☕️What's happening in Waco this weekend? (1/30- 2/1)

Good morning, Waco. This is The Waco Buzz, the local newsletter reminding you your favorite restaurants and shops missed you this week and are ready to welcome you back this weekend.

Let’s get to it!
— Sam Harper

🌦️ Your Weather Small Talk Guide
Nobody likes weather small talk. This week, it’s been unavoidable. If you talked to another human in Waco, this was the topic.

Schools across the area were out for roughly 2.5 to 3 days, routines got scrambled, and suddenly we were already staring at the weekend. It stayed cold enough to disrupt everything but stopped short of becoming a full 2021 repeat, thankfully. The power grid held up for the most part, which feels worth acknowledging.

As we thaw out, expect those shady spots that turned into ice skating rinks earlier this week to finally clear. Still winter, still cold, but trending back toward normal Waco living.

Also acceptable small talk this weekend: “Did your pipes survive?” and “What day did you completely lose track of time?”

🧑‍🏫 A big Baylor rename
One of Baylor’s schools just got a new name and a serious investment to go with it.

Baylor University’s School of Education is now the Moody School of Education after a $30 million gift from the Moody Foundation. It’s the largest donation the school has ever received. The funding will support scholarships, research, and academic programs, with a long-term goal of improving education outcomes across Texas. Faculty say it expands Baylor’s reach and strengthens the pipeline of teachers, leaders, and researchers coming out of Waco. Read more→

🐾 If your pet needs expert care, Ranch House Pet-Med offers comprehensive care from wellness to surgery, all right here in Waco. You can find them online, by phone at 254-544-1458, or at 149 Dosher Lane, Waco, 76712.

Meet Eggnog, a 4-month-old terrier mix in her fluffy, curious, everything-is-new era. Small in size, big on personality, and very much still figuring things out one zoomie at a time. She’s young, bright, and ready to grow up alongside someone who’s up for the puppy phase and building routines together.

👉 Meet Eggnog at the Fuzzy Friends or learn more about her here.

Welcome to Open House, where a ranch house with a stone fireplace makes “one more Zillow scroll” feel productive.

• 4 beds, 2 baths, 2,534 sq ft
• Open floor plan with a stone fireplace as the living room focal point
• Updated kitchen and a large fenced backyard

👉 Take your best guess at the list price, then peek at the photos and answer here.

After a week of ice and cabin fever, it’s officially time to get out of the house and think warm thoughts.

Expedia Cruises Waco is hosting their 2026 Travel Expo this Saturday, January 31, and it’s basically a permission slip to start planning your next escape. Working with a travel advisor costs you nothing, and attendees score a $100 travel credit toward a future trip. Yes, that includes places with beaches.

New this year: short destination presentations every 30 minutes from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM, covering everything from Alaska and the Caribbean to Europe, Japan, and even Antarctica. Multiple cruise lines and travel brands will be on hand, so you can pop in, catch a session that interests you, and keep moving.

It’s happening from 10:00 AM–1:00 PM at Glory Bell Coffee. Swing by, sip something warm, and start plotting somewhere much warmer. RSVP encouraged.

🎈 Friday, January 30:

Women of Waco's Level Up 2026 Conference @ AC Hotel Waco Downtown - 9:15 AM

Farewell Sale @ Ramble & Co - 11 AM (and goes all weekend)

Wicked Skate Night @ Skate World Waco - 6 PM

BL!NK @ Waco Civic Theatre - 7:30 PM

FRIDAY LIVE MUSIC
Lucas Jon Turner @ The Grape Wine Bar & Bistro - 6 PM (Country / Americana)
Gordon Pyle in concert @ The BLVD Steakhouse - 6:30 PM (Piano / Easy-Listening)
Darrell “D-Rail” Ray @ Uncle Worm's Smoke House - 7:30 PM (Country / Country-Rock)
Zak Webb @ Marie's Wine Bar - 7:30 PM (Acoustic / Singer-Songwriter)
Tyler Hill @ Blue Pup Wine & Martini Bar - 8 PM (Pop / Acoustic Covers)
Rewind Party Band @ Twisted Sisters Patio Bar - 8 PM (Party Rock / Dance Covers)
Karaoke @ Chapter 11 - 9 PM (Karaoke / Open Mic)

