Waco Insider #196
Waco Cultural Arts Fest 20th Anniversary, 61st Annual Friends of the Waco-McLennan County Library Book Sale, and A Gringo’s Guide to Musica’s Drum Class for Kids
The Waco Cultural Arts Fest is lighting up Indian Spring Park with its 20th-anniversary extravaganza from Friday night through Sunday afternoon, headlined by the electrifying Squonk Brouhaha, a wild mix of music, massive instruments, and audience participation. With free admission, you’ll enjoy everything from live dance and music to hands-on art activities, poetry readings, film screenings, and even a science fest for the curious.
Year after year, this festival proves that Waco’s cultural scene is alive and kicking with immersive, creative experiences—quirky, bold, and impossible to miss—perfect for anyone looking for something beyond the usual fare.
If you’re not at the 61st Annual Friends of the Waco-McLennan County Library Book Sale this weekend, are you even a book lover? Running Thursday through Sunday at the BASE at Extraco Event Center, it’s a literary blowout where doors open at 10 am daily, offering an avalanche of books, CDs, DVDs, and more starting at just $1.
Whether you’re treasure-hunting rare titles or loading up on classics, the scope of this sale proves why Waco’s book lovers keep coming back year after year.
Alright, parents, here’s the deal: Garland “Gringo” Hancock and an all-star lineup of percussionists from Baylor and Latin America are bringing a one-of-a-kind drumming class to Bitty & Beau’s Coffee in downtown Waco on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting on November 19.
Designed for kids ages 5–13, this class offers a hands-on musical journey featuring rhythms and instruments from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and beyond.
Text (254) 216-0460 for more information and to register.
Upcoming Events
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Thursday, November 14
61st Annual Friends of the Waco-McLennan County Library Book Sale | BASE at Extraco Events Center | 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
October Discovery Activity: Fall Leaf Lanterns | Urban REAP | 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thirsty Thursday | Pivovar | 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Monthly Cruise-In | Te'Jun Texas Cajun | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Dancing Freely Opening Reception | Art Center Waco | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Baylor Faculty Recital: Kathleen Kelly | Glennis McCrary Music Building | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Community Beer Company Pint Night | Dancing Bear Pub | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
David Matthew Doran | The Grape Wine Bar & Bistro | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Rachel & The Resistors | La Fiesta Restaurant & Cantina | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Stars Over Texas Jamboree: Country & Country Edition | Lee Lockwood Library and Museum | 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Celeste Connally | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Bobby Dean & The Timeless Country Band | Sul Ross Boot Scootin' Dance Club | 7:00 pm – 9:15 pm
Rick Berthod | Segovia Wine Bar | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
KRIS with a K Music Bingo | Waco Ale Co. | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Thanksgiving Play | Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
The Mysterious Circus | Extraco Events Center | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Baylor Wind Ensemble | Glennis McCrary Music Building | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Frank Exum | Lounge '93 | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Open Mic Comedy Night | Southern Roots Brewing Co. | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Thirsty Thursday Karaoke | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Waco Movie Club: Saving Private Ryan | Segovia Wine Bar | 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Open Mic Night | Rocky's Roadhouse | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Friday, November 15
Kids College Fridays | MCC Community Services Center | 8:00 am – 3:30 pm
Baylor Lifelong Learning Coffee with McLennan County District Attorney Josh Tetens | Mayborn Museum Complex | 9:30 am – 11:00 am
October Discovery Activity: Fall Leaf Lanterns | Urban REAP | 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
61st Annual Friends of the Waco-McLennan County Library Book Sale | BASE at Extraco Events Center | 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Homeschool Skate Day | Skate Waco Bellmead | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
20th Annual Waco Cultural Arts Fest | Indian Spring Park | 4:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Bob Ross Paint Night | Cultivate 7twelve | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Maxx "Smokinmaxx" Carter | The Grape Wine Bar & Bistro | 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
Friday Game Night | Lighthouse Coffee & Wine | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Alice in Wonderland JR. | Waco Civic Theatre | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Believers | Waco Convention Center | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
The Thanksgiving Play | Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
The Mysterious Circus | Extraco Events Center | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Chicago Tribute Authority Texas | Waco Hippodrome Theatre | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Nonity | Lounge '93 | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
VirtuOSO | Waco Hall | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Colin Dexter | Blue Pup Wine & Martini Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Wes Davis & The Highwater | The Will | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Rusty Pipes | Papa Joe's Texas Saloon | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Sam Donald | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
Darrell "D-Rail" Ray | The Buckle | 9:00 pm – midnight
Freaky Friday with DJ Euby | Freight Bar | 10:00 pm – 1:30 am
Saturday, November 16
Scrap Tire Collection Day | City of Waco Solid Waste Services | 7:00 am – noon
Fall Festival & Food Drive | Harley-Davidson of Waco | 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
South Waco Library Cleanup | South Waco Library | 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Cars & Coffee | Black Rifle Coffee Company | 9:00 am – 11:30 am
China Spring Farmers & Crafters Market | First Baptist Church of China Spring | 9:00 am – noon
Waco Downtown Farmers Market | 500 Washington Avenue | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Homestead Weekly Market | Homestead Heritage | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
