Waco Insider #177
Fourth on the Brazos with Steve Augeri, John Dempsy Trio with Reverend Nathon Dees, and Kids Summer Camps
The return of the City of Waco’s annual Fourth on the Brazos celebration features the H-E-B Fireworks Extravaganza and live music from former Journey lead vocalist Steve Augeri. Mark your calendars and make plans to come to Touchdown Alley (next to McLane Stadium) on Thursday night for food, music, and family fun:
6 pm: Gates open
6:30 pm: DJ Eddie Rose
7:30 pm: Steve Augeri
9:10 pm: Patriotic ceremony by the Waco Community Band
9:15 pm: H-E-B Fireworks Extravaganza
Free admission.
If you want raw, unfiltered Americana at its finest, haul yourself over to Lakeside Bar on Saturday night to hear the John Dempsy Trio. Dempsy isn't just playing music; he's pouring his soul into every note, ripping open the mundane and stitching it back together with a pure, gritty sound. This promises to be the kind of experience that’ll remind you why music matters.
Plus, make sure to get there early to catch opening act Reverend Nathon Dees’ acoustic set. Not only is Dees the bass player for hard rock band Thunderosa, he’s also an accomplished bluesman in his own right.
Summer is in full swing, which means kids camps have popped up all over town. So if you’re looking for something the get the young ones out of the house and learn something new, check out these options while slots are still available:
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, July 4
Thirsty Thursday | Pivovar | 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Independence Day Special | Fish City Grill | 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Kid's Art Summer Camp (afternoon) | Cultivate 7twelve | 12:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Root Tootin' Star-Spangled All-American Fourth of July Celebration | Brotherwell Brewing | 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Mae | Hotel Herringbone | 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Bangin' in the 4th | 3R Roadhouse | 4:00 pm
Free Uber, Lyft & Cab Rides | The Zimmerman Law Firm | 5:00 pm – 10:00 am
Fourth on the Brazos | McLane Stadium | 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Star Spangled Bash (SOLD OUT) | Hotel 1928 | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Music Bingo | Waco Ale Co. | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Name That Tune Music Bingo | Freight Bar | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Steve Dansby | Lounge ’93 | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Open Mic Night with Caleb Deschaine | Rocky’s Roadhouse | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Songwriter Showcase | Texas Music Cafe | 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Sharp Shooter The Band | The Will | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Karaoke on the Patio | Austin’s on the Avenue | 9:00 pm – midnight
Friday, July 5
Clip & Chip Days | Animal Birth Control Clinic | 7:15 am – 5:30 pm
Independence Day Special | Fish City Grill | 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Zachary Hill | Uncle Worm’s Smoke House | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Jon Fox & Trammell Kelly | 1424 Bistro | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Palette of the Wild Opening Reception | Cultivate 7twelve | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
David Matthew Doran | Slow Rise on the Brazos | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
"Let's Play!": An Intro to Improv | Art Center Waco | 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Katie Stewart | Hotel Herringbone | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Dave Innis | Cambria Hotel | 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Karaoke | Waco Ale Co. | 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Rich & Fam | Thrst Coffee | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Joel Wood | Tradinghouse Bar & Grill | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
James and the Giant Peach | Ball Performing Arts Center | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Kristen Kelly | VFW Post 6008 | 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Gordon Collier Band | The Will | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Darrell "D-Rail" Ray with Lilly Milford | Papa Joe’s Texas Saloon | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Braxton Keith with Hayden Baker | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
Imitators Show | Gritos Bar & Venue | 9:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Saturday, July 6
Waco Downtown Farmers Market | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
China Spring Farmers & Crafters Market | First Baptist Church of China Spring | 9:00 am – noon
Homestead Weekly Market | Homestead Heritage | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
James and the Giant Peach (matinee) | Ball Performing Arts Center | 10:00 am – noon
Fair Trade Workshop: Hand Quilting | World Cup Cafe & Fair Trade Market | 10:00 am – noon
Texas Ranger Talks (morning) | Texas Rangers Hall of Fame & Museum | 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Dollar Day Sale | Half Price Books Outlet | 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Independence Day Special | Fish City Grill | 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Pinewood Flea Market & Manhattan Project Pint Night | Pinewood Public House | noon – 5:00 pm
1st Round RC Points Race | HobbyTown | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Texas Ranger Talks (afternoon) | Texas Rangers Hall of Fame & Museum | 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Open Mic Night with Nate Breezy | Lighthouse Coffee & Wine | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Another Band of Gypsys | Slow Rise Slice House (Woodway) | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Sloppy Joe Trio | La Fiesta Restaurant & Cantina | 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Dr Pepper Paranormal Experience | Dr Pepper Museum & Free Enterprise Institute | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Little Foster Jazz Quartet | Marie’s Wine Bar | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
