🎡 Locals Only HOT Fair Guide

Good morning, Waco. This is The Waco Buzz, the local newsletter that feels like walking up to the funnel cake stand and finding no line.

Today is IRONMAN 70.3 Waco. On Thursday, the Heart O' Texas Fair & Rodeo opens, and Saturday might be the busiest day of Waco's fall. Most of all, cooler weather is here.

In today's Sunday Sip:
🎡 The HOT Fair Cheat Sheet
📅 Three Events to Circle This Week
💜 Waco Gem: Walk to End Alzheimer's
☕ Origin Story: Longshot Coffee
💸 Good Life in Waco

Let's get to it!

- Sam Harper

🚙 If you're shopping for a new SUV, put the Equinox on your list.

The 2027 Chevy Equinox is worth a look if you want something practical without moving into a huge SUV. It has enough room for school pickup, Sam’s Club runs and weekend trips out of town, while still being easy to live with day to day.

Right now, Chevy of West is offering 1.9% APR for well-qualified buyers who finance through GM Financial, plus no monthly payments until 2027.

If you're already thinking about replacing your vehicle, I'd put the Equinox on the list to check out. You can see what's available at Chevy of West in West, then decide if it's the right fit for you.

👉 See Equinox inventory at chevyofwest.com*

The Heart O' Texas Fair & Rodeo runs Thursday, Oct. 8 through Sunday, Oct. 18 at the Extraco Events Center, 4601 Bosque Blvd. Regular gate admission tops out at $20, but several nights have special deals. Here's how I'd play it.

The deals

Before you go

👉 Hours, deals, and tickets at hotfair.com

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

The house It was built in 2001 and sits in McGregor, so you get a little more room to spread out without being way out in the country.

👉 Take your best guess, then peek at the answer here.

Want to see it in person? Connect with Lezlie Roark for your private tour.^*
Featured property is listed by Cade Brooks, Coldwell Banker Apex, REALTORS. Lezlie Roark is not the listing agent and represents HBL Realtors and can help if you're buying.

Social Studies is The Waco Buzz’s live lecture series, bringing professors, experts, and storytellers to unexpected places around Waco. Come grab a drink, learn something new, and meet other curious Wacoans.

This month: Heroes in Our Midst: Waco WWII Veterans Who Helped Save the World.

What was World War II actually like for the people who lived through it? Brad Livingstone has spent decades collecting firsthand accounts from WWII veterans and sharing them with his students. Now, he’s bringing those stories, and the history behind them, to Social Studies. Livingstone teaches history at Vanguard College Preparatory School and is Baylor's First Gentleman.
📅 Wednesday, Oct. 21
📍 Southern Roots Brewing Co.
👉 Grab a ticket

Thu, Oct. 8 | 5 PM | Bridge Street Plaza
The free outdoor concert series wraps up its fall season Thursday with Altered By Mom and Midnight Desperado. Altered By Mom is a female-fronted alt-rock trio that has played SXSW and opened for Twenty One Pilots. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, grab a friend, and bring the dog.

Sat, Oct. 10 | Waco Surf
For the first time, the public can get up close to Swatch Nines, an invite-only competition that brings some of the world's best surfers, skaters and BMX riders to Waco. Expect pros throwing tricks across Waco Surf's massive surf and skate courses, including the longest surf rail and biggest skate park in Nines history. Tickets required. Get tickets →

Sat, Oct. 10 | 6-10 PM | Cameron Park Zoo
After the kids go home, the zoo reopens for its 15th annual Brew at the Zoo, a 21+ night with beer samples throughout the zoo, presented by JRBT. Grab your friends, book the babysitter, and make a night of it. Tickets required. Tickets and details here.

Saturday is also the Walk to End Alzheimer's. More on that below.

Waco is going through an explosion of new coffee spots, and every one of them has a story. Origin Story is where we tell it, so you know who's behind the counter and can show up to support them.

Longshot Coffee

Juliana and Trevor Davis started roasting coffee for fun in Trevor's mom's garage. Their new shop, Longshot Coffee, opened Sept. 4 at 2709 Robinson Dr. Trevor's mom, Joy, passed away in 2024, and her fingerprints are everywhere. The espresso blend carries her name, the decor nods to her love of horses and the beach, and the building was bought with money she left them.

