Wacoans, we’re hitting the post-Spring Break high. That sweet taste of freedom felt a little bit too much like summer, but now, you’ve found yourself back at your office desk wondering how it’s only March. Don’t be distraught any longer, because this Waco Weekend is filled with fun activities. Just because we’re back in school and at work, doesn’t mean we can’t have fun. When you explore Waco this Weekend be sure to tag us @wacoan and use #WacoWeekend for a chance to be featured!
Through the Weekend
Carden International Circus
Pile up the clown car because the Carden International Circus is in town! Watch shows with aerial acrobatics, exotic animals such as elephants and camels and more. The circus is all day long and located at the Extraco Events Center, 4601 Bosque Boulevard. Bring the whole family to see the show from Friday through Sunday. Click here for tickets and more information.
2023 Pruit Symposium
Baylor University is hosting the 2023 Pruit Symposium. This event will explore the life, music and legacy of American Gospel Singer Andraé Crouch. There are a couple of public events that are free to attend. On Thursday night, there will be Community Gospel Sing at Second Baptist Mission Church, 2001 Dallas Street, at 7 p.m., and on Friday at 7 p.m., there will be a tribute concert to Crouch held in Jones Concert Hall, 110 Baylor Avenue. For more information on the symposium, visit this website.
St. Paddy’s Day Bash
Barnett’s Whiskey House is hosting its annual St. Patrick’s Day bash Friday and Saturday. The two day event is loaded with activities including a cornhole tournament on Saturday, live music and a St. Patrick’s beard competition benefitting the Talitha Koum Institute. Get the full list of events here.
Cameron Park Zoo Scavenger Hunt
Find the missing clues near the giraffes, behind the elephants, and next to the aquarium for Cameron Park Zoo’s Spring Break scavenger hunt. This event is an interactive scavenger hunt that will be open through March 18. Participants will use the Goosechase app for the search and will be able to learn more about the zoo’s animals along the way. Hours for the zoo Monday through Saturday are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Sunday the zoo opens from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on hours and admission prices, click here.
Spring at the Silos
Magnolia Market, 601 Webster Avenue, is in full bloom March 17—18th. This event is free to guests, but does offer special tours that require a ticket. Spring at the Silos will have vendors, food, live music and local artists. Hours for the market are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
8th Street Market
If you’re going to Spring at the Silos, consider traveling to the other side of the street to visit the 8th Street Market and discover local finds. This market is located at 407 S 8th Street, across from Magnolia Market. Vendors include food trucks, jewelry, clothing, wooden toys, ceramic artists and more. Friday market hours are 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Maker’s Market
Join Ramble and Company, 216 S 11th Street, for a weekend full of shopping local vendors. Its Maker’s Market will be hosted Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. including artists, vendors, and craftsmen of Waco. The vendors include: Second Time’s a Charm, Cookies by Chelsea, Zapped Waco, Beba, The Black Daisy, Lanua Candle and Local Skate Rats. There will also be experiences such as a photo booth and a live paper screen printing.
Cardboard Craze
Mayborn Museum’s Cardboard Craze, is an interactive exhibit where visitors use Waco’s recycled cardboard to make items like forts, costumes and art. This exhibit will be open until April 2nd and is located at 1300 S. University Parks Drive. Thursday through Saturday hours for the Museum is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Sunday hours are 1—5 p.m. For more information on the exhibit and price list, visit the Mayborn’s website.
Art A La Carte- A Collective Exhibition
To see what local artists have created, visit the Art Center Waco, 701 S 8th Street, Art A La Carte. This is a continuing exhibit and will be on display all week long, including the weekend. The Art Center opens Thursday and Friday morning at 11 a.m. and will close at 5 p.m. Saturday the gallery will open at 10 a.m. and close at 2 p.m. The gallery is free to view.
Two-hour Wheel Throwing Workshop at Black Oak Art Pottery
At Black Oak Art Pottery, you can have a chance to make your own wares at its Two-Hour Wheel Throwing Workshop, Thursday and Friday from 2 – 4 p.m. This workshop teaches visitors how to use a potter’s wheel and includes taking home two glazed pieces at the price of $80. All materials are provided and Black Oak Art’s Studio is located at 1619 Franklin Avenue.
Thursday — March 16
Piano Happy Hour with Dave Innis at Stay Classy Waco, 5—7 p.m.
