Christmas comes early this weekend for movie lovers as the newly rechristened Waco Independent Film Festival returns to multiple venues in downtown Waco on Thursday, July 18, through Sunday, July 21. It’s a weekend packed full of films, friends, food, and fun: family flicks, music documentaries, world-class shorts, filmmaking masterclasses, epic parties, and a special 40th-anniversary screening of A Nightmare on Elm Street.
(And because you can’t possibly catch everything being screened, see what you missed with the online encore from July 21–27.)
Based in Austin, Burrito Seagull is known for its unique blend of honky tonk, rock 'n' roll, and jazz (aka "yacht tonk"). Featuring a fun mix of originals, romantic golden country classics, and influences from New Orleans and Memphis R&B, you can catch them at Papa Joe’s Texas Saloon in Lorena on Friday night for a lively performance that’ll encourage you to dance, drink, and dream the night away.
Whether you’re a seasoned racer or a passionate fan, the Southern Drag Boat Association (SDBA) invites you to Brazos Park East this weekend for an unforgettable experience.
Come witness the fastest boats in action, marvel at the skill of the drivers, and immerse yourself in the electrifying atmosphere that only drag boat racing can provide.
Day and weekend passes available online.
Upcoming Events
Events subject to change. Visit Waco Insider for complete event and ticket details, venue info, and newly added/updated listings.
Have an event you’d like listed? Visit our event submissions page.
Thursday, July 18
Thirsty Thursday | Pivovar | 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Business After Hours | Baylor Club | 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Waco Indie Film Festival | Downtown Waco | 5:30 pm – midnight
Financial Literacy Workshop | Goodwill Community Connect | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Open Mic Night | The Will | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
$25 Steak Night | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Bike Night with David Matthew Doran | Harley-Davidson of Waco | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Marty Floyd | The Grape Wine Bar & Bistro | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Summatime Poetry Slam | Thrst Coffee | 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Music Bingo | Waco Ale Co. | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Johnnie Bradshaw & The Out of the Blue Band | Sul Ross Boot Scootin’ Dance Club | 7:00 pm – 9:15 pm
Jessica Goudeau | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Thirsty Thursday Karaoke | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Name That Tune Music Bingo | Freight Bar | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
The Boys in the Band | MCC Music & Theatre Arts | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Sami Brown | Lounge ’93 | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Josh Mitchell | BIG’s Mayberry Tavern | 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Open Mic Night with Caleb Deschaine | Rocky’s Roadhouse | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Songwriter Showcase | Texas Music Cafe | 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Karaoke on the Patio | Austin’s on the Avenue | 9:00 pm – midnight
Friday, July 19
Art Camp: Fun With Pen & Paper (1st–2nd grade) | Art Center Waco | 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Sculpt It! (3rd–6th grade) | Art Center Waco | 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Art Camp: Full STEAM Ahead (1st–2nd grade) | Art Center Waco | 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
July Skate Camp | Skate Waco Bellmead | 8:30 am – 1:00 pm
HOTCT Summer Camp: The Three Billy Goats Gruff | Lakeshore Baptist Church | 9:00 am – noon
Waco Indie Film Festival | Downtown Waco | 10:00 am – midnight
Double Toe Jam 2024 | Waco Convention Center | noon – 10:00 pm
The Lindsley Brothers | Hotel Herringbone | 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Olympians Trivia & Pint Night | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
David Matthew Doran | The Grape Wine Bar & Bistro | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Nathan Plant | Uncle Worm’s Smoke House | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Michter's Bourbon Whiskey Dinner | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Dave Innis | Cambria Hotel | 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Jonna Mae & Towne Adams | Camp Fimfo | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Peter Pan: A New Musical | Waco Civic Theatre | 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Heart of Texas Road Gang | VFW Post 6008 | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Karaoke | Waco Ale Co. | 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Monte Rose | Aloft Waco Downtown | 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
The Boys in the Band | MCC Music & Theatre Arts | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Jennifer Pisarcik & Jon Fox | Lounge ’93 | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Sami Brown | Blue Pup Wine & Martini Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Beer Run Band | American Legion Post 273 | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Curt & Hannah | 3R Roadhouse | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Burrito Seagull | Papa Joe’s Texas Saloon | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Josh Meloy | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Steve Smith Group | BIG’s Mayberry Tavern | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
Grupo Alterado | Gritos Bar & Venue | 9:00 pm – midnight
EDM Sessions with Yogi Garagate, RCKSTDY & Flex Aces | Tandem Rooftop Bar | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
Saturday, July 20
Duel on the Brazos | Brazos Park East | 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday Mash-Up Scrimmage | Skate Waco Bellmead | 8:00 am – 10:00 am
Double Toe Jam 2024 | Waco Convention Center | 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
Waco Downtown Farmers Market | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
China Spring Farmers & Crafters Market | First Baptist Church of China Spring | 9:00 am – noon
Cars & Coffee | Black Rifle Coffee Company | 9:00 am – 11:30 am
MLK Cleanup | Brazos Park East | 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Waco Indie Film Festival | Downtown Waco | 9:00 am – midnight
Homestead Weekly Market | Homestead Heritage | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
STEMfest 2024 | Mayborn Museum Complex | 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
Bot Battle | MAKER’s EDGE Creation Studio | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Texas Ranger Talks (morning) | Texas Rangers Hall of Fame & Museum | 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Community Workshop: Seed Saving & Seed Swap | Urban REAP | 11:00 am – noon
2nd Round RC Points Race | HobbyTown | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Peter Pan: A New Musical (matinee) | Waco Civic Theatre | 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Texas Ranger Talks (afternoon) | Texas Rangers Hall of Fame & Museum | 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
The Boys in the Band (matinee) | MCC Music & Theatre Arts | 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Nate Leonard | Hotel Herringbone | 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
