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Waxahachie holiday guide 2026-27

Holidays in the Gingerbread City

Giant Christmas lights, the Gaylord Texan, and every holiday of the year in and around Waxahachie, sorted by tradition so you can find yours fast. Plus a cozy tiny home to come back to.

Waxahachie does the holidays like a small town should. Lit-up Victorian homes, a lighted parade down the historic square, a living Bethlehem with camels, and hot chocolate at the old train depot. And it's an easy drive to North Texas's biggest light shows, from Interlochen to the Gaylord Texan.

Whatever you celebrate, this guide covers it, all year long: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Lunar New Year, Ramadan and Eid, Easter, Juneteenth, Thanksgiving, the Fourth of July, and more. We host a tiny home about 8 minutes from downtown that sleeps six to seven, with a full kitchen for the holiday meal and a fireplace for the long nights.

Coming up next

Scarborough's Hollow
Saturdays through Oct 31
Crossroads of Texas festival
Sat, Oct 24, downtown Waxahachie
Diwali
Sun, Nov 8
Gaylord Texan ICE!
Harry Potter, Nov 13 to Jan 3
Veterans Celebration
Sat, Nov 14
Thanksgiving
Thu, Nov 26 (Turkey Trot 6:45 a.m.; Prairie Lights opens)
Waxahachie Christmas Parade
Tue, Dec 1, 6:30 p.m.
Hanukkah
Sundown Dec 4 to nightfall Dec 12
Bethlehem Revisited
Dec 4 to 6 and Dec 11 to 13
Christmas Tour of Homes
Dec 12 to 13, 1 to 7 p.m.
Christmas and Kwanzaa
Dec 25; Dec 26 to Jan 1
Full year
See the calendar through October 2027

From the Waxahachie CVB, event organizers, venue sites, and city pages, checked September 30, 2026. Dates and times can change, so confirm before you go.

Find your holiday

Tap your holiday to jump straight to it. Each one has its own outlined section with dates, local events, the best nearby celebrations, and ideas for the tiny home.

Giant Christmas lights near Waxahachie

Here is every big light display we could confirm, sorted by drive time from the tiny home. The only giant display within 30 minutes is the Mach family's in Ennis. The rest are 35 minutes to an hour away, which makes the tiny home an easy base for a different show each night.

DisplayDriveDatesCost and type
Downtown Waxahachie8 minParade Dec 1, 2026; carriage rides mid-DecemberFree to walk. Lit-up courthouse square and Victorian homes
Mach Christmas Display, Ennis20 minSelect nights, posted on the family's Facebook and InstagramFree, donations to local charities. 3.5-acre walk-through, 500,000+ lights
Dallas Zoo Lights35 min2025: select nights, Nov 14 to Jan 4. 2026 dates comingAbout $18 and up in 2025. Walk-through, 2 million+ lights and animal lanterns
Prairie Lights, Grand Prairie40 minNightly Nov 26 to Dec 31, 6 to 10 p.m.$50 per car in 2025. 2-mile drive-through with 4 million+ lights
Dallas Arboretum45 minNov 11, 2026, to Jan 3, 2027About $15 to $40 in 2025. Final season of the 12 Days of Christmas gazebos
Six Flags Holiday in the Park, Arlington50 minSelect days. 2025 ran Nov 23 to Jan 4With park admission. 2.5 million lights, snowfall on Main Street, shows
The Light Park, Arlington50 min2025 ran Nov 7 to Jan 4Per vehicle, about $30 to $60. 1-mile drive-through synced to your car radio
Interlochen, Arlington55 min, plus the line2025: Dec 13 to 25, 6 to 10 p.m.Free. Drive through nearly 200 decorated homes
Frostival at Howell Family Farms, Arlington55 min2025: select nights, Nov 29 to Dec 28$14 to $24 in 2025. Walk-through trail with a fire and ice show
ChristmasTime in Texas, JoshuaAbout 55 minSelect nights, Nov 26 to Dec 23, 2026$35 per car. Drive-through light park
Gaylord Texan Lone Star Christmas, Grapevine1 hourNov 13, 2026, to Jan 3, 2027ICE! from about $33 a person. Indoor, see below

Drive times are estimates without traffic. Where a 2026 date isn't posted yet, we show 2025's so you know the usual timing. Confirm on each venue's site before you go.