🎈 Saturday, January 31:

Waco Downtown Farmers Market @ Bridge Street Plaza - 9 AM

Home Products Show @ Extraco Event Center - 10 AM

Waco Travel Expo by Expedia Cruises of Waco @ Glory Bell Coffee - 10 AM

Waco Artisan Market @ Webster Market - 12 PM

Riverbend @ Waco Civic Theatre - 2:30 PM

Pokemon Palooza @ East Waco Library - 2 PM

Love Notes: Cabaret & Four Course Affair @ The Baylor Club - 5:30 PM

Battle of the Decades @ The Backyard - 6 PM

BL!NK @ Waco Civic Theatre @ 7:30 PM

SATURDAY LIVE MUSIC
Gordon Pyle in concert @ The BLVD Steakhouse - 6:30 PM (Piano / Easy-Listening)
Lucas Jon Turner @ Waco Ale Co. - 7 PM (Country / Americana)
Touch of Grey @ The Will - 8 PM (Classic Rock / Rock)
MagicMouth @ Twisted Sisters Patio Bar - 8 PM (Alternative Rock / Indie Rock)

🎈Sunday, February 1:

Open Mic @ Cricket's Grill & Draft House - 5 PM

Acoustic Open Mic Night @ Lakeside Bar - 6 PM

The Last Piece @ Waco Civic Theatre - 2:30 PM

🎶 The world-renowned St. Olaf Choir stops in Waco on Sunday, Feb. 8, performing at Jones Concert Hall at 3 p.m.
If choral music isn’t usually on your radar, this is one of those rare “trust us” moments.

🏃‍♂️ Dust off the running shoes. The Rodeo Stampede takes over Indian Spring Park on Saturday, Feb. 14, with distances from a Kids Dash to a half marathon.

Director, Inforce Administration at American Amicable Group. Lead the charge on client experience and digital transformation for one of Waco's most historic downtown staples. Perfect for a strategic leader with 10+ years of experience who wants to run the show for claims and operations.

Relationship Banker at Extraco Banks. Be the face of the bank at the Midway branch. This isn't just about handling cash; it's about greeting folks by name and helping them navigate their financial future.

Customer Success Manager at AxisCare. You’ll be the "voice of the customer" for high-value homecare agencies, helping them master the software and ensuring they see the value. Ideal for someone comfortable with tech who loves building relationships.

Hiring? Post a job
Hunting? View all 78 open jobs on the Waco Buzz Job Board

🔥Kick off 2026 with the Fit in ’26 deal from HOTWORX Woodway: just $99 all in for enrollment, February dues, plus a mat and towel. This Waco Buzz reader promo ($276 value) expires Feb 28, 2026. Call (254) 870-4508 or stop by 13701 Woodway Dr. to claim it.

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💪Move better. Recover Faster. Live Stronger. Waco Bodymend is a world class space built for everyday movers, athletes, and anyone who wants to feel their best. From red light therapy and PEMF to alterG anti gravity treadmill sessions & home to CrushCycle Waco, we combine science backed recovery with your training that fits your life. Click the link to the get the exclusive offer for Waco Buzz readers.

Thanks for reading The Waco Buzz today. If you found something useful, please share it with that one co-worker who has remote start and gets to walk into a toasty car when it’s freezing outside.

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

1. Promote your business or event to 11,100 engaged Waco locals in an upcoming newsletter. Click the link to get the conversation started.

2. Dinner Club: Meet five other locals (recent movers and lifelong Wacoans) over dinner on February 3. You’ll make new friends regardless of stage of life and help make Waco a smaller town.

3. Job Board: The best place to find open roles at growing companies in Waco with opportunities in media, marketing, sales, communication, tech, and engineering.