October Discovery Activity: Fall Leaf Lanterns | Urban REAP | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Expressing the Intangible: An Abstract Mixed Media Collage Workshop | Art Center Waco | 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
61st Annual Friends of the Waco-McLennan County Library Book Sale | BASE at Extraco Events Center | 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
20th Annual Waco Cultural Arts Fest | Indian Spring Park | 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Fill the Trunk Can Food Drive & Car Show | Walmart Supercenter (Frankin Avenue) | 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Eastside Friendsgiving Market | Brotherwell Brewing | noon – 5:00 pm
Reel Stories: Science Shorts | Waco Convention Center | noon – 3:00 pm
3rd Annual Healthy Families Expo | Waco Family Medicine | noon – 3:00 pm
Dr Pepper Weekend | Camp Fimfo Waco | noon – 3:00 pm
Vintage & Upcycled Clothing Sip 'n' Shop | Cultivate 7twelve | 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Colcord Avenue Parade of Homes | Good Neighbor House | 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Sip & Paint | Marie’s Wine Bar | 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Alice in Wonderland JR. (matinee) | Waco Civic Theatre | 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
The Mysterious Circus (early show) | Extraco Events Center | 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Open Mic Night | Lighthouse Coffee & Wine | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
1-Year Anniversary Celebration | Union Grove | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Art as Worship: A Gallery Exhibition & Benefit | St. Matthew Lutheran Church | 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Alice in Wonderland JR. (late show) | Waco Civic Theatre | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Alan Reyes | Marie’s Wine Bar | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Heart of Texas Road Gang | Geneva Hall | 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Dr Pepper Paranormal Experience | Dr Pepper Museum & Free Enterprise Institute | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Thanksgiving Play | Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
The Mysterious Circus (late show) | Extraco Events Center | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Grease Movie & Mingle | The Performing Arts Community Center | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Darrell "D-Rail" Ray | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Karaoke | Papa Joe's Texas Saloon | 8:00 pm – midnight
Tyler Stokes Band | The Will | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Southern Comfort & The Joe Parker Band | Elk Hall | 8:00 pm – midnight
Ole 60 with The Droptines | Backyard Bar Stage and Grill | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
Brazos Brothers | Freight Bar | 9:00 pm – 11:00 pm
DJ Wyatt | Freight Bar | 11:00 pm – 1:00 am
Sunday, November 17
20th Annual Waco Cultural Arts Fest | Indian Spring Park | 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
61st Annual Friends of the Waco-McLennan County Library Book Sale | BASE at Extraco Events Center | noon – 6:00 pm
The Thanksgiving Play (matinee) | Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center | 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Alice in Wonderland JR. (matinee) | Waco Civic Theatre | 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Baylor Faculty Recital: Michael Clark | Glennis McCrary Music Building | 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Chili Cookoff | Cultivate 7twelve | 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Seltzer Sunday | Freight Bar | 4:00 pm – 11:45 pm
The Mysterious Circus (early show) | Extraco Events Center | 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Clinton Bon Slaughter | The Will | 5:00 pm – 8:00 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
Boozy Browse | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Heart to Heart with PurpleHeart | The Performing Arts Community Center | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
HOT Pro Wrestling: Appetite for Destruction | Waco Lions Den | 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
The Mysterious Circus: Noche Latina | Extraco Events Center | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Monday, November 18
$5 Pints + $5 Burgers | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Karaoke Mondays | The Crying Shame | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Manic Monday | Freight Bar | 7:00 pm – 11:45 pm
Baylor Symphony Orchestra | Glennis McCrary Music Building | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Slap Stix Trivia Night | Lakeside Bar | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Tuesday, November 19
Readers Meet the Author: Kimberly Kellison | Moody Library | noon – 1:00 pm
Break Even Bottle Night: Chivas Regal 25 Year | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Vocal Music Hour | Waco Hall | 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
A Gringo's Guide to Musica's Drum Class for Kids (ages 5–13) | Bitty & Beau's Coffee | 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Cocktails with Jen | Hemingway's Watering Hole | 5:00 pm – midnight
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
Fabled Book Club: Pearce Oysters | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Slap Stix Trivia Tuesday | Freight Bar | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Baylor Jazz Ensemble | Glennis McCrary Music Building | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Wednesday, November 20
The Meetup | Startup Waco | 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Fabled Story-Time | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Rural Health Book Club: Healing Justice Lineages | Texas AHEC East | noon – 1:00 pm
Yeungling Pint Night | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Kids Eat Free Wednesday | 1424 Bistro | 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Wednesday Night Farmers Market | Bridge Street Plaza | 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Pop-Up Shop | Lighthouse Coffee & Wine | 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Kids' Sculpting Class | Greater Waco YMCA | 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Write! Publish! Thrive! Your Path to Published Author Success | Union Grove | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Wine Wednesday with Stan Wilfong | Segovia Wine Bar | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Bobby Dean & The Timeless Country Band | Taqueria Mexicano Grill 15 | 6:30 pm – 9:30 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
Stravinsky's L'Histoire du soldat | Glennis McCrary Music Building | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
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Coming Next Week
2nd Annual Feztival of Trees, Diamond Rio, and Thanksgiving Skates 2024.
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