Closest big show

Mach Christmas Display, Ennis

About 20 minutes · free

A family's 3.5-acre walk-through with more than 500,000 lights and scenes of Texas cities. It was on ABC's The Great Christmas Light Fight in December 2024. It opens on select nights only, so check @mach_christmas_display on Instagram or the family's Facebook page for dates and directions.

Prairie Lights, Grand Prairie

About 40 minutes · Nov 26 to Dec 31

The region's flagship drive-through: 2 miles of lights by Joe Pool Lake, plus a Holiday Village with a walk-through forest and carnival rides included. The park warns of long waits from about Dec 13 to 25, and a Fast Pass lane is sold through Dec 25.

Dallas Zoo Lights

About 35 minutes

A walk-through with more than 2 million lights, glowing animal lanterns, and Santa. In 2025 it ran on select nights from mid-November through early January. The zoo hasn't posted 2026 dates yet.

Dallas Arboretum

About 45 minutes · final season

"The 12 Days of Christmas: One Final Chorus" runs Nov 11, 2026, to Jan 3, 2027, the last year for the giant gazebos that have been there since 2014. Day and night tickets are sold separately.

Six Flags and The Light Park, Arlington

About 50 minutes

Holiday in the Park adds 2.5 million lights, nightly snowfall, and live shows to the park. Next door at Hurricane Harbor, The Light Park is a 1-mile drive-through with lights timed to music on your radio. It says Monday to Thursday has much shorter waits.

ChristmasTime in Texas, Joshua

About 55 minutes · $35 per car

Already posted for 2026: select nights from Thanksgiving to Dec 23, plus a walk-through preview night on Nov 22. Motorhomes 27 feet and longer aren't allowed.

Spotlight · often spelled "Interlocken"

The Lights at Interlochen, Arlington

Mid-Dec to Dec 25

North Texas's most famous Christmas neighborhood. Nearly 200 homes around Lake Interlochen in northwest Arlington light up every December. 2025 was its 50th year, the city estimated more than 100,000 visitors, and People ranked it #8 in the nation in 2024.

When and how much

  • 2025 dates: December 13 to 25, 6 to 10 p.m. nightly. It usually runs mid-December through Christmas night. 2026 dates weren't posted when we checked.
  • Cost: free.
  • From the tiny home: about 55 minutes, plus the line.

How it works

  • It's a one-way drive of about 2 miles that takes about an hour. The only way in is Westwood Drive at Randol Mill Road, and other streets into the neighborhood are closed.
  • Keep right. The left lane is for emergency vehicles and residents, and there's no passing. Arlington police run the traffic.
  • The city's guidance covers driving through, so plan to see it from the car.

Our tips

  • The wait to get in often runs over an hour. Weeknights are lighter than weekends, and the city says to arrive before 9 p.m.
  • Use the restroom first. Once you leave the line, you can't get back in.
  • Make it its own evening: early dinner, hot cocoa in the cup holders, then back to the porch.

Source: City of Arlington, Interlochen Lights 2024 and 2025 announcements.

Spotlight · Grapevine, about 1 hour

Gaylord Texan: Lone Star Christmas and ICE!

Nov 13 to Jan 3

One of the most sought-after Christmas tickets in North Texas. The 22nd annual Lone Star Christmas runs Friday, November 13, 2026, through Sunday, January 3, 2027, and this year's ICE! is a first: ICE! featuring Harry Potter.

ICE! featuring Harry Potter

  • 2 million pounds of hand-carved ice in 10 themed rooms, including Hogsmeade Station, the Forbidden Forest, the Three Broomsticks, the Great Hall, and Hogwarts Castle.
  • Six two-story ice slides that end at a Quidditch pitch.
  • It's kept at 9°F. Parkas are provided, and most people spend 20 to 40 minutes inside.
  • Entry is timed, so arrive about 15 minutes early.

