Waco Civic Theatre presents its annual holiday show—The Most Wonderful Show of the Year—and in this edition, take a tour around Texas to explore the state’s holiday traditions. You’ll hear songs you might recognize—but with a twist!—and have a great time during this family-friendly show.
Sami Brown has been a staple of the Waco music scene for years, but lately, local audiences have been limited to seeing the Abilene Christian University soccer star during the summer and holiday breaks. Catch her while you can when she plays the Blue Dog Wine & Martini Bar on Friday night at 8 pm.
Tru Jamaica is a fixture in East Waco with its eclectic—for Waco at least!—menu that features everything from jerk chicken to curry shrimp. On December 8, however, an after-hours electrical fire caused extensive damage to its interior. Closed since then, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help with the expenses to reopen. Whether you’ve eaten there and are one of its many fans or just want to help a locally-owned restaurant get back on its feet, your donation is both much needed and appreciated.
(Learn more about Tru Jamaica in Angelica Mazé’s article from earlier this year or even try co-owner Vivia Charles’s recipe for red cabbage and potato salad.)
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 15
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
(512) Brewing Pint Night | Dancing Bear Pub | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
DIY Gingerbread House | Casket and Cauldron | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Women’s Confidence Building Night | Junkyard Jewel Boutique | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Third Thursday Throwdown | Lakeside Bar | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Larry Burgin & Texas Tradition | Sul Ross Boot Scootin’ Dance Club | 7:00 pm to 9:15 pm
Waco Brew Theology | Southern Roots Brewing Co. | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
The Edwards Twins Ultimate Variety Christmas Show | Waco Hippodrome Theatre | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Christmas at Hogwarts Yule Ball | Stay Classy Waco | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Jonna Mae's Songwriters | Texas Music Cafe | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
The Most Wonderful Show of the Year | Waco Civic Theatre | 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Third Thursday Trivia | Pinewood Public House | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Trivia Night | Brotherwell Brewing | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
The Johnny Joes Christmas Party | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Christmas Singalong with Sack Lunch! | Pinewood Public House | 8:00 pm to 10:30 pm
The Waco Trolley’s Christmas Lights Tour (late tour) | Nightlight Donuts & Coffee | 8:15 pm to 9:45 pm
Friday, December 16
Blow Your Own Christmas Ornament | Stanton Studios | 9:00 am to 6:30 pm
Santa at the Silos | Magnolia Press | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Waco Community Choir Holiday Concert | Central National Bank | 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Dave Wild & Chuck Jennings | Lounge ’93 | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Christmas Lights in the Village | Mayborn Museum Complex | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
The Waco Trolley’s Christmas Lights Tour (early tour) | Nightlight Donuts & Coffee | 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
December Wine Club Dinner | Valley Mills Vineyards | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Acrylic Pouring Workshop | MAKER’s EDGE makerspace | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Christmas Movie Night: The Polar Express | Camp Fimfo | 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Pat McKee Trio | Southern Roots Brewing Co. | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Jayme Wade | Papa Joe’s Texas Saloon | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Live Oak Moonshiners with Thomas Dine | Barnett’s Public House | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
The Ballou's Cats | Fuzzy’s Taco Shop | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
A Very Punk Rock Christmas | Freight Bar | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Clean Slate | Fuzzy’s Taco Shop (Hewitt) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Friday Night Dinner | Lighthouse Coffee & Wine | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
The Most Wonderful Show of the Year | Waco Civic Theatre | 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Paranormal Cirque | Road Ranger | 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Wind Ensemble Concert | Glennis McCrary Music Building | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
William Lee Martin: The Return of the Nutcracker | Waco Hippodrome Theatre | 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Charlie Brown Christmas Special with The Dave Wild Trio | Stay Classy Waco | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Eric & Thomas Unplugged | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm
The Dobros | 308 Tavern | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Sami Brown | Blue Dog Wine & Martini Bar | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm
A Country Christmas with Holly Tucker | American Legion Post 121 | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Creed Fisher with Hayden Haddock | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm
Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm to 2:00 am
Saturday, December 17
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
Flash Print Sale | Susan L. Sistrunk Fine Art Gallery | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Santa at the Silos | Magnolia Press | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Michael Saldana | Barnett’s Public House | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Christmas at the Park | Oakwood Park | 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm
