Waco Insider #147
Christmas Lights in the Village, BIPOC Holiday Market, and Likely Stories Live
This weekend kicks off the fourth season of Christmas Lights in the Village at the Mayborn Museum. Open 6 pm to 9 pm each night on December 8–10 and 15–17, experience an enchanted night-time walk through the Governor Bill and Vara Daniel Historic Village, train rides, a petting zoo, audio tours, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and much more!
Cha Community and Designs with Jamie are collaborating to host another Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Holiday Market Sip and Shop on Saturday, from 11 am to 3 pm, to support local BIPOC/minority-owned small businesses.
And to celebrate the festivities, Cha Community will be offering a special buy one, get one free boba tea drink offer for classic menu items, including Waco Cha, Wacoco, Milky Way Thai Tea, BU Green Tea/Milk Tea, and Vietnamese Coffee.
(Looking for more opportunities to do some holiday shopping? Eastside Market is having another pop-up market at One Day on Friday night, and Historic Waco’s Shopping & Brunch with Santa is Saturday morning at the Lee Lockwood Library and Museum.)
Jim McKeown was the longtime voice of—and force behind!—Likely Stories, the weekly book review segment on KWBU, and since his retirement earlier this year, a rotating cast of contributors has kept the show going.
This Tuesday night is your chance to meet the Likely Stories crew at Brazos Theatre as they share their favorite book reviews of the past year and offer sneak peeks at the books they recommend for 2024. Plus, you’ll be supporting Waco’s local NPR radio station.
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, December 7
North Pole Palooza | Extraco Events Center | 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
December Steak Night | The Brazos Landing | 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Hewitt Christmas Tree Lighting | Warren Park | 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Christmas Paint-N-Sip | Balcones Distilling | 5:30 pm – 7:30 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
Season of Smiles: Lights of Love | WM Dentistry | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
$20 Steak Night | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Darrell "D-Rail" Ray | Hoot’s Tokio Store | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Public Meeting: Bledsoe Miller STEM & Cultural Arts Center Project | Bledsoe-Miller Recreation Center | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Ladies Night Sip & Shop | The Bear Mountain | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Holiday Sleigh Paint Night | West VFW Hall | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Real Ale Pint Night | Dancing Bear Pub | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Trivia Night | Fuzzy’s Taco Shop | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
DJ Kris with a K | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Trivia Night | Brotherwell Brewing | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
$3 Thursday College Night with DJ Euby | Freight Bar | 7:00 pm – 2:00 am
Rude Ant Karaoke | 308 Tavern | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Mountain Light Music Festival: A Christmas Celebration | St. Alban’s Episcopal Church | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Study Party! | MAKER’s EDGE makerspace | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Community Cancer Association: A Night of Christmas Cheer | Waco Hippodrome Theatre | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Chamber Singers Christmas Concert (SOLD OUT) | Armstrong Browning Library | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Paranormal Cirque | Road Ranger | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Uptown Swing | Pinewood Public House | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Throwback Thursday with DJ Peligro | JRG’s Bar & Grill | 8:00 pm – midnight
Friday, December 8
Santa at the Silos | Magnolia Press | noon – 5:00 pm
Sing-Along with Santa | Richland Mall | 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Story Time with The Grinch | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
North Pole Palooza | Extraco Events Center | 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Eastside + One Day Pop-Up Market | One Day Bar | 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
A Charlie Brown Christmas | Waco Civic Theatre | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Wild Lights | Cameron Park Zoo | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Season of Smiles: Lights of Love | WM Dentistry | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Christmas Lights in the Village | Mayborn Museum Complex | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Candlelight Tours | McCulloch House Museum, Earle Harrison House & Pape Gardens, and East Terrace House | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
A Dr Pepper Christmas | Dr Pepper Museum & Free Enterprise Institute | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Grinch Trivia Pint Night | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Maxx Carter | Uncle Worm’s Smoke House | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Jennifer Pisarcik & Jon Fox | 1424 Bistro | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Stan Wilfong | Lounge ’93 | 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Christmas Jazz Night (SOLD OUT) | For Keeps Coffee | 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Stephany Chavira | Camp Fimfo | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Out Loud | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Karaoke Christmas Party | MacDaddy’s Pub | 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Paranormal Cirque | Road Ranger | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Joey Davis & Caleb Dillard with James Hollingsworth | Hoot’s Tokio Store | 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
A Charlie Brown Christmas | Waco Civic Theatre | 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Bruce Carbonara | Blue Pup Wine & Martini Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Current Resident | Freight Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Darrell "D-Rail" Ray | Waco Hippodrome Theatre | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Fuego Friday with DJ Sauvesito | JRG’s Bar & Grill | 8:00 pm – midnight
Nik Parr & The Selfless Lovers with Suede | Truelove Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:30 pm
Dylan Wheeler with Parker Ryan | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Johnny Joe Ramos & DJ Eddie Rose | Cricket’s Grill & Draft House | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
Saturday, December 9
Breakfast with Santa & The Grinch | Riesel Lion’s Club | 8:00 am – 11:00 am
Waco Downtown Farmers Market | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
McLennan County Master Gardeners: Herbs | Waco Downtown Farmers Market | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Shopping & Brunch with Santa | Lee Lockwood Library and Museum | 9:00 am – noon
