Know Before You Go: Visiting Magnolia Market in Waco, Texas

Best known as the most famous sight in Waco, Texas is Joanna and Chip Gaines’ Magnolia Market. Easily spotted from its monumental two silos, Magnolia Market is as aesthetically pleasing as it is entertaining for spending an entire day there. So, what exactly is there to do at Magnolia Market other than simply saying you’ve been there? It turns out, quite a bit. Here were my favorite things to do when I visited Magnolia Market in Waco.

About

Magnolia Market opened on October 30, 2015. It resides in a two-block city complex, and is owned by Chip and Joanna Gaines. Chip and Joanna Gaines first rose to fame with their show Fixer Upper: Welcome Home in May 2013, and due to their booming success, Magnolia Market was born. Visitors from all over the globe now flock to Waco, Texas to see the market for themselves. Admission to get in is free, and the market is open 7 days a week.

Shop

This is an obvious one, but it’s an important one to note. Shopping is the number one thing to do at Magnolia Market. I was blown away by the wide selection of goods to shop for here. As soon as you enter the main building, a whiff of fresh florals takes over, which makes a lot of sense considering there are several varietals of flowers for purchase. As I told you; aesthetically pleasing. Flowers aside, there’s a fantastic selection of kitchenware, from measuring cups to silverware to mixing bowls to gadgets and appliances. Of course, Joanna Gaines is on loop on the television cooking up a storm, which certainly adds incentive to make a kitchen purchase.

Moving further into the market, there’s plenty of furniture and houseware available to buy. A lot of the furniture is woodsy, rustic, and simplistic. If you’re concerned about lugging large pieces of furniture or even kitchenware with you back to wherever it is you’re going, whether by airplane or vehicle, Magnolia Market has you covered. They offer shipping to mainland US, Hawaii, Alaska, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, Palau, Northern Marina Islands, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands.

Eat

While Magnolia Market is best known for its shopping, there’s a great deal of food to be tried here, as well. The most famous bite is the cupcake from Silos Baking Co., and while lavender lemon is the most famous flavor, you really can’t go wrong in ordering. I got the chocolatier cupcake, and when I say it’s life-changing, I mean it is life-changing.

Cupcakes aside, there’s a wide selection of food trucks behind the market. Options range from pizza at 900 Degree Pizza, Cheddar Box for some seriously ooey-gooey grilled cheeses, and tacos at the Magnolia taco truck. If you’re not too hungry, or you simply filled up on too many cupcakes (which would be understandable), head to Alabama Sweet Tea Co., a food truck owned by Black women, serving up Texan sized mason jars filled with real Southern sweet tea.

Photo-Worthy Spots

While Magnolia Market as a whole is aesthetically pleasing, certain spots just seemed to be more popular for photos. They are:

• The entryway, which says “MAGNOLIA.”

• The two silos. Pro-Tip: Go in the back of the market by the gardens to get the best shots of them.

• The large sign on the back lawn, which reads: “Everyone Has A Story Worth Telling.”

• The Old-School Vehicle By The Silos, located in the back of the market.

Workshops

Not only can visitors dine and shop at Magnolia, but they can learn a thing or two, as well. Classes are available for sign-up on their website, with options for cooking, styling, and even house decor. Cooking classes range from the basics of baking bread to the fundamentals of baking cookies (yes, butter temperature matters) to A Chef’s Guide to Mexican Cooking. Classes for styling include but are not limited to Fall DIYs With Magnolia, Finding Good Vintage, and Fundamentals of Floral Design. Classes for Home Decor include but are not limited to Caring For Common Houseplants, Handcrafted Home Projects, The Basics of Painting: Acrylics, and more. Anything that can be found on Pinterest, or that even rings a touch “homey,” expect that Magnolia offers a how-to class in the subject.

Magnolia Market can be found at 601 Webster Ave, Waco, TX 76706.

DISCLAIMER: The City of Waco sponsored my visit to Waco, Texas.