Tickets and parking

  • Prices change by date and time. Reports put the low end at about $33 to $35 a person. Ages 3 and under are free, guests under 18 need a paying adult, and day-guest tickets aren't refundable.
  • Activity passes save up to 40%, and the resort lists AAA, military, and senior discounts on its offers page. The AAA discount excludes Saturdays, a hint that Saturdays are the peak day.
  • Self-parking was $30 a day and valet $50. The resort is cashless.

Everything else at Lone Star Christmas

  • Ice tubing on Snow Flow Mountain, ice skating, gingerbread decorating, photos with Santa, and a Build-A-Bear Workshop.
  • A Christmas Village, FunFair rides, more than 2 million lights, and a 54-foot tree.

Do you have to stay there?

No. Most events are open to day guests. Buy timed tickets ahead, spend the afternoon in Grapevine, and drive back to a quiet tiny home in about an hour.

Sources: christmasatgaylordtexan.com (dates, FAQ, offers), the resort's 2026 press release, NBC DFW, CultureMap. Check the official site for current prices.

Hometown Christmas parades and tree lightings

Every town around Waxahachie throws its own Christmas night. Waxahachie's and Mansfield's 2026 dates are confirmed. The others hadn't posted yet, so we show 2025's.

DateTown and eventDrive
Tue, Dec 1, 2026Waxahachie Christmas Parade and Community Tree Lighting. Activities at 6 p.m., parade at 6:30. Free8 min
Fri, Dec 4, 2026Mansfield Hometown Holidays. Tree lighting, Santa, light displays, and fireworks, 5 to 9 p.m.35 min
2025: Thu, Dec 4Lights of Ennis Parade and Block Party, downtown Ennis, plus free ice skating Dec 13 to 1420 min
2025: Thu, Dec 4Cedar Hill Holiday on the Hill, historic downtown, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.30 min
2025: Fri, Dec 5Duncanville Holiday Lights Parade, 6:30 p.m.35 min
2025: Sat, Dec 6Midlothian Christmas Celebration and Light-Up Parade. Festivities 1 to 5 p.m., parade at 6. Usually the first Saturday of December20 min
2025: Sat, Dec 6Palmer Holly Jolly Christmas Bash: light parade at 6:30, tree lighting at 7Just up I-45
2025: Sun, Dec 7DeSoto Candyland Parade and Tree Lighting, DeSoto Town Center25 min
2025: Sat, Dec 13Lancaster Christmas Parade and Festival, 1 to 5 p.m. (its 70th year)30 min

Why the Gingerbread City shines at the holidays

Waxahachie's nickname comes from its Victorian homes. Many of them are covered in "gingerbread," the fancy carved and scrolled woodwork on porches, gables, and eaves that looks like icing on a gingerbread house. The town has about 170 Victorian-era buildings, and a billboard was already calling it "the Gingerbread City" back in the 1970s.

Every June since 1968, the Gingerbread Trail tour of homes has opened some of those houses to visitors. At Christmas, the town does it again with lights and garland:

  • The Christmas Tour of Homes opens six historic homes, each decorated in its own holiday style, with a collector's tour book, a kids' tour, and treats from local small businesses.
  • For a good cause: proceeds support Historic Waxahachie, Inc., which works to preserve those same homes.

Put that together with the 1890s courthouse, a lit-up downtown, and horse-drawn carriage rides, and you get a Christmas-card town about 35 minutes from Dallas.

Holidays by faith and tradition

Not everyone celebrates the same way, so here is each tradition in its own box. We list what's in Waxahachie first, then what's within about 30 minutes, then the bigger celebrations worth the drive.

