👀 Waco's Last Big Weekend of Summer

Good Morning Waco! This is The Waco Buzz, the newsletter that feels like the last popsicle in the box.

In this edition:

🌆 Your Chance to Shape How Waco Grows
🍔 It's National Cheeseburger Day
🎓 Baylor Turns This Weekend Into One Big Party
💼 4 Waco Jobs Worth a Look
🎈 Your Full Last-Weekend-of-Summer Guide

It was great having 90 of you at last night’s Dinner Club. Next month marks one year of Dinner Club in Waco!

— Sam Harper

🌆 Waco Is Asking: How Should We Grow?

The city is rewriting its playbook for tourism, and they want you in the room.

Destination Waco just launched Waco Forward, a five-year plan to guide the next chapter of Waco as a destination. Travel already generates $832 million in direct spending and about 6,500 jobs across the Waco metro area (Travel Texas data), and the city brought in a large firm that has run this kind of process in over 200 places worldwide, specifically so everyone gets a seat at the table on where this goes next.

That firm has already talked to more than 100 people here: hotels, restaurants, attractions, arts groups, all three chambers, Baylor, and the county. Now they want to hear from regular Wacoans too.

🥡 The Takeaway: The survey takes about 10 minutes and your answers are confidential. If you have opinions about how Waco grows (and let's be honest, you do), this is an opportunity to say so. 👉 Take the survey here →

🎓 Baylor Is Taking Over Waco This Weekend

I didn't go to Baylor, but let's be honest: they're the closest thing Waco has to a professional sports team (still holding out hope for a Savannah Bananas franchise in the new ballpark). Family Weekend kicks off Friday, bringing Baylor students and their families into town, but locals have a few reasons to pay attention, too. A new coffee crawl will send people through downtown cafés Friday morning, along with a walking tour and Spirit Shop discounts. It’s free, though Baylor says space is limited and a confirmation email is required, so check the details before heading downtown. Friday brings Old Dominion to Foster Pavilion, while Baylor football takes over Saturday afternoon when the Bears host Louisiana Tech at McLane Stadium with tickets starting at $17.

Translation: Baylor has a full weekend planned, and a lot of it gives people a reason to get out and see more of Waco.

📌 Quick Hits

🍔 It's National Cheeseburger Day today and this weekend grab a free burger from Whataburger, Wendy’s, or a BOGO from Buffalo Wild Wings, as long as you've got the right app pulled up before lunch.

🎨 Art on Elm takes over Bridge Street Plaza Saturday, 9 AM–1 PM, right alongside the Waco Downtown Farmers Market. Browse work from local and regional artists, try your hand at geometric construction or easel art, and grab breakfast while you're at it. Details here.

🎉 Eastside Market turns 7 this weekend at Brotherwell Brewing, 11 AM–3 PM on Saturday.

🪩 Magnolia Home x Loloi is celebrating 10 years of partnership with a free, open-to-the-public pop-up at Hotel 1928 this weekend featuring new rugs, cocktails, photo ops, giveaways, and enough design inspo to make you rethink your living room.

There’s a point every evening when your backyard goes from a place you enjoy to a place you can barely see. That’s when good outdoor lighting makes a difference.

Lumos Outdoor Lighting designs custom lighting systems that make your home look just as good after dark as it does during the day. They highlight your home’s architecture, trees, pathways, and outdoor spaces while adding another layer of safety and curb appeal.

Lumos is family-owned and designer-led right here in Waco with a team that handles everything from the initial design to professional installation and ongoing maintenance. With fall installations booking now, it’s a good time to start thinking about what your home could look like after sunset.

🍂 Waco Buzz Fall Special: Get $400 OFF your outdoor lighting project when you book your project before October 31st.

Want to see what outdoor lighting can do for a home? See Lumos’ latest projects on Instagram or follow them on Facebook.

Start with a free lighting consultation →

Regional Safety Director at Lochridge-Priest. Keep crews safe across one of Waco's longest-running companies, building out safety programs as the team grows.

Sales and Marketing Coordinator at AC Hotel Waco Downtown. Help fill rooms and book events at one of downtown's newer hotels. Good fit if you like people and spreadsheets in equal measure.

Director of Operations at the Dr Pepper Museum. Run the day-to-day at one of Waco's most iconic stops.

Executive Director at Humane Society of Central Texas. Lead the team finding homes for Waco's animals, from the shelter floor to the fundraising gala.

