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Events in Waco, Texas

As the cultural and economic heart of the region, Waco boasts a dense and diverse calendar of events, ranging from large-scale festivals and nationally recognized sporting events to weekly farmers markets and live music series. The city's vibrant event scene attracts both locals and tourists year-round.

Major Festivals & Signature Events

  • Spring at the Silos: One of Waco's most famous events, hosted by Magnolia. This multi-day festival celebrates the spring season with a large vendor market, live music, food trucks, and family-friendly activities, drawing huge crowds to the Silos grounds.

  • Texas Food Truck Showdown: An annual competition that brings together dozens of food trucks from across the state to downtown Waco. Thousands of attendees come to sample the food, enjoy live music, and vote for their favorite trucks.

  • Heart O' Texas Fair & Rodeo: A massive, multi-day event held every fall, featuring a PRCA rodeo, a large carnival, livestock shows, concerts by major artists, and a wide variety of food and shopping vendors.

  • Día de los Muertos Parade & Festival: An annual celebration held at Indian Spring Park each November 1st, honoring the Day of the Dead tradition. The event features a parade, altars, traditional music, food, and cultural performances. It is a significant community event given Waco's large and vibrant Hispanic population, and has grown steadily each year.

  • July 4th Celebration: Waco hosts a large annual Independence Day event, typically featuring live music, food vendors, and a fireworks show. It draws large crowds from across the region.

  • Waco Wonderland: The city's premier Christmas festival, an eight-day celebration that kicks off with a parade and tree lighting ceremony. It transforms downtown's Heritage Square with an outdoor ice-skating rink, a Ferris wheel, a carousel, visits from Santa, and holiday food and vendors.

Arts, Culture & Music

  • Brazos Nights: A series of free outdoor concerts held in the spring and summer at Indian Spring Park, featuring a variety of musical genres.

  • Waco Cultural Arts Fest: An annual festival celebrating the arts, featuring visual artists, live music, dance performances, and hands-on art activities for all ages.

  • Film Festivals: Waco is home to two notable film festivals:

    • Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival: A three-day festival showcasing family-friendly and faith-based films.
    • Deep in the Heart Film Festival: An independent film festival that screens films from around the world.

  • Rootstock: A Texas Wine Festival: A one-day event that brings together some of the best wineries from across Texas for tastings and sales.

Sporting Events

  • Electrolit TriWaco Triathlon: A major USA Triathlon-sanctioned event held in the summer. Over 900 athletes compete in Olympic and sprint distance triathlons that start and end in the scenic Indian Spring Park.

  • Baylor University Athletics: Throughout the academic year, Baylor University hosts high-profile NCAA sporting events, particularly football games at McLane Stadium, which are major community gatherings.

Regular Community Gatherings

  • Waco Downtown Farmers Market: A year-round market held every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It features a large number of local farmers, artisans, and food producers, and is a central hub of community activity.

Newer & Notable Events (2025–2026)

  • Texas Food Truck Showdown (April 2026): Returning to downtown Waco with 30+ food trucks and over 25,000 attendees expected. One of the largest food events in Central Texas.

  • National Square Dance Festival (June 24, 2026): The 75th Annual National Square Dance Festival is being held at the Waco Convention Center — a major national event coming to Waco.

  • TriWaco Triathlon (June 28, 2026): The annual USA Triathlon-sanctioned event returns to Indian Spring Park for Olympic and sprint distance races.

  • Camp Fimfo Concert Series (May 2026): Camp Fimfo's outdoor concert series features artists including Shane Smith & the Saints, Bryan Martin, and Jason Boland & The Stragglers.

  • Wings & Strings Festival: An annual festival celebrating birds and bluegrass music, reflecting Waco's blend of natural beauty and live music culture.

  • Waco Water Lantern Festival: A touring event that has added Waco to its national schedule — participants float illuminated lanterns on the water in an evening ceremony.

This information is based on publicly available data from the City of Waco, the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, and other local event websites. Event details and schedules are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, please consult the respective organization's website or local community calendars.