Christian holiday

Christmas

Fri, Dec 25, 2026

In Waxahachie

  • Christmas Parade and Community Tree Lighting: Tuesday, December 1, 2026. Activities at 6 p.m., lighted parade at 6:30, then the tree lighting at the historic Ellis County Courthouse. Free.
  • Bethlehem Revisited: December 4 to 6 and 11 to 13, 6 to 9 p.m. A free walk-through Bethlehem with costumed villagers and live camels, sheep, and donkeys, running since 1997 and open to all faiths. 402 N. College St., free parking at 423 N. College.
  • Historic Waxahachie Christmas Tour of Homes: December 12 to 13, 1 to 7 p.m. Tickets go on sale in late October.
  • Festival of Trees: November 13 to 14 at First United Methodist Church, 505 W. Marvin. Decorated trees and wreaths auctioned for Habitat for Humanity of Ellis County.
  • YMCA Santa Run: Saturday, December 12, 8 a.m., Railyard Park.
  • Carriage rides downtown: mid-December weekends (December 12 to 13 and 19 to 20 in 2025).
  • Christmas Eve services: historic congregations like First United Methodist (founded 1849) and St. Joseph Catholic Church hold Christmas services. Check their sites for 2026 times.

Within about 30 minutes

  • The Mach Christmas Display in Ennis, the Lights of Ennis parade, and Midlothian's Light-Up Parade, each about 20 minutes away. See every parade.

Worth the drive

At the tiny home

  • Bake cookies in the full kitchen, put a holiday movie on the smart TV, and turn on the LED fireplace.
All holidays

Jewish holidays

Hanukkah and the Jewish year

Dec 4 to 12, 2026

Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, December 4, and ends at nightfall on Saturday, December 12. The first candle falls on Friday night.

Near Waxahachie

  • We didn't find a public menorah lighting in Ellis County. Light the menorah at the house each night, with a full kitchen for latkes and sufganiyot.
  • Nearest synagogue: Congregation Beth Shalom (Reform), 1212 Thannisch Dr., Arlington, about 50 minutes.

Worth the drive (2025 events; 2026 not posted yet)

  • Klyde Warren Park, Dallas (about 35 minutes): The Intown Chabad's menorah lighting and concert, billed as Dallas's biggest Jewish celebration with 1,000+ people. December 18 in 2025.
  • Galleria Dallas (about 50 minutes): a menorah lighting at the mall. December 14 in 2025.
  • Southlake Town Square: a gelt drop from a fire truck, ice skating, and a giant coin menorah. December 14 in 2025.

The rest of the Jewish year (holidays begin at sundown)

  • Purim: March 22 to 23, 2027.
  • Passover: April 21 to 29, 2027, first seder on the evening of April 21. Chabad centers usually host community seders by RSVP, or host your own seder in the full kitchen.
  • Shavuot: June 10 to 12, 2027.
  • Rosh Hashanah: October 1 to 3, 2027. Yom Kippur: October 10 to 11, 2027.
All holidays

Cultural holiday

Kwanzaa

Dec 26 to Jan 1

Kwanzaa runs December 26 to January 1 every year. It honors seven principles, one each day, and ends with the Karamu feast on December 31.

Within about 30 minutes

  • DeSoto Kwanzaa Fest (about 25 minutes): food, vendors, and the seven principles at the DeSoto Civic Center, 211 E. Pleasant Run Rd. In 2025 it was December 30 at 7 p.m., free with two canned goods.

Worth the drive (2025 events)

  • The Dock Bookshop, Fort Worth: a free program every day of Kwanzaa, with drummers and a candle lighting for each principle.
  • Bandan Koro at Dallas Children's Theater: a Kwanzaa performance (December 27 in 2025; $20 adults, $5 kids).

At the tiny home

  • The full kitchen has room for the Karamu feast.
All holidays

Festival of lights

Diwali

Sun, Nov 8, 2026

Diwali is Sunday, November 8, 2026, so a weekend stay lines up well. In 2027 it falls on Friday, October 29.

Near Waxahachie

  • There's no Hindu temple within 30 minutes. The nearest large temples are in Irving, about 55 minutes away.

Worth the drive

  • BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Irving (4601 N. State Hwy 161): has hosted a free Diwali and Annakut celebration, with its "mountain of food" offering, around the Hindu New Year. Check its site for 2026.
  • DFW Hindu Temple (Ekta Mandir), Irving (1605 N. Britain Rd.): Navaratri runs October 11 to 20, 2026.
  • Dallas Festival of Lights: Diwali Mela 2026, Saturday, October 24, noon to about 10 p.m., at Myers Park in McKinney (a longer drive north). Performances, a bazaar, and food; $10, under 10 free.
  • Diwali in the Park at Klyde Warren Park, Dallas (about 35 minutes), held October 12 in 2025.

