🚧 I-35 Disappears Tonight

Good Morning Waco! This is The Waco Buzz, the local newsletter that’s as fresh as the first step inside Academy Sports & Outdoors.

In this edition:

🚧 Part of 35 Disappears Tonight
🎓 Why 6,000 Teachers Filled Foster Pavilion
💼 3 Waco Jobs Worth a Look
🎈 Your Full Weekend Guide (It’s Packed)
📸 Where Are We?! Game

Let's get to it!

— Sam Harper

🚧 Part of I-35 Disappears Tonight

When you wake up Saturday morning, part of the Valley Mills stretch of I-35 will literally be gone.

Starting at midnight tonight, crews will begin removing the old Valley Mills flyover, a 24-hour project that’s another step toward the future redesign of this busy stretch of road.

The closure will impact I-35 between New Road and 12th Street, along with nearby crossings around Valley Mills, 17th and 18th streets, and Irving Lee/Primrose.

🥡 The Takeaway: If your normal route takes you through Valley Mills or this stretch of I-35, build in extra time this weekend. It’s going to be a headache.
👉 See the full closure details →

🎓 6,000 Teachers Took Over Foster Pavilion This Week
If you’ve watched Baylor basketball, you’ve probably heard the phrase “Culture of Joy.” This week, that message moved from the court to the classroom.

Foster Pavilion welcomed thousands of educators from across Waco and the region for Baylor’s Culture of Joy event, a kickoff to the school year built around one idea: the people who pour into our kids every day need encouragement too.

Teaching comes with plenty of hard days. The goal isn’t to eliminate those challenges. It’s to build classrooms where joy, curiosity, and belonging can still thrive. Before another school year begins, there’s another simple way to bring a little joy to teachers: help them get the supplies they need.

Yesterday, Chip Gaines asked teachers across the country to share their classroom Amazon wishlists. Over 7,000 educators responded when I checked. I found 25 Waco-area teachers who shared theirs, so you can skip the search and support a local classroom directly.

👉 Make a local teacher’s weekend and clear a list here. Or ask the teacher you know directly if they have a wish list.

📌 Quick Hits

🛍️It's Texas's tax-free weekend for back-to-school shopping, Friday, Aug. 7 through midnight Sunday, Aug. 9. Clothes, shoes, school supplies, backpacks, and diapers under $100 per item skip the sales tax, no cap on how many qualifying items you buy. Full rules here.

🎤Social Studies is back Aug. 20 at the Baylor Club, first 50 tickets already gone. Reserve your seat →

🥕Sprouts Farmers Market opens at Central Texas Marketplace Aug. 21-23.

👀 Heads up: School starts next week for many Waco-area students. Enjoy these last few days of summer.

Everyone's talking about AI. Far fewer people know how to use it well. The businesses pulling ahead aren't replacing people with AI. They're using AI to make good people even better.

That's the idea behind YOU x AI, an all-day summit coming to Waco on Saturday, Sept. 12. You'll hear from founders, marketers, and Baylor experts on how to build with AI, get your business discovered, and create content that still sounds like you, not a chatbot.

Whether you're a business owner, marketer, or just AI-curious, you'll leave with practical ideas you can use on Monday.

Use code YOUXAIBUZZ for 20% off.

👉 Get your ticket here*

Social Media Manager, Food at Magnolia. Get paid to make people hungry on the internet. You'll lead social content across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and more. Full-time, based at Magnolia HQ.

Associate Director of Marketing and Brand Partnerships at the Dr Pepper Museum. If you enjoy relationship-building as much as marketing, this role puts you at the center of one of Waco's most iconic institutions.

Staff Writer at The Baylor Line. For the person who still believes good storytelling matters. You'll write magazine-quality features for Baylor alumni around the world.

Hiring? Post a Job
Hunting? View all open roles

Premium Spirits, Chef Bites, and a Cause Worth Toasting To

🥃 Ever wondered what's actually happening inside a whiskey barrel or vodka still? Find out at Science of Spirits on Saturday, Aug. 29, where interactive tasting stations pair local spirits, Waco restaurants, and the science behind every sip.

It's a fun adults-only night out, and every ticket supports STEAM education in our community.

📍 Bledsoe-Miller STEAM Center
🗓️ Saturday, Aug. 29 | 6-9 PM
👉 Reserve your spot →*

🎈 Friday, August 7:

Heart of Texas Leather Show @ Waco Convention Center - 9 AM - 5 PM

⭐ Sam's Pick: If you've been meaning to get downtown tonight, First Friday is the easiest excuse all month. Shops stay open late, restaurants are running specials, and there's always something new to check out. Grab free bites from Tru Jamaica at Seventh Street Plaza while you're there.

Back to School Bash @ Carleen Bright Arboretum | 7 PM | Free concert from Members Only, food trucks, closes out the summer series.

Marie's 2nd Annual Wine & Jazz Festival @ 723 Austin Ave | 8 PM | Runs into Saturday too. Tickets here.

Homegrown Friday Night Market @ The Will, 7-10 PM

Live Music
Lone Star Dylan @ Uncle Dan's BBQ Ribhouse - 6:30 PM
Eric & Thomas Unplugged @ Segovia Wine Bar - 7 PM
Ragged Co. @ Twisted Sisters Patio Bar - 8 PM
Sean McConnell @ The Backyard Bar Stage & Grill - 8:30 PM

🎈 Saturday, August 8:

Waco Waffle Co. Three Year Anniversary | 7:30 AM-8:30 PM | Giveaways, live music, a bounce house, all the waffles.

EAA Pancake Breakfast & Fly-In @ McGregor Airport, EAA Ch. 59 hangar | 8-9:30 AM

Prayer in the Park Back-to-School Bash @ Pecan Bottom, Cameron Park | 9 AM-1 PM | Free school supplies, food, games

Rosalinda's Back to School Bash @ South Waco Community Center - 10 AM-2 PM, free backpacks and haircuts

DFW Hooligans Stunt Show @ Armadillo Harley-Davidson, 12-4 PM, free walking tacos

Retro Rockstar 2026 @ Extraco Events Center | 6 PM | A 70s/80s/90s fundraiser for Archway of Hope

Get Rowdy for the PACC: A benefit concert for the Performing Arts Community Center - - 7 PM, $10

Live Music
Monte Rose @ Camp Fimfo - 7 PM
Greg & Evan @ Segovia Wine Bar - 7 PM
Charmin Greene @ Waco STEAM Center - 7 PM
Zak Webb @ The Will of Waco - 8 PM
Collin James Band @ Twisted Sisters Patio Bar - 8 PM
Cory Morrow @ The Backyard Bar Stage & Grill - 8:30 PM

🎈 Sunday, August 9:

Bob Ross Inspired Paint Night @ Cultivate Waco, 4-6 PM, $35, BYOB and you leave with a happy little tree that's actually yours

United Under Christ Car Meet @ Scooter's Coffee, 9516 China Spring Rd, 8 PM, a family-friendly car meet welcoming any make or model

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

🎉 Special for Waco Buzz readers: Get $75 off a Basin Climbing birthday party with code BUZZ75. Valid for the first 5 bookings.

🔥 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 helpful, share it with your favorite teacher in Waco.

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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