PSL Waco Community Conversation | South Waco Library | 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Frida Fest | La Taqueria Street Food | 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Summerween Sip 'n' Shop | The Black Daisy (China Spring) | 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Eastside Market | Brotherwell Brewing | 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Sundae Drivers | Playdium Pool | 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Heroes & Hogs with Burn the Wicked | American Legion Post 121 | 5:00 pm – midnight
Open Mic Night with Leaf Vxllage | Lighthouse Coffee & Wine | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Steve Dansby & Jonna Mae | La Fiesta Restaurant & Cantina | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Waco Goodfellas: Christmas in July | BASE at Extraco Events Center | 6:00 pm – 11:30 pm
Dave Wild Duo | Segovia Wine Bar | 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Brazos Brothers | Southern Roots Brewing Co. | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Peter Pan: A New Musical | Waco Civic Theatre | 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Dave Innis | Marie’s Wine Bar | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Dr Pepper Paranormal Experience | Dr Pepper Museum & Free Enterprise Institute | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Boys in the Band | MCC Music & Theatre Arts | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Darrell "D-Rail" Ray | Tokio Store | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Beer Run Band | Rocky’s Roadhouse | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Stand-Up Comedy Showcase | Brazos Theatre | 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Karaoke | Papa Joe’s Texas Saloon | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Touch of Grey | BIG’s Mayberry Tavern | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Collin James Band | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Aaron LaCombe | The Will | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
3rd Street Chaos | Last Chance Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Woody's Birthday Party | Hemingway’s Watering Hole | 8:00 pm – 2:00 am
Six Gun Sound: A Tribute to Bad Company | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
Sunday, July 21
Duel on the Brazos | Brazos Park East | 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Woodway Farmers Market | Carleen Bright Arboretum | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Waco Indie Film Festival | Downtown Waco | 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
July Floating Mercado | Around The World | 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Sunday Sessions: The Lindsley Brothers | Waco Surf | 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Peter Pan: A New Musical (matinee) | Waco Civic Theatre | 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm
The Boys in the Band (matinee) | MCC Music & Theatre Arts | 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Matinee Dance with the Heart of Texas Road Gang | Karem Shrine | 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Sunday Funday | Freight Bar | 4:00 pm – 11:45 pm
Trigger Jones Duo | Playdium Pool | 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Good Work Creator Meet-Up | For Keeps Coffee | 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Royce Montgomery | The Will | 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Maya Piata | Hotel Herringbone | 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Open Mic Night | Lakeside Bar | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Auditioning Workshop | Cultivate 7twelve | 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Monday, July 22
HOTCT Summer Camp: Hansel and Gretel | Lakeshore Baptist Church | 9:00 am – noon
Roller Hockey Summer Camp | Skate Waco Bellmead | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Monday Story Time: Forest Friends | Mayborn Museum Complex | 10:30 am – 11:15 am
Crazy Coder Camp! | MAKER’s EDGE Creation Studio | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
$5 Pints & Burgers | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Acoustic Open Mic | Taqueria Mexicano Grill 15 | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Karaoke Mondays | The Crying Shame | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Manic Monday | Freight Bar | 7:00 pm – 11:45 pm
John Fram | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Slap Stix Trivia Night | Lakeside Bar | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Tuesday, July 23
HOTCT Summer Camp: Hansel and Gretel | Lakeshore Baptist Church | 9:00 am – noon
Roller Hockey Summer Camp | Skate Waco Bellmead | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Kids Eat Free Tuesdays | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Give Back Night | Clicks Billiards | 11:00 am – 2:00 am
Crazy Coder Camp! | MAKER’s EDGE Creation Studio | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Break-Even Bottle Night with Macallan M | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Cocktails with Jen | Hemingway’s Watering Hole | 5:00 pm – midnight
Beer Garden Yoga | Brotherwell Brewing | 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Towne Tuesday Open Mic | The Crying Shame | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Smarty Pints Trivia | Southern Roots Brewing Co. | 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Karaoke | Tokio Store | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Third Tuesday Trivia | Pinewood Public House | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Slap Stix Trivia Tuesday | Freight Bar | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Wednesday, July 24
The Meetup | Startup Waco | 9:00 am – 10:00 am
HOTCT Summer Camp: Hansel and Gretel | Lakeshore Baptist Church | 9:00 am – noon
Roller Hockey Summer Camp | Skate Waco Bellmead | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
All-Day Happy Hour | Pivovar | 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Crazy Coder Camp! | MAKER’s EDGE Creation Studio | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Bishop Cider Pint Night | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Pop-Up Shop | Lighthouse Coffee & Wine | 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Trivia Night | Bare Arms Brewing | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Dad & Me Workshop | Starry Counseling | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Markus Miller | Taqueria Mexicano Grill 15 | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Wine Wednesday with Stan Wilfong | Segovia Wine Bar | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Slap Stix Trivia Night | Torchy’s Tacos | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Music Bingo | Brotherwell Brewing | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Open Mic Night | Last Chance Bar | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Vinyl Night | Waco Ale Co. | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Muck Sticky | Freight Bar | 9:00 pm – midnight
Need to know when to staff up for large events? Click here to view business and social events that may not be listed above.
Coming Next Week
Skellington Summerween Night Market, Christian Shieldz, and BBQ Grill & Chill with Jake Bush.
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