At the tiny home

  • Sweets and a family feast in the full kitchen.
All holidays

Catholic and Mexican-American traditions

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Las Posadas, and All Souls' Day

Nov 1 to 2 · Dec 12 · Dec 16 to 24

In Waxahachie

  • St. Joseph Catholic Church, 600 E. Marvin Ave. Weekend Masses: Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 8 and 10 a.m. in English and noon in Spanish. Check the parish site for holy day and Christmas schedules.

The season

  • All Saints' and All Souls' Days, Nov 1 to 2 (Día de los Muertos): families honor loved ones who have died. Dallas holds its 7th annual Día de Muertos Parade and Festival on Saturday, October 31, 2026, 4 to 10 p.m., at City Hall Plaza (about 40 minutes), and the Bath House Cultural Center's 40th Día de Muertos exhibit runs October 10 to November 7.
  • Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Saturday, December 12, 2026: traditionally celebrated with early-morning Mañanitas songs and a feast-day Mass.
  • Las Posadas, December 16 to 24: nine nights reenacting Mary and Joseph's search for shelter in Bethlehem. Ask local parishes about processions.
  • Tamales at Christmas: a Texas tradition. Families make or buy them by the dozen.
All holidays

Lunar New Year

Lunar New Year

Sat, Feb 6, 2027

Lunar New Year 2027 is Saturday, February 6, the start of the Year of the Goat.

Worth the drive

  • Asia Times Square, Grand Prairie (2625 W. Pioneer Pkwy, about 45 minutes): North Texas's biggest celebration. In 2026 it ran over three weekends (February 6 to 8, 13 to 15, and 21 to 22) with lion dances, a firecracker show, K-pop, and food. Free.
  • DFW Chinatown in Richardson, plus Frisco and downtown Plano, also hold dragon and lion dances (a longer drive north).

At the tiny home

  • A dumpling night in the full kitchen.
All holidays

Islamic holidays

Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha

Feb to May 2027

Dates follow the moon and can shift by a day: Ramadan begins about February 8, 2027. Eid al-Fitr is about March 9 to 10, and Eid al-Adha about May 16 to 17, 2027.

Nearest masjids (about 35 minutes)

  • Islamic Association of DeSoto, 616 Rayburn Dr., DeSoto.
  • Duncanville Islamic Center (Masjid Al-Tawheed), 1419 Acton Ave., Duncanville.
  • Eid prayers are held in the morning at each masjid, so check their announcements for times. The largest regional center is the Islamic Association of North Texas in Richardson.

At the tiny home

  • A full kitchen for suhoor before dawn and iftar at sunset, and room for the family on Eid.
All holidays

Christian holiday

Easter and Holy Week

Sun, Mar 28, 2027

2027 dates: Ash Wednesday is February 10, Palm Sunday March 21, Good Friday March 26, and Easter Sunday March 28.

In and near Waxahachie

  • Church services: St. Joseph Catholic Church and First United Methodist, among the town's historic congregations, hold Holy Week and Easter services. Check their sites for times.
  • Egg hunts: DeSoto's Easter Eggstravaganza at Zeiger Park (about 25 minutes; March 28 in 2026) and Midlothian's city egg hunt, about 50,000 eggs in 2025. Waxahachie's egg hunt dates weren't posted when we checked.
  • Spring is in bloom: Ennis's Bluebonnet Trails open in April, and the Scarborough Renaissance Festival opens April 10. See spring.

Worth the drive

  • Easter in Turtle Creek Park, Dallas: a free tradition for more than 50 years (April 5 in 2026).
All holidays

Freedom Day

Juneteenth

Sat, Jun 19, 2027

Ellis County celebrates Juneteenth across several towns. Juneteenth 2027 falls on Saturday, June 19.

