Wake Up! is a new addition to Baylor Family Weekend in 2026. Designed to highlight some of the best that downtown Waco has to offer, it features a Friday morning coffee crawl through participating cafés and bakeries, plus a one-of-a-kind experience at Hole in the Roof, an apparel and promotions company born and raised in Waco. Visitors can also join a walking tour of downtown before heading to the Spirit Shop at the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center for special Friday morning-only discounts and limited-edition coffee mugs. All events are free, but space is limited and opening hours vary by location.
A NOTE PARKING: Please take care when parking downtown as no-parking or paid parking areas are subject to towing.
Coffee Crawl
Wake up early to be a part of the Friday morning coffee crawl through participating cafés and bakeries in downtown Waco and surrounding areas. The crawl begins at 7 a.m. and concludes at 12 p.m., and you can visit the participating shops (listed below) in any order. To get one FREE cup of drip coffee (while supplies last), just show the barista your confirmation email and collect a wristband from that location. Visit five different shops, and you earn a FREE Baylor-branded gift from Hole in the Roof, an apparel and promotions company born and raised in Waco. After you finish crawling, stop by Hole in the Roof with your five wristbands and watch your gift being printed! The Coffee Crawl is free, but supplies are limited and business hours vary by location.
A digital downtown map is available to assist guests in finding their way to each participating location and Hole in the Roof (Courtesy of the City of Waco).
Downtown Waco Tour
Discover the stories, people, and places that have shaped Waco through a guided walking tour of historic downtown. Drawing on information from the Waco History website and mobile app, you will explore landmark buildings, pivotal events and compelling narratives that reveal Waco’s rich and complex past. This experience has been organized by Dr. Stephen Sloan, Baylor Professor and Director of the Institute for Oral History, and Prof. Adrienne Cain Darough, Assistant Director of the Institute. The two-hour tour begins at 9 a.m. at the iconic Waco Suspension Bridge, and it ends there as well. The tour reached its capacity and is no longer accepting guests.
The tour route includes uneven surfaces, so comfortable walking shoes are strongly recommended. You are also encouraged to bring sun protection (e.g., sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, etc.), and water to stay hydrated. In the event of inclement weather, the walking tour will be cancelled. We encourage guests to visit the Waco History website and download the mobile app before arriving.
Baylor Retro T-Shirt Experience
During “Wake Up! It’s Family Weekend” hours only, visitors can purchase a retro Baylor-branded t-shirt at Hole in the Roof and then watch it being printed on-site. This limited-edition item will be a special reminder of Family Weekend 2026, and it will only be available Friday morning from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Hole in the Roof while supplies last.
Spirit Shop at the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center
After exploring downtown Waco, stop by the Baylor Spirit Shop at the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center to purchase the limited-edition Family Weekend coffee mug while supplies last. From 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. the Spirit Shop is also offering a 20% off single item coupon, which can be used on the mug or another item.