🌍 This Started on Washington Ave

Good morning, Waco! This is The Waco Buzz, the newsletter that feels like a weekend that showed up with too many good invitations and only one calendar.

🌍 The Fitness Empire Built in Waco
🎬 An Evening With Elizabeth Tabish
⚽ World Cup Final on Sunday
🎶 Everything Happening in Waco This Weekend
💼 3 Jobs Worth Knowing About

Let's get to it!
— Sam Harper

What do you want to refine? That's the actual question Skin & Body Refinery asks every new client, and it's a good one. Maybe it's your skin. Maybe it's the two inches you've been chasing since spring. Maybe it's just looking as rested as you feel.

Dr. Daniel Smith and his team have built one of Waco's most trusted medspas around that question. Injectables, lasers, facials, hormone therapy, weight loss, IV nutrition, all under one roof at 2210 Austin Ave. Dr. Smith has built a reputation for natural-looking results, combining advanced treatments with a team that takes time to understand what each client actually wants.

👉 See what's right for you at skinandbodyrefinery.com*

🌍 The Fitness Empire That Started on Washington Ave

In 2009, three friends decided Waco's fitness scene was missing something. Angela Beeler, Catherine Ballas, and Emily Field built a dance fitness class around one rule: every body belongs. No mirrors to compare yourself against, no judgment, just music and movement.

That class became REFIT Revolution. Today more than 4,000 certified instructors teach it across the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK, and their YouTube channel has racked up over 375,000 subscribers. The original studio is still standing at 1522 Washington Ave by Be Kind Coffee.

This weekend, REFIT is hosting RECON26, its biggest annual gathering, and Waco is at the center of it. It's not open to the public, so don't show up looking for a drop-in class, but keep an eye out downtown. If you spot a group of strangers spontaneously breaking into choreographed cardio this weekend, now you know why.

Random but related: We have an open invitation out to Trader Joe's on Instagram to come to Waco. One thing they actually weigh when picking new markets is a health-conscious shopper base. So if you've ever wanted to personally advance the cause, attending a REFIT class is arguably doing more for Waco's Trader Joe's odds than just saying something on social media.

📌 Quick Hits

⚽ Chipotle is giving away free food during Sunday's World Cup final. When the match hits its second hydration break, around the 67th minute, Chipotle's Instagram will post a video challenge. Track the lemonade filled cup, catch the code, text it to 888-222. First 100,000 people get a free entrée, good through July 24.

🎒 The Carlson Law Firm is giving away free backpacks, school supplies, and Kona Ice at their Waco office (2420 I-35 S) Saturday starting at 10 AM, while supplies last. Limit three backpacks per family, kids need to be there.

🔬 Mayborn Museum's STEMfest is free and runs Saturday, 10 AM to 3 PM. This year's theme is Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, with hands-on booths and food trucks.

🏊 Did you know you can buy a pool day at one of Waco's nicest hotels without booking a room? AC Hotel Waco Downtown, steps from the Silos, sells day passes through ResortPass starting at $15. Worth knowing before it's 105 degrees outside next week.

🎬 The Chosen Comes to Waco
Fans of The Chosen will get a behind-the-scenes look at the series when actress Elizabeth Tabish joins the Waco Independent Film Festival for a special screening and live conversation.

Tabish, who plays Mary Magdalene in the worldwide phenomenon, will share stories from her career, her experience on the show, and what’s next in her work in independent film and television.

The evening will feature Season 5, Episode 4: “The Same Coin,” an emotionally charged episode following the growing tension of Holy Week as pressure builds around Jesus’ ministry. Tabish personally selected the episode for this special Waco screening.

After the screening, Tabish will join Kelly MacGregor, Executive Director of Waco Civic Theatre, for a behind-the-scenes conversation about the making of The Chosen and her journey as an actor.

👉 Grab a seat here.*

⚽ Watch the World Cup Final From Barnett's Patio 📍420 Franklin Ave

For the last six weeks, Barnett’s Whiskey House has been the place to watch the World Cup in Waco, with fans packing the patio for match after match.

Now it all comes down to one final weekend. Barnett’s will have both remaining games on the patio with fans, cold drinks, and enough shade to make a July afternoon in Texas work.

