What a difference a year makes, right? This July 4 weekend has multiple opportunities to get out and about: everything from the Dirty Dozen Brass Band before the City of Waco’s fireworks show to Brotherwell Brewing’s two-day celebration to patriotic-themed improv comedy at the Brazos Theatre.
The Minnow at Lake Waco Marina, which offers great views and a relaxing place to eat and drink on the water, is a must-do Waco experience. It’s been closed the past few weeks due to elevated lake levels but is reopening this weekend with a pair of acoustic music shows: Morgan Lee Powers on Friday and Sami Brown the following night.
In our recommended reads and podcasts section, plan your weekend — especially if you’re entertaining out-of-town guests! — with this checklist of things to do in Waco. Learn how Baylor’s coeducational experience became more equitable over time, and hear about what’s happening downtown with Black Oak Art and the Deep in the Heart Film Festival.
Upcoming Events
Events subject to change. Visit The Waco Insider for complete event details, venue info, and newly added/updated listings.
Thursday, July 1
Oak Highlands Brewery Pint Night | Dancing Bear Pub | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night | Truelove Bar | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Holly Tucker | Rogue Media Network | Tickets | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Thursday Night Hills: Cameron Park Road Ride | Bicycle World | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Open Mic Comedy | Freight Bar | 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Sami Brown | Z's at the Curry | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Friday, July 2
First Friday Yoga | Cultivate 7twelve | 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
First Friday | Cultivate 7twelve | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Karaoke on Wheels | Brotherwell Brewing | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Ethan Smith & The Dirt Road Rebellion | Southern Roots Brewing Co. | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Friday Night Dinner | Lighthouse Coffee & Wine | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Morgan Lee Powers | The Minnow at Lake Waco Marina | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Darrell Ray | Papa Joe's Texas Saloon | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Cody Canada & The Departed | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | Tickets | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Marcus Daniels y Algo Suave | BIG's Mayberry Tavern | 8:30 pm – 12:00 am
DJ Eubby | Freight Bar | 9:00 pm – 1:00 am
Saturday, July 3
Cans For Critters | Cameron Park Zoo | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Waco Downtown Farmers Market | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
The Edison Marketplace | The Edison at Castle Heights | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Happy Birthday USA 2021 (Day 1) with Spicer and Brady Johnson | Brotherwell Brewing | 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Sami Brown | The Minnow at Lake Waco Marina | 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Red, White, and IMPROV! | Brazos Theatre | Tickets | 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Karaoke with Tony Lee | Papa Joe's Texas Saloon | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Landon Heights with Sul Ross | BIG's Mayberry Tavern | Tickets | 8:00 pm – 11:30 pm
Mason Hays | Freight Bar | 9:00 pm – 12:00 am
Sunday, July 4
Happy Birthday USA 2021 (Day 2) | Brotherwell Brewing | 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Fourth on the Brazos with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band | McLane Stadium | 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Fourth on the Brazos Night Paddle | Waco Paddle Company | Tickets | 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Karaoke & Service Industry Night | Freight Bar | 8:00 pm – 2:00 am
Monday, July 5
DJ Snoopadelic aka Snoop Dogg (SOLD OUT) | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | Tickets | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Tuesday, July 6
Tinker Tuesday | Mayborn Museum Complex | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Beer For Brains Trivia Night | Dancing Bear Pub | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Wednesday, July 7
Waco Downtown Farmers Market | Magnolia Market at the Silos | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Fabled Storytime | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Geeks Who Drink: Wednesday Edition | Route 77 Food Park | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Pride Night | Truelove Waco | 9:00 pm – 12:00 am
Recommended Reads & Podcasts
“7 things to see and do in Waco (that you probably haven’t seen/done yet)”
The beauty of a long weekend is you have the chance to do all things Waco you’ve missed or want to revisit. This must-do list, which includes Union Hall, the Waco Downtown Farmers Market, and more, is the perfect place to start exploring the wide variety of options the city offers.
Read the complete article at Baylor Proud.
“Breaking Down the ‘Women’s Sphere’”
Chartered in 1845, Baylor University was the first higher education institution west of the Mississippi to include educating women in its mission. Yet, the coed experience was radically different for men and women, who were relegated to the “women’s sphere.” Brigid Splaine discusses how this changed over time with help from the American Association of University Women (AAUW).
Read the full post at The Texas Collection blog.
Conversations with Creative Waco: “Jonathan & Sarah Martin and the Deep in the Heart Film Festival”
In a two-fer episode, Kennedy Sam talks first to Jonathan and Sarah Martin about Gather and Black Oak Art’s new pottery studio in downtown Waco. Then, Louis Hunter and Samuel Thomas detail the upcoming, in-person Deep in the Heart Film Festival coming later this July.
Listen to the podcast.
Coming in the next newsletter
Beatlemania64, TriWaco 2021, and Ray Wylie Hubbard.