Waco Insider #198
Waco Trolley Christmas Lights Tour, Fairview, and Pet Photos with Santa
Forget stressing over maps, traffic, and missed turns—this year, let the Waco Trolley Christmas Lights Tour do the work while you kick back with complimentary hot cocoa and bask in the glow of Waco’s most jaw-dropping holiday displays.
In just 90 minutes, this Christmas-themed trolley will whisk you through the area’s best lights, sparing you the hassle while maximizing the festive magic. Perfect for families, friends, or even your office holiday crew, it’s your ticket to making holiday memories without the headaches.
Tours start nightly at 6 pm and 8:30 pm from November 29 through December 28, except on Christmas Day. (But get your tickets now as tours are already filling up!)
This Friday through Monday, Far-Cast Theatre’s production of Fairview at The Performing Arts Community Center is here to blow the roof off traditional theater and make you rethink everything you thought you knew about race, identity, and power. What starts as a light-hearted family birthday dinner spirals into a provocative and unsettling dissection of how we see and are seen—it’s not just a play, it’s a wake-up call wrapped in jaw-dropping storytelling.
If you’re ready to get uncomfortable, inspired, and maybe a little shook, seeing this Pulitzer Prize-winning play is exactly what you need.
Okay, folks, it’s time to deck the halls and the paws—get your furry friends over to Richland Mall on any of the first three Mondays in December for a Santa photo session that’ll melt hearts faster than eggnog on a Texas afternoon. After all, what says Christmas is almost here better than immortalizing your pet’s holiday cheer with the jolliest guy in red?
Whether your pup’s a poser or your cat’s just here for the chaos, these photos are guaranteed to become the most cherished shots on your mantle.
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 28
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Friday, November 29
2nd Annual Feztival of Trees | Karem Shrine | 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Homestead Fair | Homestead Heritage | 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
East of West Vineyards Tasting | Shoppe 826 | 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Black Friday Weekend Sale | Ramble & Company | 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Santa at the Silos | Magnolia Market at the Silos | noon – 5:00 pm
Homeschool Skate Day | Skate Waco Bellmead | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Black Friday Happy Hour | Lounge '93 | 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Waco Trolley Christmas Lights Tour (early tour) | 6500 Woodway Drive | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
4th Annual Wild Lights | Cameron Park Zoo | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Dave Innis | Cambria Hotel | 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Outdoor Om with Farm Friends | Cloven Heart Farm Sanctuary | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Cody Lee Stone | Slow Rise on the Brazos | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Friday Game Night | Lighthouse Coffee & Wine | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Beyond Destiny with Jo James | Texas Music Cafe | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Fairview | The Performing Arts Community Center | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
David Matthew Doran & Tea Aguilar | Papa Joe's Texas Saloon | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Darrell "D-Rail" Ray | 308 Tavern | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Randall Clowdus | The Will | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Joel Wood | Mynar's Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
The Ballou's Cats | BIG's Mayberry Tavern | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Waco Trolley Christmas Lights Tour (late tour) | 6500 Woodway Drive | 8:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Chris Cagle with Holly Tucker | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
Nietos del Viejo | Gritos Bar & Venue | 10:00 pm – 2:00 am
Freaky Friday with DJ Euby | Freight Bar | 10:30 pm – 1:30 am
Saturday, November 30
Waco Downtown Farmers Market | 500 Washington Avenue | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
China Spring Farmers & Crafters Market | First Baptist Church of China Spring | 9:00 am – noon
2nd Annual Feztival of Trees | Karem Shrine | 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Homestead Fair | Homestead Heritage | 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
East of West Vineyards Tasting | Shoppe 826 | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Black Friday Weekend Sale | Ramble & Company | 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
College Football: Kansas vs. Baylor | McLane Stadium | 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Grand Reopening! | Skellington Curiosities | noon – 6:00 pm
Santa at the Silos | Magnolia Market at the Silos | noon – 5:00 pm
Open Mic Night | Lighthouse Coffee & Wine | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Waco Trolley Christmas Lights Tour (early tour) | 6500 Woodway Drive | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
4th Annual Wild Lights | Cameron Park Zoo | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Dr Pepper Paranormal Experience | Dr Pepper Museum & Free Enterprise Institute | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Pat McKee Trio | Pivovar | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Neon Whiskey | Waco Ale Co. | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Improv Against Humanity | Brazos Theatre | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Fairview | The Performing Arts Community Center | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Jacob Erler | Last Chance Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Karaoke | Papa Joe's Texas Saloon | 8:00 pm – midnight
