This weekend brings the 18th Waco Cultural Arts Fest to Indian Spring Park on the Brazos River in downtown Waco. Like always, it’s multiple festivals rolled into one: MusicFest, ArtFest, WordFest, and ScienceFest with plenty of fun—and free!—activities for the whole family. We wholeheartedly recommend Sunday’s music lineup on the main stage, featuring multiple bands fronted by the children and grandchildren of Classie Ballou, Waco’s elder statesman of the blues who passed away earlier this year.
The Light in the Piazza is Waco Civic Theatre’s latest production, and it opened to rave reviews. (Tickets are still available for the final performances this weekend.) Waco Insider writer Jonathan Kinder took a long look at the show to see what makes it special… and why it’s even greater than the sum of its parts.
Read the article at Waco Insider.
For beer lovers, Oktoberfest is the most wonderful time of the year, and this weekend features Oktoberfest celebrations at Barnett’s Public House, Pinewood Public House, and Waco Ale Company. You can expect plenty of Märzen-style lagers to choose from, stein-holding competitions, and authentic German food and music. Prost!
Upcoming Events
Events subject to change. Visit Waco Insider for complete event details, venue info, and newly added/updated listings.
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Thursday, September 29
Good Dogs Night Out | Freight Bar | 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Acoolstic Happy Hour with Kyle Mathis | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Balcones Distilling Pint Night | Dancing Bear Pub | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
CaCean Ballou & The Dirty Crawfish | Coach's xXx Smoke | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Thursday Night Ride: Cameron Park Hills | Bicycle World Waco | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Acrylic Painting on Canvas Workshop | Maker's Edge Makerspace | Register | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night | Truelove Bar | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Jacob Augustine | Pivovar | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Waco Famous Trivia Night | Brotherwell Brewing | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Amélie | Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center | Tickets | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Steel Magnolias | Ball Performing Arts Center | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
The Light in the Piazza | Waco Civic Theatre | Tickets | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Bowed Magic: Gil Shaham | Waco Hall | Tickets | 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Karaoke | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
$3 Thursday College Night | Freight Bar | 8:00 pm – 2:00 am
Friday, September 30
Contemporary Nights: Perspectivism | Art Center Waco | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Waco Cultural Arts Fest | Indian Spring Park | 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm
September Wine Club Dinner | Tickets | 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
3 Witches Picnic & Watch Party | Cultivate 7twelve | Tickets | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
CaCean Ballou & The Dirty Crawfish | Sunday's Caribbean Oasis Sports Bar & Grill | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Chris Low | Pivovar | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Darrell Ray & Michael Saldana | Rocky's Roadhouse | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Down on the Bayou | The Exchange Event Center | 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Friday Night Dinner | Lighthouse Coffee & Wine | Tickets | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Joel Wood Trio | Triple B's Smokehouse Bar & Grill | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Tha Johnny Joes | Barnett's Public House | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
The Bill & Phil Show | Southern Roots Brewing Co. | 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Amélie | Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center | Tickets | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Steel Magnolias | Ball Performing Arts Center | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
The Light in the Piazza | Waco Civic Theatre | Tickets | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Faculty Recital: Duo Karudan | Waco Hall | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Helberg Chef’s Dinner | Camp Fimfo Waco | Tickets | 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Brazos Brothers | Stay Classy Waco | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Caleb Deschaine with Morgan Lee Powers & Josh Barnard | Papa Joe's Texas Saloon | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Darrell Ray | Tokio Store | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
David Johnson | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Friday Night Movie: Hocus Pocus | Camp Fimfo | 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Sanger Heights Blues Allstars | Freight Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Kin Faux with Kate Watson | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | Tickets | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
Saturday, October 1
Running For Readers 5K & Health Fair | Hewitt Public Library | Register | 8:00 am – 11:00 am
Waco Downtown Farmers Market | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Waco Early Jazz Quartet | Waco Downtown Farmers Market | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Grand Opening | Ramble & Co. | 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Military & First Responders Appreciation Weekend | Western Belle Farm | 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Oktoberfest | Barnett's Public House | 10:00 am – 1:00 am
