🛝 Joyland Coming to Waco

Good morning, Waco! This is The Waco Buzz, the local newsletter here to tell you it’s okay to admit: it’s AC season again.

In this edition:
🍦 Waco's paleteros hit national television
🏗 Joyland and new openings
🗳 Early voting ends today
🏅 11 straight national titles (yes, really)
🎶 The Best Midweek Events & Live Music

Let’s get to it!
— Sam Harper

🍦 Helados La Azteca Makes History on National TV

Last week, Waco's own Helados La Azteca became the first paleteros ever featured on The Jennifer Hudson Show. Co-founder Eduardo "Lalo" Garcia, who landed on the Forbes "30 Under 30" list last year, brought the family's story to a national audience.

Over six years, Lalo turned the shop from a single storefront into what Forbes called a "viral tourist stop," and expansion across Texas is the goal. Waco showing up on national daytime TV for paletas and not a true crime documentary? That's the kind of progress I like to see.

🏘 Creekside Community Village Welcomes Its First Neighbors
Mission Waco's Creekside Community Village on University Parks Drive is welcoming its first residents this week. Phase one includes 35 tiny homes with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities and on-site support services, all designed to help people transition out of homelessness into stable, long-term housing.

This project has been nearly five years in the making. The city recently pledged an additional $1 million to help with infrastructure costs, and at full build-out, Creekside will house close to 330 people. A major milestone for Waco and for the neighbors finally getting a place to call home.

🏅 Eleven Straight
Baylor Acrobatics & Tumbling won their 11th consecutive national championship on Sunday, beating Quinnipiac by five points. Head coach Felecia Mulkey has won every single national title in the sport's history: four at Oregon, now eleven at Baylor. There is no dynasty in college sports quite like this one. It would be like a basketball coach winning every March Madness since 2016.

💬 COMMUNITY CORNER

Last week I asked: what under-$100 purchase has most improved your life?

Your answers did not disappoint. A milk frother. A national park pass. A bidet. A 3-in-1 avocado slicer. The Bible. And a water flosser.

Truly, it's the little things.

🍽 Wednesday night is the April Dinner Club. If you signed up, I'll see you at the after dinner meet up.

🏕 Summer is closer than you think. If you're already scrambling to figure out what the kids are doing in June, The Waco Buzz Summer Camp Guide has you covered.

🌱 Got a green thumb (or want one)? The McLennan County Master Gardeners are accepting applications for their 2026 intern class starting May 27. There's an info session today from 3-5 PM at the McLennan County Extension Office if you want to learn more before the May 4 deadline. Learn more here.

Waco → San Diego, CA roundtrip for $360
Swap the Texas heat for Pacific breezes, grab a couple beach days, and be back before anyone realizes you left, all on an easy out of Waco Regional with a security line that barely counts as a line.
See Flight Deal →*

If this flight deal caught your eye, Denae at Traveluxe can handle the flights, hotels, and insider perks at no cost to you. Just email [email protected] and she’ll put your dream trip together. ✈️
*_{^{Price is subject to change and may no longer be available at the time you check the link.}}

Together with GRACEFULLY
Let’s help make the mother in your life feel loved and chosen this Mother’s Day.

Mother's Day is May 10, and if you're still figuring out what to get, a Waco-based jewelry brand might be the move. Gracefully is woman-owned, family-operated, and born right here in town. Every piece is waterproof, sweatproof, lightweight, and hypoallergenic, designed for the way moms actually live: gym, carpool, tennis court, date night, all of it. No need to take it off. Attainable, giftable, and made for real life. Browse the collection at shopgracefully.com or follow @shop.gracefully on Instagram.

🎠 Joyland Indoor Playground Coming Soon

Parents of young kids, heads up. Joyland has signed a lease taking over the old Boot Barn space off of New Rd. It's an indoor playground built for younger kids, with soft, covered play equipment so your 3-year-old isn't dodging middle schoolers on a trampoline.

Next door, the former Conn's space hasn't shown much movement toward becoming The Picklr, Waco's soon-to-be indoor pickleball destination. Between Joyland, The Picklr, and Sky Zone remodeling the old Burlington on Waco Drive, the trend is clear: where big-box retail left, family fun is moving in.

Other cities are beginning to take vacant mall space and turn it into hotspots for learning, fun, and health. Check it out.

