Christmas in July
By: Elizabeth Riley
This July, we are striving to find ways that reinvigorate the Christmas spirit of lighting the world through giving at the halfway point of the year. Perhaps you’ve been bogged down with mid-year reviews at work, anxious over the outcome of assessments, or tired from wrangling children all summer long. Get outside, get involved, and enjoy the miraculous lives we live.
Waco GoodFellas to Host ‘Christmas in July’ at Extraco Center
The Waco GoodFellas will host Christmas in July on July 19 at the Extraco Events Center, bringing holiday cheer to the summer season. The event will include food, an open bar, live and silent auctions, mini raffles and more. All proceeds raised will stay within the surrounding communities.
The Waco GoodFellas is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families in need during the holiday season and beyond.
Keep Waco Beautiful Hosts Summer Sustainability Pop-Ups
Looking to get outside this July? Keep Waco Beautiful will host the Summer Sustainability Passport Pop-Up on July 10 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Heart of Texas Goodwill on New Road. The event is part of the Junior Sustainability Advocate outreach program, which offers children educational programming, STEM/STEAM activities, and community engagement opportunities.
A second pop-up event will be held Aug. 12 at the East Waco Goodwill, also from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Gatesville Hosts ‘Jingle in July’ Shopping Event
For those up for a short drive, Jingle in July will take place Saturday, July 12, in Gatesville. The vendor market will be held at Pennoli Bed and Breakfast and will run throughout the day.
Attendees can take photos with “Santa on Vacation” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and shop while enjoying beverages at these local vendors and storefronts:
- Spur Nutrition: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Green Rooster: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- 1854 Mercantile: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring Prickly Diamond, Lawson’s and Gypsy Rooster
- The Salty Señorita: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- The Pink Pearl: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring Spaghetti Western
- Sassi’s Boutique: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- L&M Clothing Boutique: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Maverick Exchange: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., featuring Gussied Up
Whether you’re giving back, learning something new or shopping small, Central Texas has plenty of ways to celebrate the season—no snow required.
Elizabeth Riley hails from Tennessee and is a graduate of English Literature and Professional Writing & Rhetoric from Baylor University. With passions in archival preservation, communal connection, and women in sports, she writes because it matters, with hopes of bridging villages and fostering revelry amongst them.