Fall officially begins Monday –– can you believe it? That means it will cool down eventually and to celebrate, there are so many fun events that you and your family can enjoy like Waco’s second annual Oktoberfest, Waco Wild West Bicycle Tour, Kayak For A Cause, The Heart of Texas Food and Wine Festival and so much more! Grab a pumpkin spiced latte and get ready to enjoy an eventful weekend here in Waco! Also, keep us informed of any fun things you do by tagging @Wacoan and using our hashtag #WacoWeekend.
Throughout the weekend:
Do you believe in monsters? Well, whether you are a skeptic or a believer, check out the fantastical true story of Flying Monsters and why these mysterious creatures (hint: they’re related to dinosaurs) took to the air in a special film being shown at the Mayborn Museum. Tickets cost $3 for children, adults and groups, $2 for Baylor students and museum members, and are in addition to museum admission prices of $9 for adults, $8 for seniors age 65 and older and $7 for children ages 2-12. Weekend hours for the film showing are: Saturday at 11a.m., 1p.m. and 3p.m and Sunday at 2p.m. and 4p.m. For details visit, baylor.edu/mayborn.
Come check out the great artwork of renowned artist Joseph Albers and many other artists who have been inspired by his work at the Emergence: Art and the Incarnation of Space located at the Martin Museum of Art. The show goes on until October 6 and hours of operation are 10a.m. to 5p.m. Monday-Saturday and is open at 1p.m. on Sundays. Admission is free. To find out more, visit baylor.edu/martinmuseum.
3,2,1… BLAST OFF!! Learn about some of the cool things happening near Waco at the SpaceX: Now this is a Rocket Science Exhibit at the Mayborn Museum. You will get the chance to explore a rocket ship model and thruster, get a lively representation of the worlds solar system and so much more! Museum admission costs $9 for adults, $8 for seniors age 65 and older and $7 for children ages 2-12. The Mayborn is open Monday-Wednesday 10a.m. to 5p.m., Thursday 10a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10a.m. to 5p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. Visit baylor.edu/mayborn, to learn more.
Thursday, September 19
Knitters will love this event – Tink and Drink at Tricot. Every Thursday night, from 6-8 p.m. Tricot (located at 1701 Austin Avenue), stays open late with wine served for those over the age of 21, or you can bring your own bottle. Hang out, knit, have a drink and relax! Tricot specializes in hand-dyed yarns from local and international artisans, concentrating on small businesses and indie dyers. For details, visit tricotwaco.com.
Live Music:
Live Music at The Grape, Grape Wine Bar & Bistro: 7 p.m.
Stephany & Frank, Waco Winery, 7 p.m.
Eric Johnson, The Backyard Bar Stage & Grill: 8:30p.m., tickets cost $35
Friday, September 20
Why have a boring one-course dinner when you can have four every Friday night as part of Barnett’s Public House Specialty Dinner. Every week they feature a different menu and chef and the cost is $25 per person. Reservations are required so head on over to their website at barnettspublichouse.com or call 254/714-1356 to make yours. Your stomach will thank you for this!
Attention all country-loving music fans: get ready to sing your hearts out at the Gatesville Country Music Hall of Fame Jamboree. The New Country Sounds Band and many other country, gospel and bluegrass artists will perform. The jamboree starts at 7p.m. at the Gatesville Auditorium. It’s a free event so gather your friends, put on your cowboy boots and get ready for a howdy good time!
Live Music
Dave Wild Trio, Klassy Glass, 8:30p.m.
Jonna Mae, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, 7p.m.
Jake Scott, Common Grounds, 8-11p.m., tickets cost $10
Saturday, September 21
Good morning Waco! The sun is shining so get out of bed and race to the Waco Downtown Farmers Market and feast your eyes on all the food and goods from local vendors. It’s a great opportunity to support local business, run into people you know and even strangers –– who knows, the person you’re standing next to in line at Sergio’s might end up being your best friend! The market is open from 9a.m. to 1p.m.
Small Town –– but a big community! Whether your roots lie in McGregor or not, come and celebrate the heritage of the small town this Saturday at their annual McGregor Founder’s Day. The event will begin with a 5k and parade following, delicious food from vendors, live entertainment from dance teams, cheerleaders and popular local artists throughout the day. And parents, don’t you worry, there is plenty of fun that your kids will get their hands on such as a petting zoo and getting their energy out on the moon bounces! For more information, visit mcgregorfoundersday.com.