In Waxahachie

  • Waxahachie Juneteenth Festival at Railyard Park, 455 S. College St.: music, food trucks, and cultural exhibits, organized by the Ellis County African American Hall of Fame Museum. Free. Its 3rd year was June 14, 2025.
  • Ellis County Juneteenth (2026 schedule): a parade in Ennis at 9 a.m. on June 19, a ceremony in Italy at noon, a community dinner in Midlothian, and a reviewing stand on June 20 at the museum, 441 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Within about 30 minutes

  • Best Southwest Juneteenth Festival: 15,000+ people, rotating among DeSoto, Duncanville, Cedar Hill, and Lancaster. Lancaster hosted on June 13, 2026, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Free.

Worth the drive

  • Fort Worth: Opal's Walk for Freedom, honoring Opal Lee, the "grandmother of Juneteenth," plus a week of Freedom Vibes events around the National Juneteenth Museum.
All holidays

Seasonal and national holidays

The weekends that bring the most visitors to Waxahachie and the towns around it, in order through the year.

Family fall fun

Fall festivals and Halloween

October
  • Scarborough's Hollow: a family fall fantasy festival from the Renaissance festival team, on the Scarborough grounds at 2511 FM 66. Saturdays through October 31, plus Sunday, November 1, 1 to 9 p.m. It replaced Screams, which has closed.
  • Crossroads of Texas GO TEXAN Country Festival: Saturday, October 24, 2026, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., downtown Waxahachie. Billed as Texas's largest one-day arts, music, and food festival, with 200+ booths and 10+ stages. Free.
  • Trunk-o-Palooza: Saturday, October 17, 3 to 6 p.m., Getzendaner Park. The city's trunk-or-treat, billed as the largest in Texas.
  • Downtown trick-or-treating: Waxahachie's square, Midlothian's 8th Street, and an Ennis block party. In 2025: Waxahachie October 30, 3 to 5 p.m.; Midlothian and Ennis on Halloween.
  • Country Day on the Hill, Cedar Hill (about 30 minutes): Saturday, October 10, 2026, its 89th year. A parade, crafts, food, and three stages. Free.
  • Stampede of Speed and the NHRA FallNationals, October 9 to 18, with a cattle drive through downtown Waxahachie on October 9 at noon. See our Motorplex guide.
  • State Fair of Texas at Fair Park, Dallas (about 45 minutes), through October 18, 2026.

Pumpkin patches, the drive-in, and more fall fun are in our family guide.

All holidays

Honoring those who served

Veterans Day

Wed, Nov 11, 2026
  • 26th Ellis County Veterans Celebration: Saturday, November 14, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Waxahachie Civic Center (about 12 minutes). Live music, a wreath laying at the Ellis County Veterans Memorial, a three-round volley, Taps, and a flyover. About 1,000 people attend. Free.
  • Memorial Day: a wreath-laying ceremony at the Civic Center (May 25 in 2026, 9 a.m.). See Memorial Day weekend.
All holidays

Family holiday

Thanksgiving

Thu, Nov 26, 2026
  • Run it off first. The Ellis County Turkey Trot starts at 6:45 a.m. on Thanksgiving at Getzendaner Park, with 5K, 10K, and 8-mile options. Entry is listed at $35.
  • Cook the feast at the house. The full kitchen has stainless appliances. Many restaurants close, so shop ahead at H-E-B, about 8 minutes away.
  • Football. The Dallas Cowboys traditionally play on Thanksgiving. AT&T Stadium is about 45 minutes away, or watch on the smart TV.
  • Lights that night. Prairie Lights and ChristmasTime in Texas both open on Thanksgiving night.
  • Shop small Saturday, November 28, around the courthouse square. Ennis has held carolers, live reindeer, and Santa downtown that day.
  • School is out November 23 to 27 for Dallas ISD and Waxahachie ISD, so it's a big travel week. Book early.
All holidays

New year

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day

Dec 31 to Jan 1
  • Skip the crowds. We didn't find a public New Year's Eve event in Waxahachie, so ring it in on the porch under a big country sky, with the fireplace going inside.
  • One last light show. December 31 is the final night of Prairie Lights. The Gaylord Texan and the Arboretum run through January 3.
  • Football: the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, a College Football Playoff quarterfinal, is Friday, January 1, 2027, at AT&T Stadium (about 45 minutes).
  • Eat for luck. Southern tradition says black-eyed peas and greens on New Year's Day bring luck and money in the new year.
All holidays