🚗 CarMax Is Coming
CarMax has closed on land along Interstate 35 near Sun Valley Rd in Hewitt. The nation's largest used car retailer will build on a 4.7-acre tract across from the Texas Central Industrial Park. Only time now before Costco decides it’s time to move in nearby.

💪 6th Street Nutrition Now Open
Owners Stuart and Patty just opened 6th Street Nutrition at 300 S. 6th Street. Protein shakes, herbal teas, and a Wall of Fame where you can pin your sports photos. The couple has spent 9 years running Central Texas Helping Hands, a long-term care facility in Hewitt, and this new spot doubles as a supportive work environment for their clients.

🐕 YOUR YARD, MINUS THE LANDMINES
You love your dog. You do not love what your dog leaves behind. Dootectives is a local poop scoop service that shows up on schedule, handles the dirty work, and leaves your yard looking (and smelling) like nobody's dog lives there. New customers can get their first yard cleaned for just $1.
👉 Fill out the form and let someone else deal with it for once.*

🗳 Early Voting Ends Today

Today is your last chance to vote early before the May 2 election. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at four locations:

Waco Multi-Purpose Community Center, 1020 Elm Ave.
West Waco Library, 5301 Bosque Blvd.
McLennan County Elections Office, 214 N. Fourth St., Suite 300
Hewitt City Hall / Library, 200 Patriot Court

Races include Waco mayor, District 1 City Council, several surrounding city councils, and a 10-candidate field for three China Spring ISD board seats. Full candidate info provided by the Waco Bridge team here.

Interesting Fact: the political office with the highest level of public trust today is the Mayor.

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

Thursday:

Looking Ahead

Social Studies with Dr. Lenore Wright, May 7
Dr. Lenore Wright, Professor of Philosophy and Baylor Master Teacher, is taking us through 3,000 years of female icons and how they have shaped the way we see the world. It’s like a TED talk during happy hour. Get tickets here.

⭐ The Texas Sports Hall of Fame hosts the 2026 Lone Star Luncheon on Tuesday, May 12 at 11:30 AM, featuring golf legends Charles Coody and Tom Kite. Get tickets here.

⚾ Baylor Baseball (22-21) hosts UT Arlington tonight at 6:30 (it's $2 Tuesday). Then Texas Tech comes to town this weekend: Friday at 6:30 (9 Innings of Winnings with prizes all game), Saturday at 2 PM (Bark in the Park, bring your dog, every pup gets a toy), and Sunday at 1 PM (kids 12 and under get in at no cost, plus they can run the bases after the game).

🏈 NFL Draft Update: Jackie Marshall went to the Tennessee Titans and Josh Cameron to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Sawyer Robertson signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent, and Michael Trigg and Sidney Fugar landed with the Dallas Cowboys. Not a bad weekend to be a Bear.

🧗‍♀️ This summer, Basin Climbing + Fitness is offering $25 off their summer camp using code WACOBUZZ. If you or your child wants to try climbing before signing up, swing by the gym any day and give it a try together.

🚗 Your neighbors at Chevrolet 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.

🪙153 five-star reviews, free appraisals, and a reputation for fair market value. Reliable Coins is where Waco goes to sell gold and silver the right way.

✨ Skin & Body Refinery delivers top tier injectors, advanced treatments, and natural looking results that help you look and feel your best. They’re offering 15% off the Event Ready treatment plan right now.

💧 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 by clicking the link.

💪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.

Thanks for reading The Waco Buzz today. If you found something useful, share it with someone who could use a good read this week.

Speaking of reads, I keep coming back to a piece by Brent Beshore called "The Unmistakable Freedom of Ben Sasse." It's about a former U.S. senator facing terminal cancer with a kind of clarity and peace that's hard to explain and harder to look away from. It challenged me in ways I wasn't expecting, and I'd recommend it to everyone.

Before you go — two things worth knowing about:

1. Job Board: The best open roles at growing Waco companies across media, marketing, sales, tech, and engineering. Hiring? Get your open role featured in front of thousands of locals.

2. Want to reach Waco? This newsletter lands in 13,000+ local inboxes every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday. That means more people read this email than attend sell out basketball game at Foster Pavilion. Let’s get your brand, business, and event in front of our audience.