Feel the rainbow, taste the rainbow! Skittles is a proud sponsor of 34th annual Waco Wild West Bicycle Tour. The tour has been a fun tradition for many since 1985! People of all athletic abilities are encouraged to participate. Multiple routes range from 10-65 miles. The event’s mission is to “encourage and motivate people to cycle, to promote safe riding and camaraderie, as well as to donate to local nonprofits.” This year, all proceeds benefit the Be The Match Registry and many other organizations. The bike tour starts at 8 a.m. on Washington Street in front of the Waco Convention Center. Youth registration (12 & under) costs $12 and adults cost $45. Registration closes Sept.19 so register fast at wacowildwest100.com or just go cheer on the riders.
Seven million liters of beer is consumed every year at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. Waco’s second annual Oktoberfest won’t quite match that, but don’t you worry, Barnetts Public House will still supply plenty of beer for everyone. Aside from beer, there are many fun events planned such as a giant beer tent, German food hall, Craft Biergarten, Oktoberfest games, football watch party and more! And if you want to get into the spirit of Oktoberfest even more so, there is a 5K beer run. To top it off, proceeds from the event benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The event starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 10p.m. General admission costs $10 and the beer run costs $30. To purchase tickets, go to the event page on at facebook.com/events/428989981210806.
One of Waco’s legendary events, The Heart of Texas Food and Wine Festival also known as WineFest, is this Saturday from 6-10 p.m. at McLane Stadium, benefiting the Humane Society of Central Texas. There will be over 200 wines to taste and over 40 foods to sample, along with entertainment such as live music performed by Three4One band and an exclusive VIP Experience with wine tasting and food pairing –– so be sure to come with an empty stomach! Not a wine person, don’t sweat it, there will be a sports area with beer as well as a BBQ cook-off. And we can’t forget about the dogs…. There will be a V.I.P. “Top Dog” area and a Red Carpet Dog Walk that will showcase adoptable shelter dogs, a silent auction and more’! For tickets, visit this link.
Enjoy a night at the museum where you won’t have to worry about statues coming to life, but instead celebrating the Lee Lockwood Scottish Rite Library and Museum’s 50th Anniversary presented by the Scottish Rite Foundation of Texas with a Golden Gala. The gala starts at 5:30p.m with tours, hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Following that from 6:30-11 p.m. there will be a live auction, dinner, and a chance to hear from the keynote speaker, 41st Lieutenant Governor of Texas, David H. Dewhurst. Tickets cost $50 and can be purchased at this link. So come in your best black-tie attire and enjoy an eventful night at the museum!
Live music:
Bubba Haze Band, 5J Dance Hall, 9p.m.
Live Music Kissing Tree Vineyards, 7-10 p.m.
O5’ers, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, 7-10 p.m.
Sunday, September 22
Spend your weekend doing things! Bring your paddles and get ready for a fun afternoon at Kayak For A Cause kayaking across the Brazos. All paddlers will begin together at 3 p.m. under the Pedestrian Bridge connecting Touchdown Alley and the South Plaza. There will be music, food trucks and ice-cold alcoholic beverages for sale during and after the race. Kayak For A Cause is welcome to all eager paddlers no matter the skill set! The event is free admission and benefits the Boys and Girls Club of Waco.
There’s no better way to celebrate World Rhino Day than at Cameron Park Zoo with Jabba (m), Babe (f) and Ethel (f)! Come enjoy fun activities and listen to special talks from the zookeepers themselves from 11a.m. to 1p.m. Visit cameronparkzoo.com for details.
Need a fun Sunday afternoon activity that’s free, too? Hop on over to the Mayborn Museum’s Community Day and discover what the Mayborn has to offer like the Discovery Center and the many historical and science exhibits! Junior League of Waco will also be offering a free book reading that will be enjoyable for the whole family! The museum will be open from 1-5 p.m.
Spend your Sunday morning joining Mission Waco on their 1.2-mile Walk for the Homeless in their efforts to educate the community about homelessness. Not only will you be educated on homelessness in Waco, but you also learn how you can make a difference in the community by getting involved in many local non-profits! Participating in the walk is free, but donations of hygiene items are greatly appreciated. The walk is from 8-10:30 a.m. at the Mission Waco Meyer Center, 1126 Washington Ave.
Celebrate Mexico’s independence right, at the Festival Fiestas Patrias! The event is free and will have food, drinks, live music, moon-bounces for the kids and so much more. The fiesta starts at 4 p.m. and is located at Extraco Events Center, so get ready to fiesta your heart out!
