Waco Insider #190

Heart O' Texas Fair & Rodeo, Kelley Micklee, and Urban Expressions Artisan Market

The Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo returns on Thursday, October 3, and runs through Sunday, October 13, in the sprawling and (temporary) fried-food paradise of the Extraco Events Center. So if you’ve got the itch for professional rodeo antics, carnival mayhem, or the sheer spectacle of kids barely clinging to sheep (yes, mutton busting is back!), saddle up because you’re in for a ride. Forget your curated, social media virtual world nonsense—this is real-life action, grit, and Texas swagger.

Once again, however, this year’s lineup on the ZiegenBock Music Stage and the smaller wine and beer garden acoustic stage is set to steal the show. Headlining acts include the Randy Rogers Band, Dustin Lynch, and the grand finale on October 12 with country legend Clint Black.

And over in the beer and wine garden? You’ve got local troubadours like Julia Tucker, Joel Wood, and Chris Colunga keeping it real for the folks who prefer a quieter, beer-in-hand kind of night. All in all, it’s a Texas-sized musical buffet you owe it to yourself to load up on.

Tickets are available online.

Need raw, unfiltered soul? Then get to Texas Music Cafe in downtown Waco on Friday night for Kelley Mickwee’s album release show. It makes sense that her voice has the smoky grit of Memphis combined with an unbreakable Texas country backbone. After all, she's performed with Shinyribs and was an integral part of The Trishas, but this latest solo album, Everything Beautiful, is all her.

It’s personal, it’s haunting, it’s everything you didn’t know you needed—from honky-tonk heartbreak to soul-drenched ballads. Mickwee’s the real deal, and if you miss this show, you’re missing out on one of the few artists who can actually make you feel something in this cookie-cutter world of music.

Tickets are available online.

Attending the Urban Expressions Artisan Market on Saturday afternoon is an excellent way to engage with the cultural fabric of Waco, as it highlights the creativity of local artisans whose work reflects the values of craftsmanship and community.

And by purchasing directly from these artists, you’re not only supporting local creatives but also investing in Mission Waco’s vital youth art programs, which provide meaningful opportunities for the next generation. Help build community through art and foster a shared sense of purpose and local pride that transcends the marketplace itself.

(The market will be in the parking lot behind Mission Waco’s World Cup Cafe.)

---

Waco Insider is produced in collaboration with Creative Waco and the City of Waco Convention & Visitors Bureau.

---

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, October 3

• Thirsty Thursday | Pivovar | 11:00 am – 9:00 pm

• Startup Weekend Bootcamp | Startup Waco | 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Frank Exum | Segovia Wine Bar | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Stan Wilfong | The Grape Wine Bar & Bistro | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Locust Cider Pint Night | Dancing Bear Pub | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• $25 Steak Night | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo | Extraco Events Center | 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Backroads Band | Sul Ross Boot Scootin’ Dance Club | 7:00 pm – 9:15 pm

• Open Mic Night with Joel Wood | MacDaddy’s Pub | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Waco Brew Theology | Bare Arms Brewing | 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm

• Darrell “D-Rail” Ray | The Will | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Stars Over Texas Jamboree: Golden Oldies | Lee Lockwood Library and Museum | 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm

• KRIS with a K Music Bingo | Waco Ale Co. | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time | Ball Performing Arts Center | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

• Waco Uptown Swing | Pinewood Public House | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

• Rhapsody in Blue | Waco Hall | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

• Open Mic Night | Rocky’s Roadhouse | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Dave Wild | Hotel Herringbone | 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• WPN Rainbow Roll | Skate World Waco | 8:00 pm – 10:30 pm

• Penny & Sparrow | Common Grounds | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Thirsty Thursday Karaoke | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Karaoke on the Patio | Austin’s on the Avenue | 9:00 pm – midnight

Friday, October 4

• Café y Pan Dulce | Casa de Castillo | 9:30 am – 10:30 am

• Barnett’s Fest! | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 10:00 am – 1:00 am

• Startup Weekend Bootcamp | Startup Waco | 12:30 pm – 8:00 pm

• Homeschool Skate Day | Skate Waco Bellmead | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

• Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo | Extraco Events Center | 4:00 pm – midnight

• Waco 175: Past, Present, Future | Cultivate 7twelve | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Chance Hasse | Slow Rise on the Brazos | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

• Jayme Wade | The Grape Wine Bar & Bistro | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Jon Fox & Rob Page | 1424 Bistro | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• The May Brothers | Shoppe 826 | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

• The Buzzed Bee: Ghoul Edition | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Michael Saldana | Uncle Worm’s Smoke House | 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

• Steve Dansby | Cajun Crabs & Shrimp | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Sloppy Joe Band with The Bill & Phil Show | Backyard Bar Stage and Grill | 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Dr Pepper Paranormal Experience | Dr Pepper Museum & Free Enterprise Institute | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Brazos Brothers | Segovia Wine Bar | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Friday Game Night | Lighthouse Coffee & Wine | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Karaoke | Waco Ale Co. | 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time | Ball Performing Arts Center | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

• Baylor Symphony Orchestra & Baylor Choirs | Glennis McCrary Music Building | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

• Silent House Improv Troupe | Performing Arts Community Center | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

• Glow Market | Tandem Rooftop Bar | 8:00 pm – 1:00 am

• Lucas Jon Turner | Freight Bar | 8:00 pm – 10:30 pm

• Collin James Band | The Will | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Kelley Mickwee | Texas Music Cafe | 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Jervis Campbell with Lydi Lynn | Common Grounds | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• David Matthew Doran | Blue Pup Wine & Martini Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Darrell “D-Rail” Ray | Papa Joe’s Texas Saloon | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am