“Parents as Teachers” workshop
Parents wear many hats, their roles can be taxi driver, chef and caregiver all in one day. At this workshop, parents can now learn the role of educator. Located at the Dewey Community Center, 925 N 9th Street, the “Parents as Teachers” workshop will learn teaching strategies that can be used at home. These can help make the learning process easier for kids that are 3rd through 12th grade. Registration is not required and the event is from 6—6:45 p.m.
Songwriter Night with Joanna Mae, Texas Music Cafe, 7—10 p.m.
Darts Tournament
This Thursday night is your chance to win the Clicks Billiards dart tournament. The tournament is from 7–11 p.m. at 1200 Richland Drive #8001, with a $10 entry fee. If you’re not into darts, but still want to be a part of the action, there is food, drinks and other games available to customers.
Russell Stephen Boyd, Twisted Sisters Patio Bar, 7-10 p.m.
Boot Scootin’ Dance Club
Wipe the dust off your cowboy boots and put on your starch-pressed jeans at the Boot Scootin’ Dance Club. Spend your night line dancing, doing the polka, two-step, waltzes and if you’re lucky, the chicken dance. Hear live music from the Midnight Mustangs at this event at Sul Ross Senior Center, 1414 Jefferson Avenue from 7—9:15 p.m. Admission is $6.
Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night
Bring your own team and get ready for 60 questions over two hours at TrueLove’s Bar, weekly trivia night. You can bring a team with up to six people or show up solo and join a pre-existing team. Brush off those random facts you know and have a chance to win free prizes. The trivia night is located at 414 Franklin Avenue at 7 p.m.
Songwriter Thursday
You can either sit back and enjoy original live music or you can be the one performing at The Backyard Bar Stage and Grill Songwriter Thursday night. This event is held at 511 S 8th Street. Be sure to get your song lyrics ready because sign-ups begin at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. and goes until 10 p.m.
Trivia Night @ Brotherwell Brewing
Brotherwell Brewing is no stranger to hosting trivia night. Every week they bring in a special guest to host and they have been offering a BBQ dinner service from Broken G BBQ. Each week covers different topics, so be sure to bring a team that has a wide variety of knowledge. Trivia Night will be held at 400 E Bridge Street from 7-9:30 p.m.
Hollywood Yates, The Backyard Bar Stage and Grill, 8:30 p.m.
Friday — March 17
St. Patrick’s Day Party
Kick-off Saint Paddy’s Day at Waco Ale Company, 806 Austin Avenue, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sip on a cold green beer and munch on some food with your friends or family. Stick around to hear Waco Ale Company’s new beer release.
Da’Shack Farmers Market
Da’Shack Farmers Market, 925 Houston Street, is open from 2—6 p.m. provides fresh produce that you can see cut straight from the soil. Da’ Shack offers organic produce, herbs and plants, along with occasional gardening classes and the expertise to answer all your gardening questions.
Friday Night Dinner at Lighthouse
Need dinner plans for Friday Night? Book your table at Lighthouse and experience its Friday Night Dinner. To start is a dish of roasted artichokes, fresh thyme and olive oil. There is also a choice of strawberry and rhubarb salad, with mint and toasted hazelnuts, or ginger and carrot soup, with cilantro and caramelized onions. For the main course, a choice of beef filet, topped with bearnaise sauce, or salmon topped with leek veloute sauce, with buttery garlic mashed potatoes and roasted broccolini. And for those of you with a sweet tooth, they have blondies. The dinner is $25 a person with the option for a wine or cocktail pairing, click here to reserve your table.
Kat & Alex, The Backyard Bar Stage and Grill, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday — March 18
St. Patty’s Cornhole Tournament
Camp Fimfo, 1000 Chickadee Lane, is hosting a cornhole tournament to support the Waco Habitat for Humanity. This tournament is single-elimination and the cost to compete as a team of two is $150, and you can register here. There will also be Saint Patrick’s Day-themed food and drinks, live music, ax-throwing and yard games. This event lasts all day from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
SIC’EM Science Day Junior
Meet the winners from the 67th Central Texas Science and Engineering Fair 10 a.m. —12:30 p.m. at the Mayborn Museum, 1300 S University Parks. These scientists are middle schoolers with award-winning research to share. Tickets for adults are $10, $9 for seniors and $8 for kids.