Crafts & Storytime: Cowboy Holidays | Texas Rangers Hall of Fame & Museum | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Forest Art | Cameron Park | 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Brunch with Santa | Milo All Day | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Home for the Holidays | Humane Society of Central Texas | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Posada & Tamale Competition | South Waco Recreation Center | 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
BIPOC Holiday Market | Cha Community | 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Holiday History Celebration | Helen Marie Taylor Museum | 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Santa at the Silos | Magnolia Press | noon – 5:00 pm
Helberg Barbecue Fundraiser | Dancing Bear Pub | noon – 4:00 pm
The Polar Express Storytime | Barnes & Noble | 1:00 pm – 2:00 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
A Charlie Brown Christmas | Waco Civic Theatre | 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
A Charlie Brown Christmas | Waco Civic Theatre | 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Christmas Party with Kent Klaras | Camp Fimfo | 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Story Time with The Grinch | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 5:30 pm – 6:30 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
Season of Smiles: Lights of Love | WM Dentistry | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Christmas Lights in the Village | Mayborn Museum Complex | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Paranormal Cirque (early show) | Road Ranger | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Christmas Music Bingo | Southern Roots Brewing Co. | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Royce Montgomery's Motown & Country Christmas | Cen-Tex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
The Nutcracker | Waco Hall | 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
A Holly Jolly Christmas | Waco Hippodrome Theatre | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
A Charlie Brown Christmas | Waco Civic Theatre | 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Dr Pepper Paranormal Experience | Dr Pepper Museum & Free Enterprise Institute | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
David Dean: Stand-Up Comedy for the Whole Family | Brazos Theatre | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Christmas Party with the Steve Smith Group | Papa Joe’s Texas Saloon | 8:00 pm – 11:30 pm
Steve Dansby Band | Elk Hall | 8:30 pm – 12:30 am
Sundae Drivers | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
DJ Ric Salazar | JRG’s Bar & Grill | 9:00 pm – 1:00 am
Paranormal Cirque (late show) | Road Ranger | 9:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Sunday, December 10
Seafood Sunday | The Brazos Landing | 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Skellington Christmas Market | Skellington Curiosities | noon – 4:00 pm
Live Figure Drawing | Cultivate 7twelve | 1:00 pm – 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
The Nutcracker | Waco Hall | 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Mystery Book Club | South Waco Library | 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Paranormal Cirque (early show) | Road Ranger | 5:30 pm – 7:30 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
Season of Smiles: Lights of Love | WM Dentistry | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Christmas Lights in the Village | Mayborn Museum Complex | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
2023 Waco Awards | Waco Hippodrome Theatre | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Service Industry Sunday | Clicks Billiards | 7:00 pm – 1:00 am
Service Industry Night | Freight Bar | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Paranormal Cirque (late show) | Road Ranger | 8:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Monday, December 11
Monday Story Time with Emily MacDonald | Mayborn Museum Complex | 10:30 am – 11:45 am
Pet Photos with Santa | Richland Mall | 11:00 am – 7:00 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
Season of Smiles: Lights of Love | WM Dentistry | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Monday Market with Tru Jamaica | Hemingway’s Watering Hole | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Youth Chorus of Central Texas Holiday Concert | St. Alban’s Episcopal Church | 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Karaoke Mondays | The Crying Shame | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
MACT Jam Night & Meeting | Corks & Barrels | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Trivia Night | Lakeside Bar | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Tuesday, December 12
12 Days of Christmas: Whisky Edition | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 11:00 am – 11:00 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
Season of Smiles: Lights of Love | WM Dentistry | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Public Meeting: Floyd Casey Development Project | South Waco Recreation Center | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Beer Garden Yoga | Brotherwell Brewing | 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
KWBU Presents: Likely Stories LIVE! | Brazos Theatre | 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Books & Brews: Agatha Christie—An Elusive Woman | Hemingway’s Watering Hole | 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
5th Anniversary with Garrison Brothers Distillery | Z’s at the Curry | 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Towne Tuesday Open Mic | The Crying Shame | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Booze Clues Trivia | Dancing Bear Pub | 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Wednesday, December 13
The Meetup | Startup Waco | 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Fabled Story-Time | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 10:30 am – 11:30 am
12 Days of Christmas: Whisky Edition | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
KWBU Lunch This Month | Revival Eastside Eatery | 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Pint Night Wednesdays & Karaoke | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Trivia Night | Bare Arms Brewing | 6:00 pm – 7:30 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
Season of Smiles: Lights of Love | WM Dentistry | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Christmas Party Holiday Fundraiser | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
League of Legends League Night | Nexus Waco | 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Taylor Swift Cookie Party | Be Kind Coffee | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Open Mic Night | Last Chance Bar | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
A John Denver Christmas with Rick Schuler | Waco Hippodrome Theatre | 7:30 pm – 9:30 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
Find the Elf, It’s a Wonderful Life Radio Play, and Asleep at the Wheel.
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