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.

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.

We all need a little holiday cheer during finals season. Take a break from studying and explore all of Waco’s Christmas activities.

We’re heading into the last week of classes before finals season is in full swing. Here are some activities to do in Waco to take away some of the pressure of studying for exams — and to get you out of Moody Memorial Library for an hour or two.

The countdown to break is in full swing, as professors assign their final class projects and students pack up their essentials to take home. For out-of-state students, however, it can feel impossible to channel the “home for the holidays” spirit from sometimes over 1,000 miles away.