• Freaky Friday with DJ Euby | Freight Bar | 10:30 pm – 1:30 am

Saturday, October 5

• Startup Weekend Bootcamp | Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative (BRIC) | 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

• 2024 IRONKiDS Waco Fun Run | Indian Spring Park | 8:00 am – 10:00 am

• Waco Walks: Growing Up in South Waco | Mama & Papa B’s BBQ | 9:00 am – 11:00 am

• China Spring Farmers & Crafters Market | First Baptist Church of China Spring | 9:00 am – noon

• Waco Downtown Farmers Market | 500 Washington Ave | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

• Hewitt Dog Days | Hewitt Park | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

• Barnett’s Fest! | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 10:00 am – 1:00 am

• Homestead Weekly Market | Homestead Heritage | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

• Urban Expressions Artisan Market | World Cup Cafe & Fair Trade Market | noon – 5:00 pm

• 50th Birthday Party | South Waco Library | noon – 6:00 pm

• Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo | Extraco Events Center | noon – midnight

• 7th Round RC Points Race | HobbyTown | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

• Freightoberfest | Freight Bar | 5:00 pm – 2:00 am

• Pieces of Home Fundraiser | Anthem STORIES | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Stevie Fest with Texas Flood | BIG’s Mayberry Tavern | 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• The Lindsley Brothers | Slow Rise on the Brazos | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

• Open Mic Night | Lighthouse Coffee & Wine | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Live Jazz Saturday with the Pat McKee Trio | Segovia Wine Bar | 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

• Johnnie Bradshaw & The Out of the Blue Band | American Legion Post 121 | 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Abi Mae | Waco Ale Co. | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Waco Jazz Collective | Marie’s Wine Bar | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• The Union Revival | Union Grove | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

• Sons of Gulliver | Texas Music Cafe | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• CaCean Ballou | The Brass Rail | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Opera Scenes Showcase | Waco Hall | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

• Rich & Fam | Thrst Coffee | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

• Chris Perez | Mynar’s Bar | 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm

• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time | Ball Performing Arts Center | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

• Heart of Texas Road Gang | VFW Post 6008 | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Beer Run Band | Rocky’s Roadhouse | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Maxx “Smokinmaxx” Carter | Tokio 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

• Kolby Cooper | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm

• Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am

Sunday, October 6

• IRONMAN 70.3 Waco | Indian Spring Park | 6:30 am – 3:30 pm

• Barnett’s Fest! | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 10:00 am – 8:00 pm

• Volunteer Day | Cloven Heart Farm Sanctuary | 10:00 am – noon

• WPN First Sunday Coffee Hangout | Lighthouse Coffee & Wine | 10:30 am – 1:00 pm

• Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo | Extraco Events Center | noon – 11:00 pm

• CTJS Jazz Jam | Segovia Wine Bar | 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm

• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (matinee) | Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center | 2:00 pm – 5:30 pm

• C&M Circus (early show) | Riesel Lions Club | 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

• Opera Scenes Showcase | Waco Hall | 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

• Seltzer Sunday | Freight Bar | 4:00 pm – 11:45 pm

• C&M Circus (late show) | Riesel Lions Club | 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm

• Pumpkin on the Patio | Milo All Day | 4:30 pm – 6:45 pm

• Cactus Cradle Pizza Party | Slow Rise Slice House (Woodway) | 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm

• Open Mic | Cricket’s Grill & Draft House | 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

• Gordon Collier Band | The Will | 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

• Song Swap & Open Mic Night with Michael Saldana | Lakeside Bar | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Monday, October 7

• $5 Pints & Burgers | Barnett’s Whiskey House | 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo | Extraco Events Center | 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Monday Funday with Stephany Chavira & Cuzzo's | Hemingway’s Watering Hole | 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

• Slap Stix Trivia Night | Lakeside Bar | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

• Wind Ensemble Concert | Ball Performing Arts Center | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

• Baylor Jazz Ensemble | Glennis McCrary Music Building | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Tuesday, October 8

• Lyceum Series Lecture: Vincent Benítez | Glennis McCrary Music Building | 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

• Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo | Extraco Events Center | 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm

• Cocktails with Jen | Hemingway’s Watering Hole | 5:00 pm – midnight

• Beer Garden Yoga | Brotherwell Brewing | 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

• Books & Brews: Strange Sally Diamond | Freight Bar | 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

• Smarty Pints Trivia | Southern Roots Brewing Co. | 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

• Vinyl Night | Hemingway’s Watering Hole | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

• Fabled Book Club: The Mesmerist | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

• Slap Stix Trivia Tuesday | Freight Bar | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

• Waco Community Band | Ball Performing Arts Center | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

• Booze Clues Trivia | Dancing Bear Pub | 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Wednesday, October 9

• October Discovery Activity: Halloween Stones | Urban REAP | 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

• Fabled Story-Time | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 10:30 am – 11:30 am

• Lyceum Series Lecture: Vincent Benítez | Glennis McCrary Music Building | 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

• Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo | Extraco Events Center | 4:00 pm – 11:00 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

• Wine Wednesday with Stan Wilfong | Segovia Wine Bar | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

• Markus Miller | Taqueria Mexicano Grill 15 | 6:00 pm – 9:00 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

• Vinyl Night | Waco Ale Co. | 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

Silobration 2024, Camp Fimfo Concert Series, and Jesse Dayton.

Want to know more? Check out Waco Insider on Facebook and Instagram.