Lucas Jon Turner & The Turnaround | The Will | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
High School Reunion with Sloppy Joe Band | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Russell "The Piano Man" Boyd | BIG's Mayberry Tavern | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Waco Trolley Christmas Lights Tour (late tour) | 6500 Woodway Drive | 8:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
Luna on Fire | Freight Bar | 9:00 pm – 11:00 pm
DJ Wyatt | Freight Bar | 11:00 pm – 1:00 am
Sunday, December 1
WPN First Sunday Coffee Hangout | Common Grounds (Franklin Ave) | 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Black Friday Weekend Sale | Ramble & Company | 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
2nd Annual Feztival of Trees | Karem Shrine | noon – 6:00 pm
Sunday Outdoor Market | The Will | noon – 3:00 pm
Homestead Fair | Homestead Heritage | noon – 5:00 pm
CTJS Jazz Jam | Segovia Wine Bar | 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Museum Store Sunday | Mayborn Museum Complex | 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Garret Butler | The Will | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Fairview (matinee) | The Performing Arts Community Center | 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Seltzer Sunday | Freight Bar | 4:00 pm – 11:45 pm
Teas & Melodies with Andrew Still | Texas Music Cafe | 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Open Mic | Cricket's Grill & Draft House | 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Song Swap & Open Mic Night with Michael Saldana | Lakeside Bar | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Waco Trolley Christmas Lights Tour (early tour) | 6500 Woodway Drive | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
4th Annual Wild Lights | Cameron Park Zoo | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Service Industry Night with DJ Eddie Rose | The Will | 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Waco Trolley Christmas Lights Tour (late tour) | 6500 Woodway Drive | 8:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Monday, December 2
Pet Photos with Santa | Richland Mall | 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Waco Trolley Christmas Lights Tour (early tour) | 6500 Woodway Drive | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Manic Monday | Freight Bar | 7:00 pm – 11:45 pm
Karaoke Mondays | The Crying Shame | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Slap Stix Trivia Night | Lakeside Bar | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Waco Jazz Orchestra's In the Nutcracker Mood | Ball Performing Arts Center | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Fairview | The Performing Arts Community Center | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Waco Trolley Christmas Lights Tour (late tour) | 6500 Woodway Drive | 8:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Tuesday, December 3
35th Annual Feast of Sharing Holiday Dinner | BASE at Extraco Events Center | 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Woodwind Hour | Glennis McCrary Music Building | 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Cocktails with Jen | Hemingway's Watering Hole | 5:00 pm – midnight
Waco Trolley Christmas Lights Tour (early tour) | 6500 Woodway Drive | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Karaoke Night | Blue Pup Wine & Martini Bar | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Beer Garden Yoga | Brotherwell Brewing | 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Smarty Pints Trivia | Southern Roots Brewing Co. | 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Booze Clues Trivia | Dancing Bear Pub | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Slap Stix Trivia Tuesday | Freight Bar | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Waco Community Band: A Christmas Celebration | Ball Performing Arts Center | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Waco Trolley Christmas Lights Tour (late tour) | 6500 Woodway Drive | 8:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Wednesday, December 4
The Meetup | Startup Waco | 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Fabled Story-Time with Kennisha Griffin | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Computer Basics Series: Intro to Computers | Waco Family Medicine | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Elm Avenue Corridor Cleanup | Bridge Street Plaza | 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Kids Eat Free Wednesday | 1424 Bistro | 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Pop-Up Shop | Lighthouse Coffee & Wine | 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Wednesday Night Farmers Holiday Market | Bridge Street Plaza | 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Wine Wednesday with Stan Wilfong | Segovia Wine Bar | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Waco Trolley Christmas Lights Tour (early tour) | 6500 Woodway Drive | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Snowman Showdown Paint Party | West VFW Hall | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Holiday Sip & Shop | Marie's Wine Bar | 6:30 pm – 8:30 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
Waco Trolley Christmas Lights Tour (late tour) | 6500 Woodway Drive | 8:30 pm – 10:00 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
It’s a Wonderful Life, First Friday Sip & Skate, and BIPOC Holiday Market
Want to know more? Check out Waco Insider on Facebook and Instagram.