France takes on England for third place Saturday at 4 PM, and Argentina faces Spain for the World Cup title Sunday at 2 PM.

Messi is chasing his second World Cup title in Sunday’s final, and Barnett’s is celebrating with a giveaway: a life-size Messi bobblehead.*

🧗 Basin Summer Camps: One Week Away From the Last Session

Basin Climbing's final two camp weeks of the summer are July 20-23 and July 27-30, and the first one starts Monday. Both weeks are close to full, so don't be the parent scrambling Sunday night.

Camp runs Monday through Thursday for kids 5 and up, gear included, coached by Basin's team the whole way. Littles get a shorter afternoon session, and the 6-13 crowd gets the full four-day experience.

👉 Grab one of the last spots here. Use code WACOBUZZ at checkout to save an extra $25.*

Dinner Club Is Back July 28
Making friends as an adult is surprisingly hard. Dinner Club makes it easy.

Take a two minute quiz, get matched with five other locals, show up to dinner, leave with new friends. No agenda, no small talk about the weather required (though it'll probably come up anyway).

Over 500 of you have done this since we started back in October. The next one is July 28.

👉 Get matched here.

🎈 Friday, July 17:

Waco Independent Film Festival continues | Various downtown venues | Tickets

Brock Bushong & The Still Shakes @ Texas Music Cafe – 8 PM | $20 advance

"Mean Girls: The Musical" @ Waco Civic Theatre (performed at Waco High School) – 7 PM | Tickets

🎈 Saturday, July 18:

Waco Downtown Farmers Market @ Bridge Street Plaza – 9 AM

Walk with a Doc @ Mountainview Park – 9 AM

Cars & Coffee @ Black Rifle Coffee Company, 2436 Creekview Dr – 9 to 11:30 AM

STEMfest @ Mayborn Museum – 10 AM to 3 PM, free

Carlson Law Firm Backpack Giveaway @ 10 AM, free while supplies last

World Cup Third Place Match: France vs. England @ Barnett's Whiskey House Patio – 4 PM

Gospel Gamers @ Hillside UMC – 3:30 to 6:30 PM

GoodFellas Christmas in July fundraiser @ The Base, Extraco Events Center – 6 PM

"Mean Girls: The Musical" @ Waco Civic Theatre – 2 PM matinee & 7 PM

An Evening With Elizabeth Tabish, The Chosen screening + talkback @ The Hippodrome – 8 PM

Back in Black: AC/DC Tribute @ The Backyard Bar Stage & Grill – 8:30 PM | Tickets

🎈 Sunday, July 19:

Homegrown Sunday & Outdoor Market @ The Will – Noon

World Cup Final: Argentina vs. Spain @ Barnett's Whiskey House Patio – 2 PM

"Mean Girls: The Musical" @ Waco Civic Theatre – 2 PM matinee | Tickets

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

Counsel, US Life Insurance at American Amicable Group. Provide legal counsel across claims, marketing, and compliance for one of Waco's biggest employers. 7+ years of experience preferred.

Sales Ambassador at Sprouts Farmers Market. Sample products, run in-store events, and help shoppers discover something new. Great fit if you like people and food equally. This is a sign they are getting closer to opening.

Territory Manager at Charlie Health ($70K–$85K, plus uncapped bonus). Build relationships with local providers to connect Waco families to mental health care. Based in Waco, some local travel required.

Hiring? Post a Job
Hunting? View all open roles

🧗‍♀️ This summer, Basin Climbing + Fitness is offering $25 off their last two summer camp weeks using code WACOBUZZ.

🔥 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 useful, share it with your friend who's ready to sit through a three hour movie about a really long boat ride home….The Odyssey comes to theaters today.

Whenever you’re ready, here are four ways to get more involved:

1. Want to reach Waco? This newsletter lands in 15,000+ local inboxes every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday. There are nine ways to partner with us, and one of them is probably a fit. See all nine ways to partner here.

2. Dinner Club: Meet five other locals (recent movers and lifelong Wacoans) over dinner on July 28. You’ll make new friends regardless of stage of life and help make Waco a smaller town.

3. Have an event you want to promote? Get it featured leading up to the event. Two spots available per issue. Reserve yours here.

4.Want to share how you’ve built a good life in Waco? Participate anonymously and it may be featured in an upcoming Sunday edition.