China Spring blood drive
China Spring High School will host a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 29 at 7301 N. River Crossing.
To schedule an appointment, call Meagan Collier at 254-836-1771.
Garden workday
Creating Green Neighborhoods will hold a workday and family-friendly pizza party from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Garrison Street Community Garden, Garrison and Renick streets, to prepare for a mural installation.
The event is part of the program's Earth Week activities. For more information or to register to volunteer, go to keepwacobeautiful.org/volunteer.
AI talk
Bill Arend, vice president of Microsoft’s artificial intelligence division, will speak during a Waco Rotary Club meeting at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Lee Lockwood Library, 2801 W. Waco Drive.
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Meetings are free to attend, but lunch costs $15. To RSVP, email office@wacorotary.org or call 254-723-7828.
Mayborn Earth Day
The Mayborn Museum, 1300 S. University Parks Drive, will hold an Earth Day event from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday.
There will be an Earth Day story time at 10:30 a.m., and attendees will have an opportunity to hear about Baylor University research showcasing solutions for a healthier planet, and to engage with scientists on their sustainability initiatives.
All activities are included with general museum admission.
For more information, email MaybornMuseum@Baylor.edu or call 254-710-1110.
Penelope VFD fundraiser
The Penelope Volunteer Fire Department will hold its 35th annual spring fundraiser at 11 a.m. Sunday at Penelope Parish Hall.
Barbecue beef tips and sausage plates cost $15 for adults and $7 for children.
There will also be a raffle and silent auction, horseshoe pitching tournament and live music from Bohemian Pirates.
Children’s theater
The Heart of Texas Children’s Theatre will present an original work by local writer Trent Clifford at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Lee Lockwood Theatre, 2801 W. Waco Drive.
Tickets cost $5 at the door.
Comic Con
Central Texas Comic Con will run April 27-29 in the Base at the Extraco Events Center, 4601 Bosque Blvd.
The event will include cosplayers, comics, panels, kids’ fun, a vendor hall filled with pop culture treasures, and opportunities to meet anime stars from "My Hero," "Demon Slayer," "Jujutsu Kaisen" and more.
Weekend passes are $25, or $10 for kids. Daily admission is $20, or $100 for a VIP ticket. Tickets are available at ctxcomiccon.com.
Texas Rangers talk
A "Texas Rangers: Legendary Lawmen" talk is scheduled from 11 a.m. to noon April 27 at the Waco-McLennan County Central Library, 1717 Austin Ave.
Audrey Ladd, education programs manager of the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum, will present on the transition of the Texas Rangers from frontier fighters into the law enforcement officers they are today. The presentation will combine the cases, legends and evolving technologies that have shaped the Rangers over two centuries.
The event is part of a yearlong citywide celebration of Waco's 175th birthday.
'Dia en MCC'
McLennan Community College will hold a "Dia en MCC: Un Puente a Tu Futuro" event from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 27 in the college's Michaelis Academic Center.
The free event will offer students and their families, whose first language is Spanish, the opportunity to learn more about MCC’s programs and student resources, tour the MCC campus, hear from current students about their college experience and more. Lunch will also be provided.
For more information, call 254-299-8622 or email recruitment@mclnennan.edu.
Summer camp registration
Registration is open for summer camps at the Dewey, Doris Miller and South Waco community centers.
To sign up, go to https://tinyurl.com/SummerCampWaco.
Camps are open to kids ages 5-13 and will include educational and recreational activities, arts and crafts, games, field trips and more. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Camps will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Registration fee is $90 per child. Session No. 1 will run June 3-28 and costs $300. Session No. 2 will run July 1-26 and costs $300. Session No. 3 will run July 29-Aug. 9 and costs $150.
Arbo Fest
Arbo Fest will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 28 at Woodway's Carleen Bright Arboretum, 9001 Bosque Blvd.
There will be live music, food trucks, a vendor market and family activities.
Parking will be available at the arboretum Pavilion parking lot, Woodway Family Center, and Woodway City Hall.
Baylor Singing Seniors
The Baylor Singing Seniors, conducted by Phillip Sitton, will present a free spring concert at 4 p.m. April 28 at Woodway United Methodist Church, 21000 Woodway Drive.
The concert will feature various styles of music, including arrangements by Elaine Hagenberg, Mark Hayes, Joel Raney, and John Rutter. Some of the titles will include “You Raise Me Up,” “As the Deer,” “Over the Rainbow,” “Bridge Over Troubled Waters,” “Down by the Riverside,” and “Give Me Jesus.”
The choir will be accompanied by Van Chaney on piano, Greg Wallace on trumpet, Jimmy Roberts on percussion, Jamie Espen on flute, and a variety of stringed instruments.