Waco Cultural Arts Fest | Indian Spring Park | 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Waco Moms’ 4th Annual Bloom | Ridgewood Country Club | Tickets | 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Oktoberfest | Waco Ale Company | 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
2nd Annual Oktoberfest Celebration | Pinewood Public House | 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
College Football: Baylor vs. Oklahoma State | McLane Stadium | Tickets | 2:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Fall Sweetheart Event | Hewitt TX Elks Lodge #2881 | 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Aztec Warriors MC Bike Night | BIG's Mayberry Tavern | 6:00 pm – midnight
Hewitt National Night Out 2022 | Warren Park | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Jared Pool | Camp Fimfo | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Jeff Hulbert | Pivovar | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Southern Comfort | Sunday’s Caribbean Oasis Sports Bar & Grill | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Steel Magnolias | Ball Performing Arts Center | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
The Light in the Piazza | Waco Civic Theatre | Tickets | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Improv Comedy Show | Brazos Theatre | Tickets | 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Chris Low Band | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Darrell Ray | Last Chance Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Strix | Stay Classy Waco | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Treble Soul | Freight Bar | 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Calder Allen | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | Tickets | 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
Sunday, October 2
Customer Appreciation Sunday: Cowboys Watch Party & Live Music | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | Tickets | 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Waco Cultural Arts Fest | Indian Spring Park | 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Eastside Market’s First Fall Fest | Brotherwell Brewing | 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Military & First Responders Appreciation Weekend | Western Belle Farm | 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Amélie (matinee) | Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center | Tickets | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Steel Magnolias (matinee) | Ball Performing Arts Center | 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm
The Light in the Piazza (matinee) | Waco Civic Theatre | Tickets | 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Creature’s heART | First Presbyterian Church of Waco | Register | 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Karaoke & Service Industry Night | Freight Bar | 7:00 pm – midnight
Monday, October 3
Monday Storytime with “Miss Potter” (Janice Grielle) | Mayborn Museum Complex | 10:30 am – 1:30 pm
1st Anniversary Celebration | McDonald's (West) | 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Acoustic Open Mic | Taqueria Mexicano Grill 15 | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Monday Funday with Blue Houdini | Hemingway's Watering Hole | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Monday Night Lights Mountain Bike Ride | Bicycle World | 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Keep Waco Loud Open Mic Night | Stay Classy Waco | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Tuesday, October 4
1st Anniversary Celebration | McDonald's (West) | 8:00 am – 10:00 am
Trekking Tuesday | Cameron Park Redwood Shelter | 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
National Night Out | Dewey Community Center | 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
The Order of the Owl: Legendborn | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Women’s DIY Night: Pumpkin Spice | Salvation Army Corps & Community Center | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Beer Garden Yoga | Brotherwell Brewing | 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Karaoke Time! | Old Chicago | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Smarty Pints Trivia | Southern Roots Brewing Co. | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Towne Tuesday Open Mic | The Crying Shame | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Wednesday, October 5
1 Million Cups Waco | Hustle Co-Working | 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Fabled Story-Time | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 10:30 am – 11:30 am
1st Anniversary Celebration | McDonald's (West) | 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Trivia Night | Bare Arms Brewing | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Mack Abernathy’s First Wednesday Fiasco | Taqueria Mexicano Grill 15 | 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Trivia Night | Old Chicago | 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Dr. Peter Klein: Why Managers Matter | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Goddess Grooves Dance Class | Cultivate 7twelve | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Music Bingo Night | Freight Bar | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Amélie | Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center | Tickets | 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Wind Ensemble Concert | McLennan Community College | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Witty Wednesday BuzzTime Trivia | Hemingway's Watering Hole | 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
’80s Synth Pop Dance Party | Truelove Bar | 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
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Coming Next Week
Waco Association of Wrestling’s Top Dog, Out on the Brazos, and Heart of Texas Children’s Theatre.