James and the Giant Peach | Ball Performing Arts Center | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Red, White & Improv | Brazos Theatre | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Michael Saldana | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Rosenthal Parkway Band | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
John Dempsy Trio with Reverend Nathon Dees | Lakeside Bar | 8:00 pm – midnight
Bobby Dean & The Timeless Country Band | The Will | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Collin James Band | Last Chance Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Karaoke | Papa Joe’s Texas Saloon | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Darrin Morris Band | BIG’s Mayberry Tavern | 9:00 pm – 11:30 pm
Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
Sunday, July 7
WPN First Sunday Coffee Hangout | Lighthouse Coffee & Wine | 10:30 am – 1:00 pm
Independence Day Special | Fish City Grill | 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
James and the Giant Peach (matinee) | Ball Performing Arts Center | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Sunday Sessions: Strawberry Blonde | Waco Surf | 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Sunday Funday | Freight Bar | 4:00 pm – 11:45 pm
Joel Wood Band | Playdium Pool | 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Gordon Collier Band | The Will | 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Open Mic Night | Lakeside Bar | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Online Record Sale | Vintage Mío | 6:10 pm – 8:00 pm
Monday, July 8
July Skate Camp | Skate World Waco | 8:30 am – 1:00 pm
Fabulous Fiber Arts (1st–2nd grade) | Art Center Waco | 8:30 am – noon
Sculpt It! (3rd–6th grade) | Art Center Waco | 8:30 am – noon
HOTCT Summer Camp: Jack and the Beanstalk | Lakeshore Baptist Church | 9:00 am – noon
Monday Story Time: The Outback | Mayborn Museum Complex | 10:30 am – 11:15 am
Sculpt It! (1st–2nd grade) | Art Center Waco | 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Fabulous Fiber Arts (3rd–6th grade) | Art Center Waco | 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Maker Bot Battle Summer Camp | MAKER’s EDGE Creation Studio | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Acoustic Open Mic | Taqueria Mexicano Grill 15 | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Karaoke Mondays | The Crying Shame | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Manic Monday | Freight Bar | 7:00 pm – 11:45 pm
Monday Funday: Johnny Bustamante & Teresita's Birria | Hemingway’s Watering Hole | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Slap Stix Trivia Night | Lakeside Bar | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Tuesday, July 9
July Skate Camp | Skate World Waco | 8:30 am – 1:00 pm
Fabulous Fiber Arts (1st–2nd grade) | Art Center Waco | 8:30 am – noon
Sculpt It! (3rd–6th grade) | Art Center Waco | 8:30 am – noon
HOTCT Summer Camp: Jack and the Beanstalk | Lakeshore Baptist Church | 9:00 am – noon
Kids Eat Free Tuesdays | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 11:00 am – midnight
Maker Bot Battle Summer Camp | MAKER’s EDGE Creation Studio | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Fabulous Fiber Arts (3rd–6th grade) | Art Center Waco | 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Sculpt It! (1st–2nd grade) | Art Center Waco | 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Cocktails with Jen | Hemingway’s Watering Hole | 5:00 pm – midnight
Beer Garden Yoga | Brotherwell Brewing | 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Sure Bet: A Melodrama & Brazos Improv Auditions | Brazos Theatre | 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Books & Brews: Nuclear Family | Union Hall | 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Towne Tuesday Open Mic | The Crying Shame | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Smarty Pints Trivia | Southern Roots Brewing Co. | 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Karaoke | Tokio Store | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Slap Stix Trivia Tuesday | Freight Bar | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Wednesday, July 10
July Skate Camp | Skate World Waco | 8:30 am – 1:00 pm
Fabulous Fiber Arts (1st–2nd grade) | Art Center Waco | 8:30 am – noon
Sculpt It! (3rd–6th grade) | Art Center Waco | 8:30 am – noon
The Meetup | Startup Waco | 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Downtown Waco Cleanup | 25N Coworking Waco | 9:00 am – 11:00 pm
HOTCT Summer Camp: Jack and the Beanstalk | Lakeshore Baptist Church | 9:00 am – noon
Village Wednesday | Mayborn Museum Complex | 10:00 am – noon
Youth Chorus of Central Texas Auditions | St. Alban’s Episcopal Church | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
All-Day Happy Hour | Pivovar | 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Sculpt It! (1st–2nd grade) | Art Center Waco | 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Fabulous Fiber Arts (3rd–6th grade) | Art Center Waco | 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Maker Bot Battle Summer Camp | MAKER’s EDGE Creation Studio | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Pop-Up Shop | Lighthouse Coffee & Wine | 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Trivia Night | Bare Arms Brewing | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Dad & Me | Starry Counseling | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Slap Stix Trivia Night | Torchy’s Tacos | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Dragon Day: How to Train Your Dragon Movie Night | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Music Bingo | Brotherwell Brewing | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Open Mic Night | Last Chance Bar | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
This is a Clue Trivia | Old Chicago | 7:00 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
Frank Exum Album Release Party, Pat Neff Walking Food Tour, and Frida Fest.
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