Waco Insider #182

Aaron Konzelman, Heart of Texas Leather Show, and The Will's School Supply Drive & Concert

Ready to wash off the humdrum of another workweek? Haul yourself over to Freight Bar on Friday at 9 pm because Aaron Konzelman will be performing his gripping, folk-influenced Americana tunes. This isn’t just a gig for him; it’s his testament to the soul of Texas music, where every guitar strum vibrates with a bit of our shared human condition. So buck up and cleanse yourself in the neon glow and whiskey truths of a true Texas troubadour.

$5 cover for 21+. $10 for those under 21.

(And if you like what you hear, Aaron and his wife Amanda—collectively known as The Union Revival—are raising funds to travel in September to the Yellowstone Songwriters Festival in Cody, Wyoming, where they’ve been designated rising star performing artists. You can help support them by purchasing merch from their online store, music on Bandcamp, baked goods from Revival Pie Co., or simply making a donation.)

Calling all crafty crafters and DIY enthusiasts: The Heart of Texas Leather Show is your playground on Friday and Saturday at the Waco Convention Center.

Whether you’re a seasoned saddle-maker or just itching to get your hands dirty with some rugged hide, this event has your name stitched all over it. Dive into workshops, rub elbows with the cleverest creators in the biz, and marvel at the dazzling leather goods.

(And who knows? You might just find—or make!—something brilliantly unique.)

And speaking of good causes, The Will is the place to be on Sunday, not just for the killer tunes and craft cocktails but to support its school supply drive.

While you do your bit for Waco kids, you’ll also be serenaded by the likes of Joel Wood, Megan Urby, and Jims With Benefits—and many others—while munching on treats from Frenchie Daddy French Toast and more. Don't miss out because even your brows can get a lift with a complimentary wax!

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Waco Insider is produced in collaboration with Creative Waco and the City of Waco Convention & Visitors Bureau.

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Upcoming Events

Events subject to change. Visit Waco Insider for complete event and ticket details, venue info, and newly added/updated listings.

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Thursday, August 8

• US Naval Academy STEM Kids Camp | Doris Miller Community Center | 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

• Mission Waco Theatre Arts Camp (ages 8–18) | Mission Waco Jubilee Theatre | 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

• Mission Waco Art Camp (grades 2–5) | Mission Waco Urban Expressions | 9:00 am – 11:00 am

• Penguin Shores Grand Opening | Cameron Park Zoo | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

• August Discovery Activity: Seed Bombs! | Urban REAP | 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

• Thirsty Thursday | Pivovar | 11:00 am – 9:00 pm

• Mission Waco Art Camp (grades 6–12) | Mission Waco Urban Expressions | 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

• Blind Whiskey Tasting: North, East, South, West | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Happy Hour | The Butcher’s Cellar | 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

• Last Call Before Football | Baylor Club | 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

• Johnny Joe Ramos | The Grape Wine Bar & Bistro | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• 2K24 Car & Truck Extravaganza | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Art Educator Exhibit Opening | Art Center Waco | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

• KRIS with a K Music Bingo | Waco Ale Co. | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Open Mic Night with Zachary Hill | The Will | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Bobby Dean & The Timeless Country Band | Sul Ross Boot Scootin’ Dance Club | 7:00 pm – 9:15 pm

• Black Stone Cherry | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Tell Runyan | AC Hotel | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Robert Fuller | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

• Thirsty Thursday Karaoke | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Alan Reyes | Lounge ’93 | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

• 3rd Annual Bull Fest of West with James Hollingworth | West Fair & Rodeo Grounds | 7:30 pm – 11:30 pm

• Open Mic Night | 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, August 9

• Heart of Texas Leather Show | Waco Convention Center | 8:00 am – 6:00 pm

• Mission Waco Art Camp (grades 2–5) | Mission Waco Urban Expressions | 9:00 am – 11:00 am

• Mission Waco Theatre Arts Camp (ages 8–18) | Mission Waco Jubilee Theatre | 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

• Tax Free Weekend | Richland Mall | 10:00 am – 8:00 pm

• August Discovery Activity: Seed Bombs! | Urban REAP | 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

• Women of Waco August Networking Meeting | Baylor Club | 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

• Mission Waco Art Camp (grades 6–12) | Mission Waco Urban Expressions | 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

• End of Summer Popsicle Party | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

• Happy Hour | The Butcher’s Cellar | 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

• Darrell "D-Rail" Ray | Slow Rise on the Brazos | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

• Texas Barnyard Brainiacs Trivia Showdown | Cultivate 7twelve | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Jennifer Pisarcik & Jon Fox | 1424 Bistro | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Jonna Mae | Uncle Worm’s Smoke House | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• The Lyrical Rickies featuring Shawn Skeen | The Grape Wine Bar & Bistro | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Dave Innis | Cambria Hotel | 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

• Karaoke | Waco Ale Co. | 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Friday Game Night | Lighthouse Coffee & Wine | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Brazos Brothers | Union Grove | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Jims With Benefits | The Will | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Twelve12 | Lounge ’93 | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

• 78th Annual West Fair & Rodeo with Heart of Texas Road Gang | West Fair & Rodeo Grounds | 7:30 pm – 11:30 pm

• Jerry Ogden Jr & Joshua Paul Garner | 308 Tavern | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Zak Webb | Blue Pup Wine & Martini Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• The Bill & Phil Show | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Woodway Family Movie Night | Woodway Family Center | 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Painted Panic with DogBite | Truelove Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:30 pm

• BYOP Dive-In Movie Night: 50 First Dates | Southern Roots Brewing Co. | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm

