 

🌮 H-E-B now sells protein tortillas, so going back for seconds (or thirds) just got easier to justify. 👉 See the post

🍻 What if your next night out made you smarter? I host Social Studies each month, bringing experts, big ideas, and drinks together for a night of learning that feels nothing like class. Skip the couch scroll, meet other curious locals, and leave with something interesting to talk about. Next up: November 12. Grab a seat here.

"One of the best things about living in a small town is that your individual effort can make a difference big enough for your neighbors to feel."

Neighbors showing up for neighbors: American Bank is hosting a Trunk or Treat tonight at 6 PM in the parking lot of its Bellmead branch. 👉 am.bank*

☕ Bitty & Beau's Coffee Gets a New Name
Bitty & Beau's Coffee says it will close its Waco location on Nov. 12, according to a Facebook post. The shop opened in 2021. The good news is that Friends for Life will be continuing to run the coffeeshop in the same location under a new name, Loyalhood Coffee.

🧰 Waco ToyBox Says It's Coming to Woodway
Waco ToyBox posted a first look at a project in Woodway: private suites you own outright, pitched as a car condo, man cave, workshop or home base for a business. No address, price or opening date yet. More when I know more.

🤖 New in Waco: AI Help for Local Businesses
Relay is a new Waco-based AI consulting firm for Central Texas service businesses. They train your team on tools like Claude and ChatGPT and build AI helpers for the repetitive stuff, like invoices, scheduling and follow-ups. 👉 relay-advisors.com

📸 The photo booth with no props and no frills
Preston and Carolynn Seibert worked together photographing weddings for more than a decade before starting Noble Photobooth in Waco in 2023. Their booth skips the props and focuses on a professional camera, flattering lighting, and instant on-site printing, so every guest leaves with a real keepsake.

Packages include unlimited photos, an attendant, a digital gallery, and photo strips with your event logo. October through December is their busiest stretch, so if a holiday party is on your list, book early. 👉 Book your date at noblephotobooth.com*

🗳️ Early Voting Ends Friday
Early voting ends Friday, Oct. 30, and this week's hours are 7 AM to 7 PM at all five locations. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, also 7 AM to 7 PM. Only one more week of enduring the uninvited text messages.

The Waco Bridge's free ballot tool shows every race you'll vote on at your address.
👉 Build your ballot 👉 Where and when to vote

💦 Chapel Park Ribbon Cutting Today
Chapel Park's new splash pad, shade structures, interactive musical area and expanded pavilion get their ribbon cutting today at 9 AM. There's a short program, then time to explore, and free donuts and coffee.

🏛️ Mayor Holmes on the State of the City
Last week Mayor Jim Holmes gave his annual State of the City address. If you want to know what City Hall has its eye on (services, infrastructure, downtown, quality of life and economic development), it's a 20-minute watch. 👉 Watch it here

🏈 Baylor Parts Ways With Dave Aranda
Baylor changed head coaches Sunday, a day after a 25-24 loss at Kansas, the Jayhawks' first win over the Bears since 2007. Aranda finishes 40-40, with the 2021 Big 12 title and a Sugar Bowl win to his name. Defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman is interim head coach for the rest of the season.

AD Doug McNamee wants a coach who will "launch a generation of consistent winning," with an announcement likely in December. His ask in the meantime: pack McLane for Homecoming against Iowa State on Nov. 7.

Next up: at UCF in Orlando on Friday, 6:30 PM CT on ESPN.

🏐 Volleyball: Baylor hosts TCU Friday at 7 PM at the Ferrell Center. $2 tickets available for Waco Rush Pass holders.

🏀 Basketball: Baylor men's basketball beat Illinois in an exhibition Friday, after beating preseason No. 1 Florida the weekend before. Neither counts in the standings, but my March bracket is already getting ambitious.

Tuesday, October 27:
KCBI Lunch With Baylor Coach Scott Drew @ The Baylor Club, 11:30 AM
Trunk or Treat @ American Bank Bellmead, 6 PM
Beer Garden Yoga @ Brotherwell Brewing, 7 PM
Smarty Pints Trivia @ Southern Roots Brewing Co., 7 PM
Slap Stix Trivia Tuesday @ Freight Bar, 7:30 PM

Wednesday, October 28:
The Meetup @ Startup Waco, 9 AM
Trunk or Treat @ Waco ISD Stadium, 5:30 PM
Wild Wednesdays Group Hike @ Cameron Park Northern Gateway, 5:45 PM
Trunk or Treat @ China Spring Stadium, 6 PM
Trunk or Treat & Pumpkinfest @ Doris Miller Community Center, 6 PM
Waco United Trunk or Treat @ Lowe’s, 6:30 PM
Mics with Benefits @ Texas Music Cafe, 7 PM
An Evening with Author Ron Rindo @ Fabled Bookshop, 7 PM

Thursday, October 29:
Prosper Waco Summit @ Extraco Events Center, 8:30 AM
Story Time @ Fabled Bookshop & Cafe, 10:30 AM
Trunk or Treat Cruise Night @ Freddy’s, 4:30 PM
Book Bedazzle Night @ Performing Arts Community Center, 6 PM
Haunted HotRods Trunk or Treat @ So-Cal Speed Shop, 6 PM
Thai Supper Club @ Carleen Bright Arboretum, 6:30 PM
Midway High School Orchestra Presents Nosferatu, 7 PM
Senior Sing Night @ The Baylor Club, 7 PM
Wait Until Dark @ Waco Civic Theatre, 7 PM

📅 See what else is happening this week in Waco →
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💧 Feeling the seasonal sniffles already? I-Vit's Immune Boost IV is designed for hydration and immune support, with 20% off this month.*

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🛞 Chevy of West's Tire Fresh Start Event is on. Owner Leo Pacheco and General Sales Manager Mark Varia are offering buy 3, get 1 for $1 on select tires with installation, plus offers on brakes, shocks and struts, and tire sensors.*

Thanks for reading The Waco Buzz today. If you found something useful, share it with the neighbor who hands out king-size candy bars.

Whenever you're ready, here's how to get involved:

1. Send a tip. The best things we cover start as a reader email, so just reply to any edition.

2. Get your Social Studies tickets: Dr. Michael Scullin on The Sleeping Brain, Thursday, Nov. 12 at The Baylor Club.

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