 From all of us at the City of Waco, we wish you and your loved ones a very happy and peaceful Thanksgiving! We are so grateful for our incredible community, and we hope you have a wonderful time celebrating, relaxing, and enjoying some fantastic food.
Speaking of food, check out our fun video where our employees share their favorite Thanksgiving dishes! We hope it gets you in the holiday spirit and maybe gives you some recipe inspiration!
 City of Waco offices will be closed on Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28 for Thanksgiving. Residents with a Thursday trash collection day will have their gray waste carts and blue recycling carts collected earlier the day before on Wednesday, November 26.
Don't Miss Your Trash Day
Stay on top of your waste and recycling with the free City of Waco Curbside Services app! Get personalized reminders based on your address, so that you always know when your bins need to be at your curb.
Download the app today from the App Store or Google Play!
 Waco Wonderland is lighting up downtown from Friday, December 5 to 7! Kicking off the holiday festival is the annual tree lighting and fireworks show.
Celebrate the season with festive music, holiday shopping, delicious treats, thrilling rides, and a spectacular fireworks finale presented by H-E-B. The fun begins at 5 p.m. on Friday, December 5, with the tree lighting and fireworks at 7 p.m. We hope to see you there!
 Coming to downtown for Waco Wonderland? Join us for a quick side quest to see the future of Downtown Waco!
Stop by the second-floor lobby of the Waco Convention Center (100 Washington Ave.) on Friday, December 5 from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. to see the large, scaled 3D model of our downtown vision.
Staff will be available to answer your questions and give a guided tour. Bring your kids, friends, and family! Plus, everyone who stops by will receive a fun giveaway. Help craft the vision — for the love of Waco.
 This holiday season, give the gift of Waco! From Waco-themed souvenirs and apparel, western-themed memorabilia, prehistoric treasures, and more, there’s a gift for everyone on your list.
 The Waco Fire Department is bringing back the holiday cheer fire engine tradition to Waco! The decorated engine is decked out in lights, blasting merry tunes, and ready to visit your neighborhood. Check out the schedule to find out when it's visiting your area.
 The Solid Waste Polar Express is ready to roll again. We're visiting parks, libraries and more this year and spreading holiday cheer! Hopping aboard will be everyone's favorite trash can resident — Oscar the Grouch. Check out the schedule to see where the Polar Express is making stops.
 From November 28 through December 30, Cameron Park Zoo will sparkle with millions of dazzling Christmas lights, festive photo ops, and a chance to meet Santa himself. Wild Lights is open Thursday through Sunday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. (last entry at 8 p.m.), with special openings on December 22, 23, 29, and 30.
Purchase our special “Zoo/Wild Lights” combo ticket and enjoy the Zoo during regular hours and the evening Wild Lights. The best part? Your tickets are valid through December 30, and you don’t have to use them on the same day.
 The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum has teamed up with Meals on Wheels Waco as the recipient of the 15th annual “Big Texas Christmas Present” drive.
From Friday, November 28 through Sunday, December 14, bring donations to the Museum (100 Texas Ranger Trail) to receive one FREE admission per item donated. The Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
Much needed items include:
- Non-perishable, individual foods (granola bars, Jello, snacks, canned goods)
- Hygiene and toiletries (lotion, bath products, toothbrush, haircare)
- Warmth and comfort (gloves, socks, blankets, scarves)
- Senior gifts (large print books, word puzzle books, eyeglass care kit)
- Pet foods (hard or canned dog and cat food, kitty litter)
Let’s support our local seniors and have a bit of fun at the same time!
 STEAM isn’t just science. It’s music, art, and fun! Watch Captain Atom remix his way to discovery as he gets ready for the Bledsoe-Miller STEAM Center debut. Special thanks to Damon Crump and Jackalope Entertainment for letting us take over their studio!
Follow along as Captain Atom learns, experiments, and discovers new things that get him ready for the Bledsoe-Miller STEAM Center debut in winter 2026.
Stay tuned and sign up for email updates from the Bledsoe-Miller STEAM Center for more behind-the-scenes adventures, updates, and ways to get involved.
Round two is here because the first wave was such a hit! Waco artists now have another opportunity to transform our city with vibrant utility box art. This project brings color, creativity, and fresh energy to our streets, and we can’t wait to see what you create! Submissions are due December 20.
 Good news, fossil fans! The Dig Shelter at Waco Mammoth National Monument has reopened and is back to regular hours. Plan your visit to walk among the remains of prehistoric giants and experience one of Waco’s most fascinating national treasures. The park and Dig Shelter, located at 6220 Steinbeck Bend Dr., are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 Fire Station #15 was selected as a Gold Winner for this year's Fire Station Design Award from Firehouse Magazine. Congratulations to our Waco Fire and Facilities Departments. 67 stations nationwide were submitted, and Waco’s newest fire station earned the top honor as the #1 Satellite Facility. The Fire Station was praised for its clean, efficient design, fiscal responsibility, and architectural distinction while serving as a true community asset.
Our firefighters are proud to be your neighbors. Stop by anytime the bay doors are open and the trucks are home!
 The City of Waco won two Pinnacle Awards from the National Association of Government Web Professionals. The City’s entry in the Microsite/Special Site Feature category was recognized with both the Members’ Choice Award and the Pinnacle Award for its Pet Circle Waco website. Normally, the awards in these categories honor two separate cities. However, the City of Waco earned the honors for both awards.
Webmaster of the Year
Cori Madewell, City of Waco webmaster, also won the Steven Michael Moore Award. This is their most prestigious award and can only be won once. It is named after Moore, considered a trailblazer in the government web profession. To be recognized, the winner must have made proven major contributions as a web professional through his or her body of work that includes development of website needs, contributions to programming and design, and helpful service to their community.
 The City of Waco was well represented in the "People of Waco" edition of the Wacoan magazine!
Featured in the article include: District 2 Councilmember Isabel Lozano (page 105), Airport Manager James C. Harris (page 115), Fire Chief Robby Bergerson (pages 119 & 121), and Children's Librarian Stacy Phillips (pages 119, 121 & 122).
Thanks to all for representing the City in such a positive way! Read the article to learn more about each of them.
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