Downtown Waco glistened with holiday cheer this weekend as Waco Wonderland returned to Heritage Square for its 13th year, drawing large crowds of families, students and local vendors. With the ferris wheel lighting up Austin Avenue, expanded food truck options and a busy Mistletoe Market, this year’s event blended familiar traditions with new features that kept visitors circulating through the plaza.

The cold front came just in time for Christmas on Fifth. Despite rain concerns, Christmas on Fifth continued in full swing, drawing students out of their dorm and families from staying at home. Students said the Christmas spirit was infectious, helping ease stress around finals.

Who needs studying when there are all these fun holiday events in Waco this weekend? Just kidding — don’t neglect hitting the books, but sneak a little fun into your study breaks by exploring all that downtown has to offer.

Everybody talks about homesickness in regard to the holidays. Still, not enough people discuss the dread many students face when returning home that comes not because of poor familial relationships, but because of the loss of identity many experience.

Five Waco hot spots were put to the ultimate hot chocolate test. Each beverage was ranked on a scale of 1-10, with 5 being the average point, on its creativity, affordability, presentation and taste. Here are the results.

Carroll Science will transform into Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” for one night only—here’s what you’ll see inside.

The Extraco Events Center hosted one of Waco’s largest community gatherings Thursday as H-E-B brought its annual Feast of Sharing back to Central Texas, serving thousands of free holiday meals and offering an evening full of music, activities and volunteer support.

As Thanksgiving approaches, the Salvation Army ramps up its holiday programs by providing meals, gifts and financial support to families in need. Behind the scenes, staff and volunteers work tirelessly to sort donations and manage logistics to ensure no one is left out of Waco’s holiday traditions.

A study noted that burnout had a positive association with maladaptive coping strategies such as social withdrawal. Meanwhile, students with adaptive coping strategies, including social support, reported lower levels of emotional exhaustion and higher levels of academic efficacy.

But every kid with divorced parents knows the dread that creeps in as the weather grows colder and the days get shorter. It’s the dread of having to choose: Which parent will I wake up with on Christmas morning, and which one will wake up alone?

Snowfall in central Texas is far in few between, but this year’s Christmas on 5th celebration was the perfect winter wonderland.

“Even before the light dawns, he is on his way,” Moore said. “He hears you in the darkness. You just keep making a sound, and you’re safe. You’re safe. You’re going to be fine because he is on his way.”

Real families have issues. They have tense meals and strained relationships. Being at school doesn’t fix those things; it just helps us forget about them. Regardless of the issues, our families are still our families. And what’s a better time to express our love for them than the holidays?

This holiday season, let’s try and change the conversation to something beyond how many pounds we’ve lost or gained. Shifting the focus onto other things can not only be for you, but also for other people in the room who don’t know how to speak up.

While seasonal depression has many effects, there are just as many ways to combat seasonal depression. The more common treatments include vitamin D supplements, light therapy, psychotherapy and prescribed medications. With the days ending much earlier in the winter than the summer, people suffering from SAD may plan to watch the sunset most evenings for vitamin D exposure and to help adjust internal clocks.

The shift away from celebrating Christ during Christmas isn’t accidental. It’s the result of a culture that increasingly prioritizes instant gratification, external displays of success and an artificial sense of joy over genuine spiritual reflection.

For the 35th-annual Food for Families drive, the Scouting America Longhorn Council, H-E-B and KWTX News 10 are partnering with food pantries across Central Texas to hold a one-day food drive that collects and stocks the shelves of local food banks and pantries.

Thanksgiving is upon us! If you’re in town for the holidays and looking for a little more celebration than football and turkey, here are some weekend events to help you salute the season.

Being a stay-at-home mom is an often thankless job. These women put in hours of exhaustive and unpaid labor, yet the idea that they don’t “work” is still rampant. Society has the tendency to downplay the importance of this role, partly because it has been considered the norm for centuries in America — more of an expectation than a commendable sacrifice of time, money, energy and emotional labor.

“This subject is extremely relevant to students and the need to always be aware of your surroundings, whether you are in the dorms, on campus or traveling,” Childers said. “A student’s best defense in staying safe is maintaining a heightened sense of awareness.”

Baylor Health Services offers flu shots on the second floor of the McLane Student Life Center to ensure that students stay safe and healthy during the holiday session.

Thanksgiving is a time for reflection, gratitude and giving back. For those looking to make a difference in the Waco community this season, here are five meaningful opportunities. Whether it’s volunteering or donating, do your part in giving back to and supporting our Waco.

With Veteran’s Day just passing, instead of posting on your Instagram story how much you respect our troops, let’s begin acting rather than staying complacent.

“Occasionally eating a high amount of candy has not been shown to cause’ long-term effects, but it can definitely have short-term effects if the person is prone to hyperglycemia,” Taylor said. “On the other hand, eating an excessive amount of sugar over the long term can have detrimental effects.”

This week’s What to Do in Waco might not be as saturated as the last, but don’t let the post-homecoming blues get the best of you. With only a few weeks to go until Thanksgiving, Waco is beginning to buzz with holiday activities.

Pining and lamenting seem to be the main themes of this week’s Tunesday with new releases from Conan Gray, Dean Lewis and rising bedroom pop artist Jordana. So if you’re up for feeling down (or down bad), I’d suggest tuning in.

As the holiday season approaches, the Peer Nutrition Advisement Program is here to help students, faculty and staff navigate dietary goals and create a healthy food foundation. The program is available for free until Dec. 6, and those interested can sign up online.

Holiday dishes reflect a culture’s values, geography and traditions. They serve as a tangible link to history and past loved ones while helping people who may feel removed connect back to their cultural heritage and celebrate important occasions.

‘Tis the season to panic when it comes to shopping for loved ones. But this year, the work has already been done for you. Here’s a definitive gift guide for all the different types of people in your life: the sorority girls, the indie boys and everyone in between.

Every year, the week before Thanksgiving, the BRT holds its annual international Thanksgiving dinner. Meredith Moore, chair for the BRT International Thanksgiving, said this year the BRT is looking to invite international students, faculty, staff and alumni.