The Most Wonderful Show of the Year (matinee) | Waco Civic Theatre | 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Dream Con Wrestling: Kingdom of Excellence | Waco Convention Center | 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Santa at Slow Rise | Slow Rise Slice House Woodway | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Christmas Lights in the Village | Mayborn Museum Complex | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Project Eden Benefit with Far From Reach | Brotherwell Brewing | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Paranormal Cirque (early show) | Road Ranger | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Jennifer Pisarcik & Jon Fox | Aloft Waco Baylor | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
The Most Wonderful Show of the Year | Waco Civic Theatre | 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
The Carpenters Legacy: A Christmas Portrait | Waco Hippodrome Theatre | 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Dave Innis | Stay Classy Waco | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Christmas Party | Hemingway’s Watering Hole | 8:00 pm to 2:00 am
Joel Wood | Hoot’s Tokio Store | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Sack Lunch!, MER, Montclair & Yardsale! | Common Grounds | 8:00 pm to 11:30 pm
Michael Saldana | Rocky’s Roadhouse | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Bohemian Pirates Band | Twisted Sisters Patio Bar | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm
The Waco Trolley’s Christmas Lights Tour (late tour) | Nightlight Donuts & Coffee | 8:15 pm to 9:45 pm
Braxton Keith with Alyssa Micaela | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm
Karaoke | Papa Joe’s Texas Saloon | 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm
Nolan Pick Band | Elk Hall | 8:30 pm to 12:30 am
Karaoke | Chapter 11 | 9:00 pm to 2:00 am
The Not So Silent Night | Undercroft Social Club | 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Paranormal Cirque (late show) | Road Ranger | 9:30 pm to 11:30 pm
Sunday, December 18
Pat McKee | Ridgewood Country Club | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
A Merry & Fright Skellington Market | Skellington Curiosities | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Eastside Holiday Market | Brotherwell Brewing | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
The Most Wonderful Show of the Year (matinee) | Waco Civic Theatre | 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Christmas with C.S. Lewis | Waco Hippodrome Theatre | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Dave Wild Trio | Valley Mills Vineyards | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Paranormal Cirque (early show) | Road Ranger | 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Open Mic Night | Lakeside Bar | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Christmas Lights in the Village | Mayborn Museum Complex | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
The Waco Trolley’s Christmas Lights Tour (late tour) | Nightlight Donuts & Coffee | 8:15 pm to 9:45 pm
Fireside Acoustic Christmas Show | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm
Paranormal Cirque (late show) | Road Ranger | 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm
Monday, December 19
Winter Art Camp | Art Center Waco | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Storytime with the Mayborn Elves | Mayborn Museum Complex | 10:30 am to 11:15 am
Christmas at Fabled | Fabled Bookshop & Cafe | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
The Waco Trolley’s Christmas Lights Tour (early tour) | Nightlight Donuts & Coffee | 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Cocoa with Santa & Stories with Mrs. Clause | Old Chicago | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Acoustic Open Mic | Taqueria Mexicano Grill 15 | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Keep Waco Loud Open Mic Night | Stay Classy Waco | 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm
The Waco Trolley’s Christmas Lights Tour (late tour) | Nightlight Donuts & Coffee | 8:15 pm to 9:45 pm
Tuesday, December 20
Winter Art Camp | Art Center Waco | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Lights of West Christmas Light Park | Lights of West | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Christmas Light Ride | Bicycle World | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Sip & Shop with Santa | Cultivate 7twelve | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Beer Garden Yoga | Brotherwell Brewing | 6:30 pm to 7:30 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
Beer for Brains Trivia | Dancing Bear Pub | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm
The Waco Trolley’s Christmas Lights Tour (late tour) | Nightlight Donuts & Coffee | 8:15 pm to 9:45 pm
Wednesday, December 21
1 Million Cups Waco | Hustle Co-Working | 9:00 am to 10:00 am
Winter Art Camp | Art Center Waco | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Homeless & Unclaimed Memorial Service | The Hanger | 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm
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
Trivia Night | Old Chicago | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Bobby Dean & The Timeless Country Band | Taqueria Mexicano Grill 15 | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Music Bingo | Brotherwell Brewing | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
The Record Forum | Texas Music Cafe | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Name That Tune Music Bingo | Freight Bar | 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Witty Wednesday BuzzTime Trivia | Hemingway’s Watering Hole | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm
CTJS Jazz Jam | Stay Classy Waco | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm
The Waco Trolley’s Christmas Lights Tour (late tour) | Nightlight Donuts & Coffee | 8:15 pm to 9:45 pm
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Coming Next Week
Cameron Park Zoo Groundbreaking Ceremony, 2nd Annual Ugly Sweater Contest, and Lighthouse Friday Night Dinner.