City previews Waco Wonderland, zoo 'Wild Lights' and downtown lighting for holiday season

The City of Waco’s Parks & Recreation director on Oct. 7 gave council a seasonal events briefing that outlined Waco Wonderland, downtown lighting plans and Cameron Park Zoo’s Wild Lights.

Jonathan Cook said Waco Wonderland—the signature downtown festival created in 2013—will continue to include a tree-lighting ceremony paired with an H‑E‑B fireworks show, a parade produced with Creative Waco that travels down Austin Avenue, vendor markets and attractions such as a Ferris wheel and snow-tube hills. Cook said the city coordinates installations with City Center Waco under contract and that lights are scheduled for installation in mid-November and will remain through January.

Cook reviewed 2024 attendance: about 8,000 people at the tree lighting and fireworks and roughly 12,000 total visits across the weekend (weather depressed attendance on other days). He also highlighted Cameron Park Zoo’s Wild Lights—running select nights beginning Nov. 29 through December—with roughly 15,000 attendees last year and multiple light displays.

Cook said Waco Wonderland is funded through the Public Improvement District and sponsorships with the city providing personnel costs; vendor fees and ticket sales for attractions also generate revenue. He described cross-department coordination, an interactive map for the public to track decorated city vehicles and outreach to community organizations for parade and market participation.

Next steps: city staff will finalize installations and public communications; council members requested continued outreach to neighborhood associations and a communications plan for traffic and access impacts during installations and event days.