There’s no doubt Baylor alumni and families heading to Waco for the 2024 homecoming celebration are practicing their sic ‘ems and bear claws this week. They may even be looking to bump the fun up a notch by exploring Waco and its many offerings, both new and familiar.
The Main Event
First held in 1909, Baylor’s homecoming week is all about revisiting campus, rekindling connections, and cheering on the beloved Bears. Events this year are taking place Oct. 21–26, 2024. As always, green and gold traditions will be honed with football, fun, and friendship for current students, alum, and their families and friends.
For starters, Mass Meeting welcomes first-year students to homecoming, while the parade on Saturday shows why it’s said to be the oldest and largest college homecoming parade in the United States. Count on lots of food trucks at Extravaganza, along with the pep rally and bonfire. And no one misses the capping event if they can help it – the Baylor Bears face off against the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Oct. 26 at McLane Stadium.
Check out Baylor Line’s homecoming and game day guides for more on how to maximize your experience.
Fun Around Town
If you have time to kick back between events, check out the Waco activities and locales that have popped up in the last few years, as well as some golden oldies.
If the late October weather permits, head over to the 500-acre Waco Surf resort. Lodging and the surf lagoon are open to those with a reservation until late December. Its state-of-the-art wave machine keeps breakers rolling, attracting surfers from all over the world. Rent or bring a board, or slip down the three waterslides and chill in a lazy river that flows for nearly a mile. Accommodations are available at the on-site Waco Surf Hotel, less than 20 minutes from the Baylor campus.
The Castle was a Fixer-Upper project for HGTV’s Chip and Joanna Gaines, the powerhouse couple behind the Magnolia enterprises that include the Silos and so much more around Waco. Tour the stately sandstone and limestone mansion, originally named Cottonland Castle, while you can – last year the estate was listed at $2.9 million in an auction, but plans to sell and close to the public have fizzled out for now.
If you’ve never visited the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum, this might be the time – the homage to the Rangers is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Housed at a historic fort, the museum conveys the spirit and story of the law and order that has policed Texas since the 1830s.
Step back in time at the Homestead Craft Village, with its 18 acres of gardens and old-school shops featuring fiber crafts, woodworking, and basketmaking, among other handiworks. Hands-on activities invite children to create their own treasures. The village reflects the beliefs and spirit of an intentional agrarian- and craft-based Christian community that also runs a 550-acre farm.
Relax at the end of the day with a sunset pontoon boat cruise on the Brazos to catch a riverside view of McLane Stadium and Cameron Park. Or riff on the upcoming Halloween holiday by taking a scary ghost tour sure to send chills up your spine.
BBQ for All
Luckily for Bears past and present, finding good barbecue in Waco has never been a problem. But newcomers are heating up the scene while providing good ‘cue for all.
Terry Black’s Barbecue, founded in 1932, expanded its renowned empire to Waco earlier this year. Terry Black’s daughter Christina, one of the business’s owners and a proud 2007 Baylor grad, had her eye on finding a Waco location for years. The 228 S. Eighth St. restaurant joins sister locations in Austin, Lockhart, and Dallas with iconic brisket, sausage, chicken, and sides like macaroni and cheese and pinto beans.
Helberg Barbecue opened in 2018 and climbed to the Texas Monthly “Best of Texas BBQ” list in just a year, only to be beset by the business-related challenges of the pandemic. Then, in 2023, a fire destroyed the restaurant’s brick-and-mortar location. Today, the award-winning joint has set up shop at 7809 N. Highway 6, just past Lake Waco and down the road from its original location.
Guess Family Barbecue is the barbecue destination for the 2024–25 football season, says Texas Football Life. The specialty publication identified top barbecue joints in each Texas team’s hometown this season. Find out why Guess received its accolades by stopping by their 2803 Franklin Ave. location for all the classics, including ribs, pork sausage, chicken, and pulled pork.
Other Eats
Revival Eastside Eatery is a culinary highlight on historic Elm Ave. Housed in a former church at 704 Elm Ave., the highly rated local restaurant serves fresh burgers, sandwiches, and salads in a rustically renovated space that features original wood rafters and beautiful old brick. Of course, everything tastes better with a Baylor connection. The eatery’s founder Danielle Young earned her master’s and doctorate degrees at Baylor in 2013 and 2016, respectively.
No visit to Waco is complete nowadays without encountering the Gaines’ Magnolia empire. Grab a bite at Magnolia Table, housed in the transformed former Elite Cafe on the Waco traffic circle that closed in 2016. In 2018, the Gaines reopened the renovated property partly as an homage to the historic diner. Expect a sophisticated interior and fresh, upscale food that can fuel your visit to the Silos and other Magnolia hotspots around Waco.
When the Party’s Over
You might have a favorite hotel or vacation rental where you rest your head when visiting Waco, but when it’s time for new options, check out these recently opened hotels sure to jazz up downtime during Homecoming week.
With only 21 rooms, Hotel Herringbone is a luxury boutique hotel that entertains guests with three restaurants, a piano bar, an outdoor wine and charcuterie bar, and a rooftop bar with views. Even if you don’t land a highly sought accommodation reservation here, stop by for a craft cocktail or live music.
Hotel 1928 is the Gaines’ entry into the boutique hotel space. A nod to Waco history and the beauty of older architecture, the hotel is named for the year the building was opened. The renovated property at 701 Washington Ave. holds 33 sumptuous guest rooms, a two-story library, and dining spaces, including Bertie’s on the Rooftop.
