'Tis always the season to act locally Waco! This week there are quite a few holiday themed activities from the tree lighting, fireworks and the Wonderland Parade to Arts events and ways you can give back.
Big events
- Fri Dec 6 - Waco Wonderland(City of Waco Parks and Recreation Department)
⟶ Fri Dec 6 thru Sun Dec 8 including - Mistletoe Market – Waco Wonderland(Waco Wonderland)
A couple of big Waco Christmas traditions kick off today! First of all – Waco Wonderland starts tonight and will continue through Sunday. Waco Wonderland is a free three-day Christmas festival in downtown Waco at Heritage square. It features a snow tube hill, free visits/photos with Santa, food trucks, a Mistletoe Market, a Ferris Wheel, and more. The gates open today at 5. The tree lighting and fireworks show is at 7. Tomorrow morning is the Wonderland Run benefitting Communities in Schools at 8, then the Wonderland parade on Austin starting at 10. Admission is free – wristbands to ride the rides are $5.
- Fri Dec 6 - Christmas at the Silos(Magnolia Market)
⟶ Fri Dec 6 thru Sat Dec 7
Also starting today and running through December 14th – Christmas at the Silos! Admission is free to the vendor market, including phots with Santa. Concert tickets start at $34 and ice-skating tickets start at $5.
Doing Good
- Fri Dec 6 - 2019 Giving Trees Festival®(Raising Wheels Foundation)
⟶ Fri Dec 6 thru Sun Dec 8
If you are looking for some ways to do some good this holiday season, we have some opportunities for you. While you are at Waco Wonderland be sure to stop by the 2019 Giving Trees Festival and wander through a beautiful display of decorated Christmas trees and wreaths made by local artisans, schools, churches, organizations, businesses, and volunteers. This is a fundraiser for the Raising Wheels Foundation, an organization that helps bring accessibility products into the homes of families with differently abled children.
- Sat Dec 7 - Toys from the Heart—Cars, Cans, & Coffee(Things from the Heart and Jessica Serrano)
Tomorrow Toys from the Heart is hosting Cars, Cans, and Coffee! Come out to the “Things from the Heart” Thrift store on Bosque starting at 9 am to donate Nonperishable items and/ or A New Unwrapped toy and enjoy a car show and coffee. Santa will be there at 1:30 and there will also be a puppet show and other fun activities for kids.
- Thu Dec 12 - Paint the Halls – HOTWAGS Distribution: Community Event(Woodland Springs Nursing Center)
If you have an artistic streak – or if you just think its fun to paint – you can join Artist-N-U Thursday at the Woodland Spring Nursing home to “Paint the Halls.” The fun begins at 6 PM in the main dining hall. Art supplies, food, music fun and laughter provided. The Woodland Spring nursing home is located at 1010 Dallas Street.
Arts
- Through Dec 8 - Waco Civic Children’s Theatre: Best Christmas Pageant Ever(Waco Civic Children’s Theatre)
⟶ Thu Dec 5 thru Sun Dec 8
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the arts, here are a couple of examples from this week: The Waco Civic Children’s Theatre presents the hilarious classic, the “Best Christmas Pageant Ever!” featuring everyone’s favorites – the horrible Herdman kids. The show runs through Sunday and tickets start at $8. And on Thursday they kick off their annual “Most Wonderful Show of the Year” Christmas variety show. This year it will be based on the Judy Garland Christmas special. So you know you’ll get to hear lots of Christmas music from some classic films. Tickets run from $5 to $15 dollars.
- Mon Dec 9 - WJO presents “Christmas Jazz”(Waco Jazz Orchestra)
On Monday the Waco Jazz Orchestra will be playing all of your favorite Christmas music. The show will be at the Ball Performing Arts Center at 7:30 pm, and admission is free!
- Thu Dec 12 - Michael Martin Murphey’s Cowboy Christmas(Waco Hippodrome)
And on Thursday, the Waco Hippodrome is hosting Michael Martin Murphey’s unapologetically old-fashioned Cowboy Christmas. You’ll enjoy a mix of traditional Christmas songs, a few Michael Martin Murphey classics, and cowboy poetry and storytelling. Tickets start at $19.
Special shopping
- Fri Dec 6 - Balcones Distilling 3rd Annual Sip ‘n Shop(Balcones Distillery)
There are several special Christmas shopping events this week besides the Silos and the Mistletoe market. We’ll just mention a couple. Tonight and tomorrow, Balcones Distilling will be hosting their 3rd Annual Holiday Sip 'N Shop event! This 2-day event includes a variety of local vendors and artisans, local food trucks, games, workshops, live music, and raffle prizes!
- Sat Dec 7 - Holiday Ring Make + Take Class with Danielle Hale(White Elephant)
Tomorrow night The White Elephant on Austin is offering a fun Ladies (or Mom & Daughters) night out activity. Danielle Hale of “Don’t Eat Beads” designs will be leading a Make & Take class. Participants will create a one of a kind holiday ring. Tickets are $30 and includes wine + refreshments and a 10% off discount for use at White Elephant for the evening.
- Sun Dec 8 – Eastside Market at Pinewood
And on Sunday The Eastside Market will be having a pop-up market at Pinewood Roasters from 1 to 5. Pinewood is located at 2223 Austin.