• Rusty Pipes | Papa Joe’s Texas Saloon | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm

• Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am

• EDM Sessions with LC_T03M1ZZL3, Flex Aces & Mr. Rush | Tandem Rooftop Bar | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am

• Aaron Konzelman | Freight Bar | 9:00 pm – 11:30 pm

• Imitators Show | Gritos Bar & Venue | 10:00 pm – 1:00 am

Saturday, August 10

• Heart of Texas Leather Show | Waco Convention Center | 8:00 am – 6:00 pm

• Waco Downtown Farmers Market | 500 Washington Avenue | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

• Drive for Supplies | Burney Mullins Park | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

• McLennan County Master Gardeners: Tickling Your Senses in the Garden | Waco Downtown Farmers Market | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

• School Supplies Drive | Harley-Davidson of Waco | 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

• Homestead Weekly Market | Homestead Heritage | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

• Watercolor Magic Class | Cultivate 7twelve | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

• Tax Free Weekend | Richland Mall | 10:00 am – 8:00 pm

• August Discovery Activity: Seed Bombs! | Urban REAP | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

• Back 2 School Car Show | Route 77 Food Park | 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

• 5-Year Anniversary Party | Waco Ale Co. | 11:00 am – 11:00 pm

• Back 2 School Show 'n' Shine | Black Rifle Coffee Company | 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

• Back to School Vendor Market with Frank Exum | Cultivate 7twelve | noon – 5:00 pm

• Big Binky's 14th Annual Waco Family Day BBQ & Back 2 School Giveaway | Oscar DuCongé Park | noon – 3:00 pm

• Storytime | Barnes & Noble | 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

• Ukulele Benefit Concert | Richland Mall | 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

• Hot Rides & Rods with 10th Leper Band | Tokio Store | 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

• Fishers of Men Banquet | BASE at Extraco Events Center | 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Happy Hour | The Butcher’s Cellar | 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

• Back to School Bash | Southern Roots Brewing Co. | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Hops & H.O.T. Rods | Bare Arms Brewing | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

• Alan Reyes | 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 Motown Caravan | Waco Hippodrome Theatre | 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm

• Collin James Band | VFW Post 6008 | 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Chris Colunga & The Lone Star Tonkers with Faith Wilgo & Brecken Shipman | BIG’s Mayberry Tavern | 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm

• 78th Annual West Fair & Rodeo with Brit Kerr | West Fair & Rodeo Grounds | 7:30 pm – 11:30 pm

• Michael Saldana & Tyler Layne | The Will | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Colton Hawkins & Joey Dvorak | Wolf’s Sports Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:30 pm

• Joe Frausto | Tokio Store | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Josh Carson | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Griffith Switch | Papa Joe’s Texas Saloon | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm

• Towne Adams Trio with Jonna Mae | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm

• Hayden Miller | Freight Bar | 9:00 pm – 11:30 pm

• Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am

Sunday, August 11

• Art in the Barnyard | Cloven Heart Farm Sanctuary | 9:30 am – 11:30 am

• Artisan Market Brunch | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

• Back to School Brunch | Baylor Club | 10:30 am – 1:30 pm

• Tax Free Weekend | Richland Mall | noon – 6:00 pm

• Live Figure Drawing | Cultivate 7twelve | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

• Sunday Sessions: Matt Tedder | Waco Surf | 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

• School Supply Drive & Concert | The Will | 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm

• Mystery Book Club: The Good Daughter | South Waco Library | 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm

• Sunday Funday | Freight Bar | 4:00 pm – 11:45 pm

• Clothing Swap | Cultivate 7twelve | 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

• Song Swap & Open Mic Night with Michael Saldana | Lakeside Bar | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• HOT Pro Wrestling: MegaBrawl ‘24 | Waco Lions Den | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Monday, August 12

• Outdoor Om with Farm Friends | Cloven Heart Farm Sanctuary | 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

• Monday Story Time: Up in the Air | Mayborn Museum Complex | 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm

• Happy Hour | The Butcher’s Cellar | 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

• Karaoke Mondays | The Crying Shame | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Manic Monday | Freight Bar | 7:00 pm – 11:45 pm

• Slap Stix Trivia Night | Lakeside Bar | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Tuesday, August 13

• LLC Business Formation Workshop | Goodwill Community Connect | 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

• Happy Hour | The Butcher’s Cellar | 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

• Cocktails with Jen | Hemingway’s Watering Hole | 5:00 pm – midnight

• Mendocino Wine Dinner | La Bottega | 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm

• Beer Garden Yoga | Brotherwell Brewing | 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

• Books & Brews: To the Forest | Pivovar | 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

• Smarty Pints Trivia | Southern Roots Brewing Co. | 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

• Karaoke | Tokio Store | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Fabled Book Club: The God of the Woods | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

• Slap Stix Trivia Tuesday | Freight Bar | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Wednesday, August 14

• The Meetup | Startup Waco | 9:00 am – 10:00 am

• All-Day Happy Hour | Pivovar | 11:00 am – 9:00 pm

• 13th Annual Veterans Appreciation Luncheon | Lee Lockwood Library and Museum | 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

• Happy Hour | The Butcher’s Cellar | 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

• Kids Eat Free Wednesday | 1424 Bistro | 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Trivia Night | Bare Arms Brewing | 6:00 pm – 7:30 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

Need to know when to staff up for large events? Click here to view business and social events that may not be listed above.

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Coming Next Week

Elvis Bike Night, Billy Joe Shaver Memorial Throwdown, and Fashion with a Passion—A Mission Waco Style Show.

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