The holiday season officially arrives this weekend when Waco Wonderland returns to downtown’s Heritage Square. This community event provides fun for everyone in the family, from fireworks on Friday night, a parade on Saturday, and a petting zoo on Sunday. Plus, see plenty of local performers, visit Santa, slide down snow tube hill, and do just a whole lot more!
If you’re going to see up-and-coming rocker Austin Meade at the Backyard Bar Stage & Grill on Friday night, make sure to catch opening act Mitchell Ferguson. Raised in Dallas, Ferguson’s influences range from Willie Nelson to Lil Wayne and Foo Fighters to Stephen Sondheim. While the Weezer-esque “F.Y.S.” is his current single, most of his work, including “Cry” (the video above), falls firmly into retro outlaw country.
Listen to more music by Mitchell Ferguson on Spotify.
This weekend at the Waco Hippodrome Theatre brings The Velveteen Rabbit, the latest production by the Heart of Texas Children’s Theatre. This classic story of a toy rabbit, who wants nothing so much as to be real, is a thoughtful meditation for young and old alike about the rewards of loyalty, the poignancy of loss, and the surprising powers of love.
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, December 1
Mayborn Express Opening Day | Mayborn Museum Complex | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Wild Lights | Cameron Park Zoo | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Bellmead's Annual Christmas Tree Lighting & Parade | Bellmead Municipal Court | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
The Johnny Joes | Barnett’s Public House | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Midnight Mustangs | Sul Ross Boot Scootin’ Dance Club | 7:00 pm to 9:15 pm
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever | Bishop Reicher Catholic High School Performing Arts Center | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Audrey Elledge & Elizabeth Moore | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Waco Brew Theology | Waco Ale Co. | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Jonna Mae's Songwriters | Texas Music Cafe | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Trivia Night | Brotherwell Brewing | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
A Monster Calls | Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center | 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
A Baylor Christmas | Glennis McCrary Music Building | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Choir Concert | First Baptist Church Waco | 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Friday, December 2
Blow Your Own Christmas Ornament | Stanton Studios | 9:00 am to 6:30 pm
Gallery Talk: Heroes Masked & Mythic | Mayborn Museum Complex | 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Conectar–Connect: Lorena Ferrales | | 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
Santa at the Silos | Magnolia Press | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Student Recital | Ball Performing Arts Center | 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
First Friday with KWBU | Susan L. Sistrunk Fine Art Gallery | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Waco Wonderland | Heritage Square | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Night Market on Webster | Night Market on Webster | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Christmas Gala | Cultivate 7twelve | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Roots & Boots Luck of the Draw Benefit | The Palladium | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Joel Wood | Fuzzy’s Taco Shop (Hewitt) | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
The Johnny Joes | Fuzzy’s Taco Shop | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Christmas Movie Night: Home Alone | Camp Fimfo | 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
A Dr Pepper Christmas | Dr Pepper Museum & Free Enterprise Institute | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever | Bishop Reicher Catholic High School Performing Arts Center | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Friday Night Dinner | Lighthouse Coffee & Wine | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Red Ball | Ridgewood Country Club | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
JD Johnson | Barnett’s Public House | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Jeff Hulbert | Southern Roots Brewing Co. | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Sami Brown | Pivovar | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Greg Bashara & Evan Klaras | Hilton Waco | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
A Baylor Christmas | Glennis McCrary Music Building | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
A Monster Calls | Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center | 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Live Oak Moonshiners | Old Chicago | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Sean Anderson & Friends | Stay Classy Waco | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Zak Webb | Blue Dog Wine & Martini Bar | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Austin Meade with Mitch Ferguson | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm
Lost Immigrants | Texas Music Cafe | 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm
Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm to 2:00 am
Saturday, December 3
2022 International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship | BASE at Extraco Events Center | 7:30 am to 11:30 pm
Blow Your Own Christmas Ornament | Stanton Studios | 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Waco Downtown Farmers Market | 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Waco Wonderland | Heritage Square | 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
Santa at the Silos | Magnolia Press | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Joel Wood & Cody Ellinger | Helberg’s Barbecue | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Advent Lessons & Carols | First Presbyterian Church of Waco | 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm
The Velveteen Rabbit (early show) | Waco Hippodrome Theatre | 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever | Bishop Reicher Catholic High School Performing Arts Center | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Sami Brown | One Day Bar | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Casey Daniels, Ethan Smith & James Hollingsworth | Hoot’s Tokio Store | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Clinton Bon Slaughter | Barnett’s Public House | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
MCC Scholarship Benefit: Ghost Dance Band & Eargasm | MCC Music & Theatre Arts | 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Darrell Ray | Sunday’s Caribbean Oasis Sports Bar & Grill | 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm
The Velveteen Rabbit (late show) | Waco Hippodrome Theatre | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
A Monster Calls | Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center | 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Lil' Foster & Friends | Stay Classy Waco | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Clay Aery | Freight Bar | 8:00 pm to 10:30 pm
Christmas Party | MacDaddy’s Pub | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm
George Ducas | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm
Touch of Grey | BIG’s Mayberry Tavern | 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm
Another Band of Gypsys | 308 Tavern | 9:00 pm to midnight
Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm to 2:00 am
Sunday, December 4
2022 International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship | BASE at Extraco Events Center | 7:30 am to 11:30 pm
Pat McKee | Ridgewood Country Club | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Eastside Market | Brotherwell Brewing | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
A Very Karem Kristmas | Karem Shrine | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Waco Wonderland | Heritage Square | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm
6th Annual Los Pirados MC Toy Drive | Rocky’s Roadhouse | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Dreamy Christmas | Cultivate 7twelve | 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm
The Velveteen Rabbit (matinee) | Waco Hippodrome Theatre | 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (matinee) | Bishop Reicher Catholic High School Performing Arts Center | 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
A Monster Calls (matinee) | Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
A Baylor Christmas | Glennis McCrary Music Building | 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Karaoke & Service Industry Night | Freight Bar | 7:00 pm to midnight
Monday, December 5
Santa Paws Pet Photo Nights | Richland Mall | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Acoustic Open Mic | Taqueria Mexicano Grill 15 | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Monday Night Lights Mountain Bike Ride | Bicycle World | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Chamber Singers Christmas Concert | Armstrong Browning Library | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Christmas a la Carbonara | Ball Performing Arts Center | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Keep Waco Loud Open Mic Night | Stay Classy Waco | 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Tuesday, December 6
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Beer Garden Yoga | Brotherwell Brewing | 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
4th Anniversary with Dan Garrison | Z’s at the Curry | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Smarty Pints Trivia | Southern Roots Brewing Co. | 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Towne Tuesday | The Crying Shame | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
254 Film & Music Holiday Mixer | Stay Classy Waco | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Chamber Singers Christmas Concert | Armstrong Browning Library | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Waco Community Band | Ball Performing Arts Center | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Beer for Brains Trivia | Dancing Bear Pub | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Wednesday, December 7
1 Million Cups Waco | Hustle Co-Working | 9:00 am to 10:00 am
Fabled Story-Time | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Trivia Night | Bare Arms Brewing | 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Mack Abernathy's 1st Wednesday Fiasco | Taqueria Mexicano Grill 15 | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Trivia Night | Old Chicago | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
A Very Merry Christmas Evening | Magnolia Market at the Silos | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
The Record Forum | Texas Music Cafe | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
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Coming Next Week
Cirque Italia Water Circus, Asleep at the Wheel, and Winter Art Walk.