Hiring? Post a Job
Hunting? View all open roles

Toss Bags, Win Cash, Help Goodwill

🎯 Heart of Texas Goodwill's 3rd Annual Cornhole Tournament lands at Camp Fimfo on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 1 PM. It's a random draw tournament, meaning you get teamed up on the spot. Come solo or with friends.

First place wins $500, second place $300, and third takes home a $100 Goodwill gift certificate, plus raffle prizes. Every player gets a t-shirt. 👉 Sign up here →^*

🎈 Friday, September 18:
Waco Chamber Big Cup Classic @ Cottonwood Creek Golf Course - All Day
Old Dominion with McCoy Moore @ Foster Pavilion - 7:30 PM
Batman Training Academy @ South Waco Library - 4:30 PM
Canterbury Tales Talent Showcase @ PACC - 7-9 PM | $10
Come From Away @ Waco Civic Theatre - 7 PM

Live Music
D-Rail @ Slow Rise on the Brazos - 5:30 PM
Michael Saldana @ The Feed Lot - 7 PM
36 West Band @ Texas Music Cafe - 8 PM
Bobby Dean & the Timeless Country Band @ The Will of Waco - 8 PM
Michael Salgado @ The Backyard Bar Stage & Grill - 8:30 PM

🎈 Saturday, September 19:
Art on Elm @ Bridge Street Plaza - 9 AM-1 PM
Waco Downtown Farmers Market @ Bridge Street Plaza - 9 AM
Crochet Workshop @ STEAM Center - 10:30 AM
Eastside Market's 7th anniversary @ Brotherwell Brewing - 11 AM-3 PM
Splashdowns and Touchdowns @ Hawaiian Falls Waco - 11 AM-5 PM
McGregor Founders Day Car Show @ TFNB Downtown McGregor - 11 AM-2PM
Sip & Social @ Art Center Waco - 2 PM
Baylor Football vs. Louisiana Tech @ McLane Stadium - 3 PM
Come From Away @ Waco Civic Theatre - 2 & 7 PM
My Sister’s Keeper @ Performing Arts Community Center - 6 PM

Live Music
Members Only @ Baylor Backyard Tailgate Series - 4 PM
Jazz Saturdays @ Segovia Wine Bar - 7 PM
Rewind Trio @ The Feed Lot - 7 PM
David Tribble @ Lounge 93 - 7:30 PM
Kru Sensei Music and Art Conference @ The Backyard - 8:30 PM

🎈 Sunday, September 20:
Woodway Farmers Market @ Carleen Bright Arboretum - 10 AM
Homegrown Sundays @ The Will - Market 1-5 PM, live music 12-5 PM
Designer Purse Bingo @ Lee Lockwood Library and Museum - 1-6 PM
Bob Ross Art Workshop @ Cultivate Waco - 1-3 PM | $35
BOGO Day Passes for Families @ Basin Climbing - 2 PM
Come From Away @ Waco Civic Theatre - 2 PM

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

How well do you know Waco? Find out with Chisholm Crossing, our Waco crossword, or Buzzle, our answer to Wordle. New puzzles every week. Bragging rights are unofficial, but highly encouraged. I see you Davy P.

Play this week’s puzzles → games.thewacobuzz.com

🧠 Social Studies: Come Learn Something With Other Curious People. Social Studies is next Thursday evening (September 24) at Pignetti's. Dr. Andy Hogue, Baylor's Associate Dean for Engaged Learning and one of the university's rare Master Teachers, is tackling what he calls the "Era of Seductive Despair": What does being a good citizen look like when the world's problems feel too big to fix? 👉 Grab a ticket.

💧 A Better Way to Beat September Colds: I-Vit's Immune Boost IV supports immune function, hydration, and overall wellness, right on time for the season everyone starts trading the same cough back and forth. 20% off for the month.*

🚗 Silverado Selldown: Chevy of West is putting serious numbers on 2026 Silverado 1500s right now, 0% APR for 5 years for well-qualified buyers, or $6,000 cash allowance plus another $2,000 bonus cash on select models.*

✨ For a Skin Refresh: Skin & Body Refinery offers HydraFacials combining deep cleansing, gentle extraction, and hydration.*

Thanks for reading The Waco Buzz today. If you found something useful, share it with the friend who's already mourning the end of summer.

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

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