Everything is roasted in-house and measured to the gram. Their goal is specialty coffee that never feels pretentious. They expected six months to hit their busy-day goal. They got there on day two.

👉 Read the full story →

Story by Alexandra Brewer, a Baylor student interning with The Waco Buzz.

The Alzheimer’s Association helps Central Texas families and caregivers find education, resources and support while funding research toward a future without the disease.

There are two ways to get involved in Waco on Saturday, Oct. 10.

🚶 Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Every walker at Legends Crossing carries a flower representing their connection to the cause. Registration opens at 9 AM at 5100 Crosslake Pkwy, with the Promise Garden ceremony at 10 and the walk at 10:45. It’s free, but everyone walking must register, including kids. Community booths will also offer resources for families and caregivers.

The Waco walk has raised about $134,000 toward its $150,000 goal.
👉 Register for the walk

🥂 Threads of Time Gala
That evening, the Baylor Club hosts its inaugural black-tie gala inside McLane Stadium at 6 PM, featuring dinner, live entertainment and auctions. Proceeds benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. 👉 Tickets and tables

Good Life in Waco is our series on how real Wacoans build a life here: what you earn, how you save, and what you've learned about money, health, and relationships. It only works if people keep sharing. Got 10 minutes? Tell us your story anonymously.

Why Waco: "I stayed in Waco after graduating from Baylor back when it wasn't cool. I choose to stay because I married a Wacoan and have built my business here."

Job: "I have built my business from scratch, so I made $600 in my first month. I am 27 years in, and my income has been over $100K for awhile now." Plus "2 side hustles that I absolutely love."

Housing: "We refinanced during the wonderful rates of 2020. We have a conventional 15 year loan with payments of $1,100." They pay an extra $500 on top of that.

Budgeting: "No spreadsheets here. We don't spend too much. We don't shop often, and we buy things 2nd hand as often as possible."

Favorite expense: "I love paying my housekeeper. It's the first expense I added when I started my business"

Best Waco money tip: "I love the big white coupon book. You can use a coupon almost every day and save on sooo many things around town." (Do you know which book this is? Hit reply.)

Worst money moment: "I have a bad investment currently. It's making money, but just not near enough as it should have."

Freedom: "I feel I have financial freedom now. I won't quit working ever though! I love my work too much."

Social life: "We love our Waco friends. We have found non-drama, healthy relationships. We are celebrating 29 years of marriage in October."

Where they eat: "J Petal for take out. We love the 3 protein rice bowl so much! $15."

What they wish they knew at 25: "Start a Roth IRA and put $500 in it monthly."

Anything else: "Take small trips often with friends and family. There is so much to do close to Waco that won't break the bank! Create lasting memories. This is where we prefer to spend our money. Not on stuff."

👉 Recognize a little of yourself in this? Share your Good Life in Waco story here. It's anonymous and takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

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 →

🎪 One question: What's your can't-skip fair food? Hit reply. I read every one, and the best answers might show up Tuesday.

✈️ Paper Airplanes at McLane Stadium: On Sunday, Oct. 18 from 4-6 PM, we're taking over McLane Stadium for the first Waco Buzz Paper Airplane Championship, presented by L3Harris. Catch the Great Waco Duck Race first, then fold a plane, aim for the end zone target, and the closest throw wins 52 weeks of Joyride Candy. Dinner from The Baylor Club is included. Tickets start at $12 →

🍽️ Dinner Club turns 1 on Thursday, Oct. 15: More than 750 seats have been filled since we started last year. Come by yourself or bring a friend. Take the short quiz, get matched, enjoy dinner. Save your seat →

🤧 Feeling the seasonal sniffles already? I-Vit's Immune Boost IV is designed for hydration and immune support, with 20% off this month.*

✨ Need a skin refresh? Skin & Body Refinery offers HydraFacials with deep cleansing, gentle extraction, and hydration.*

💪 Want to move and recover better? Waco Body Mend is built for everyday movers, athletes, and anyone who wants to feel their best with Waco’s best sauna and recovery space.*

Thanks for reading The Waco Buzz today. If you found something useful, share it with the family whose kid is about to climb onto a sheep for Mutton Bustin’.

See you Tuesday.