Waco Downtown Farmers Market
The Waco Downtown Farmers Market is open every Saturday from 9 a.m.—1 p.m. The market features locally grown and produced goods from farmers and artisans within 150 miles of Waco. There is always live music and a featured local organization each week. The market is located in the McLennan County Courthouse parking lot at 500 Washington Avenue. Visit the website to view a calendar of upcoming events and vendors.
Midway ISD Job Fair
Midway ISD is hosting a job fair taking place at Midway High School, 8200 Mars Drive. Midway ISD is hiring positions in all areas: Professional, Paraprofessional and Auxiliary, so don’t miss out on this chance to be a part of an amazing district and community. The job fair is from 9—11 a.m., to learn more information visit the website.
Mammoths on the March
The famous mammoths of the Waco Mammoth National Monument have invited families to join them for a free event with a petting zoo, flower plantings, egg hunt, crafts, sandbox excavations for kids, fossil fun and more. Visitors will even have the opportunity to participate in citizen science screen washing with park staff. The event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the egg scramble starting at 10 a.m. Get more information here.
Eastside Market
Eastside Market is changing it up by hosting its thrifts and arts market Saturday from 12—5 p.m. Visitors can listen to live music and view graffiti artwork while shopping for vintage clothing. You can also pop into Brotherwell Brewing and grab a drink or eat at a local food truck. This is the last market of this season with these specific vendors so don’t miss this opportunity, the market is located at 400 East Bridge Street.
Waco Pop Hunters
Build your collection at this monthly vendor event at Southern Roots Brewing from 12-5 p.m. Enjoy pizza, craft beer and meet fellow collectors at this fun event. Get more information about special guests and vendors here.
Crafting and Coffee – Beginning Embroidery Class with Cristin
If you have been wanting to embroider but have no experience, this is the class for you! The host, Cristin will guide you through all the basics of embroidery in just three hours from 1—4 p.m. This class is located at Paper Crown, 601 Franklin Avenue, and is $25 with supplies included. If interested, register here for the class.
The Wilder Blue, featuring Zane Williams, The Backyard Bar Stage and Grill, 6—8 p.m.
A Tribute to Cash
Walk the Line all the way to the Waco Hippodrome, 724 Austin Avenue, to see the Johnny Cash live tribute concert! Bennie Wheels will take you on a journey through 50 decades of Cash’s greatest hits, performed the way everyone loves and remembers. This concert also features the sensational Ladies of Shake, Rattle & Roll and is backed by the Edge Of Reality tribute band. There is even a Willie Nelson tribute by Special guest, Danny Ragland with his tribute to Willie Nelson. Tickets are selling fast, so buy yours before the weekend hits.
Orchestral Magic
Waco Symphony Orchestra presents “Orchestral Magic” at Waco Hall, 624 Speight Avenue, at 7:30 p.m. The program includes famous movements from Anna Clyne’s “This Midnight Hour”, Dukas’ “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” and Berlioz’s “Symphonie fantastique”. The program will feature WSA finalist Maestro Wesley Schulz and singer-actor John Coons. To purchase tickets, click here.
Comedy at the Brazos: A Stand-Up Comedy Showcase
Spend your Saturday night full of laughs at the Stand-Up Comedy Showcase at Brazos Theatre, 7524 Bosque Boulevard from 8—10 p.m. Guests can BYOB and peruse the snack bar. Tickets are $16.50, visit this website to purchase or for more information.
Sunday — March 19
Sketch Artist Social Club
Sketch Artist Social Club hosted by Casket and Cauldron, 1601 Washington Avenue, is a great opportunity for artists and those who love art to meet one another and collaborate. Local artists can show off their work and people who love art, can munch some donuts and coffee and check out all the awesome artists of Waco every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
9th Annual Walk for Down Syndrome
Heart of Texas Down Syndrome Network is hosting its annual walk on World Down Syndrome Day. The walk will be at Hewitt Park, 801 S Hewitt Drive, from 2—5 p.m. The event will include music, food, Zumba and a Resource Fair. Be sure to wear crazy socks to go along with this year’s theme. This event’s proceeds will help HOTDSN to create local programs for those in need, click here to purchase tickets.
Open Mic Night, Lakeside Bar & Live Music, 6—9 p.m.
Husbands, Common Grounds Waco, 8—11 p.m.
