T’was a night before Christmas, and all through the Cameron Park Zoo, not a creature was stirring as the evening darkness grew. With the animals tucked away safely for a long winter’s night, the zoo suddenly brightened with thousands of tiny lights. There were carolers singing and tasty treats, too. Now there’s just one thing missing: you!
Wild Lights runs from November 24 until December 31 on (most) Wednesdays through Sundays from 6 pm to 9 pm. Tickets are available online.
Head to West, Texas, for Lights of West, a mile-long trail of twinkling Christmas lights you can drive through in your own vehicle or an open-air trailer. Families can create Christmas magic among the many other attractions, such as pictures with the twenty-foot Santa, snowman, or even the live Santa on select weekends. New this year: Roast marshmallows and enjoy a Christmas movie under the lighted pavilion.
The park is now open nightly from 6 pm to 10 pm through December 30. Check out prices and more information online.
It’s a Christmas experience at Extraco Events Center that features everything you could possibly dream up: ice skating on real ice, photos with Santa, hot cocoa, snow games, a petting zoo, an ice bar, holiday shopping, and more each weekend from November 24 to December 17.
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, November 23
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Tyler Stokes | Hoot’s Tokio Store | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Friday, November 24
Feztival of Trees | Karem Shrine | 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Black Friday | Ramble & Company Waco | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Black Friday Husband Daycare | Lounge ’93 | 10:00 am – 6:30 pm
Santa at the Silos | Magnolia Press | noon – 5:00 pm
Sing-Along with Santa | Richland Mall | 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm
North Pole Palooza | Extraco Events Center | 1:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Skate with The Grinch Toy Drive | Skate World Waco | 1:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Neon Whiskey | Slow Rise on the Brazos | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Wild Lights | Cameron Park Zoo | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Michael Saldana | Uncle Worm’s Smoke House | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Friday Night Live with Eric & Thomas Unplugged | Baylor Club | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Royce Montgomery | Lounge ’93 | 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Stephany Chavira | Camp Fimfo | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Morgan Lee Powers & Josh Barnard | Papa Joe’s Texas Saloon | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
Okay Love | Freight Bar | 9:00 pm – midnight
Saturday, November 25
Waco Downtown Farmers Market | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Feztival of Trees | Karem Shrine | 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Christmas in the Country & Farmers Market | Lorena Fire Department | 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Small Business Saturday | Ramble & Company Waco | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Santa at the Silos | Magnolia Press | noon – 5:00 pm
Sing-Along with Santa | Richland Mall | 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm
North Pole Palooza | Extraco Events Center | 1:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Ciderday & Baylor vs. West Virginia Watch Party | Dancing Bear Pub | 4:00 pm – midnight
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
College Football: West Virginia vs. Baylor | McLane Stadium | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Wild Lights | Cameron Park Zoo | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Stephany Chavira | Union Hall | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Jared Pool | Camp Fimfo | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Improv Against Humanity | Brazos Theatre | 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Taylor Branch | Hoot’s Tokio Store | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Lucas Jon Turner & The Turnaround | Lakeside Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:30 pm
Steve Dansby | Last Chance Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
4th Anniversary Celebration with DJ Celly | 308 Tavern | 8:00 pm – midnight
Griffith Switch | Papa Joe’s Texas Saloon | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Gordon Collier Band | Elk Hall | 8:30 pm – 12:30 am
Giovannie & The Hired Guns with Eddie & The Getaway | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Rewind Party Band | BIG’s Mayberry Tavern | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
Kolten Benton & The Forsaken | Freight Bar | 9:00 pm – 11:30 pm
Madstone | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 9:00 pm – midnight
Sunday, November 26
Sunday Brunch | The Turn Bar & Grill | 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Seafood Sunday | The Brazos Landing | 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Tournament | Bare Arms Brewing | noon – 4:00 pm
Sing-Along with Santa | Richland Mall | 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm
North Pole Palooza | Extraco Events Center | 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Museum Store Sunday | Mayborn Museum Complex | 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Traveling Concert Series: Classy Cabaret | Lighthouse Coffee & Wine | 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Open Mic Night | Lakeside Bar | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Wild Lights | Cameron Park Zoo | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Service Industry Night | Freight Bar | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Service Industry Sunday | Clicks Billiards | 7:00 pm – 1:00 am
Monday, November 27
Monday Storytime | Mayborn Museum Complex | 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Pet Photos with Santa | Richland Mall | 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Wild Imaginings Children's Theater Class | Cultivate 7twelve | 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Acoustic Open Mic | Taqueria Mexicano Grill 15 | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Monday Funday Market with Teresita's Birria | Hemingway’s Watering Hole | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Karaoke Mondays | The Crying Shame | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Guitar Ensemble & Vocal Tech Ensemble Concert | MCC Music & Theatre Arts | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Trivia Night | Lakeside Bar | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Tuesday, November 28
Piano Hour | Waco Hall | 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Woodwind Hour | Glennis McCrary Music Building | 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Cocktails with Jen | Hemingway’s Watering Hole | 5:00 pm – midnight
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Beer Garden Yoga | Brotherwell Brewing | 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Towne Tuesday Open Mic | The Crying Shame | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Elizabeth Crook | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Booze Clues Trivia | Dancing Bear Pub | 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Wednesday, November 29
The Meetup | Startup Waco | 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Village Wednesday | Mayborn Museum Complex | 10:00 am – noon
Fabled Story-Time with Wild Imaginings | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Dr Pepper Museum Volunteer Program Information Session | Dr Pepper Museum & Free Enterprise Institute | 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Pint Night Wednesdays & Karaoke | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Bridge Street Farmers Market with Stephany Chavira | Bridge Street Plaza | 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Wild Lights | Cameron Park Zoo | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Versus Series Wine Tasting: Spain vs. USA (SOLD OUT) | Segovia Wine Bar | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
A Charlie Brown Christmas | Waco Civic Theatre | 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Trivia Night | Bare Arms Brewing | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
League of Legends League Night | Nexus Waco | 6:30 pm – 10:00 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.
Coming Next Week
A Charlie Brown Christmas, Sabor: Taste the Nations, and Merry Motown Christmas.
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