Love and Mardi Gras

Valentine's Day and Hachie Gras

Sun, Feb 14, 2027
  • Hachie Gras: Waxahachie's Mardi Gras parade and downtown food, drink, and music crawl, running since 2003. In 2026 it was Saturday, February 14, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., free. The 2027 date isn't announced yet; Mardi Gras is Tuesday, February 9, 2027.
  • Valentine's weekend: Presidents Day is Monday, February 15, for a three-day weekend. Wine at Cork House, dinner on the square, and a quiet night on the porch. See our romantic getaway guide.
All holidays

Spring

Spring break, St. Patrick's, and bluebonnets

Mar 15 to 19, 2027
  • Spring break: March 15 to 19, 2027, for Dallas ISD and Waxahachie ISD.
  • TX2K27 at the Texas Motorplex, March 16 to 21, lands the same week. See our Motorplex guide.
  • St. Patrick's Day is Wednesday, March 17. Mansfield's St. Paddy's Pickle Parade and Palooza (about 35 minutes) was Saturday, March 21, in 2026.
  • Ellis County Master Gardeners Lawn and Garden Expo at the Waxahachie Civic Center in late March (March 28 in 2026).
  • Ennis Bluebonnet Trails: 40+ miles of mapped bluebonnet drives through April, about 20 minutes away. The festival is usually the third weekend of April (April 17 to 19 in 2026).
  • Scarborough Renaissance Festival: April 10 to May 31, 2027. See our Scarborough guide.
  • Mother's Day is Sunday, May 9, 2027.
All holidays

Biggest weekend of spring

Memorial Day weekend and the National Polka Festival

May 28 to 31, 2027
  • National Polka Festival, Ennis (about 20 minutes): a Czech heritage festival with polka bands at three dance halls, a Saturday parade, and a kolache contest, every Memorial Day weekend. 2026 ran May 22 to 24; 2027 should be May 28 to 30.
  • Scarborough's final weekend: the Renaissance festival runs through Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, 2027.
  • Memorial Day wreath ceremony at the Waxahachie Civic Center.
  • Father's Day follows on June 20, and the Gingerbread Trail Tour of Homes on the first weekend of June (June 6 to 7 in 2026).
All holidays

Independence Day

Fourth of July and the Crape Myrtle Festival

Jul 3 to 4, 2027

Waxahachie is the "Crape Myrtle Capital of Texas," and its Crape Myrtle Festival is the town's big summer celebration.

  • 2026 schedule (28th year): July 3 festival at 6 p.m. and fireworks at 9:15 p.m. at the Waxahachie Sports Complex, 151 Broadhead Rd., about 5 minutes from the tiny home. July 4: veterans breakfast at 8 a.m., parade at 10 a.m. from Getzendaner Park to downtown, the Liberty and Lemonade Stroll, and a free rodeo. Expect the same pattern on July 3 to 4, 2027.
  • Nearby fireworks: Midlothian (July 3 in 2025 and 2026, 9:15 p.m.), Red Oak's Red Oak, White and Blue (June 27 in 2026), Ennis Freedom Fest (late June), and Mansfield's Summer Freedom Fest with a drone show (July 2 in 2026, $5).
  • July 4, 2027, is a Sunday, so the federal holiday is Monday, July 5.
All holidays

Year-round holiday calendar: October 2026 to October 2027

Every holiday and major annual event in and around Waxahachie. Confirmed dates are in bold. When an event hadn't posted its next date, we show last year's or the usual pattern.

Fall 2026

DatesEventWhere
Through Oct 18State Fair of TexasFair Park, Dallas
Saturdays through Oct 31, plus Nov 1Scarborough's Hollow fall festivalWaxahachie
Oct 9 to 11Waxahachie Gift Market (holiday gifts, 100+ vendors)Waxahachie Civic Center
Oct 9 to 18Stampede of Speed; cattle drive downtown Oct 9 at noon; NHRA FallNationals Oct 14 to 18Waxahachie and the Texas Motorplex
Oct 10Country Day on the Hill; Texas vs. OU at the Cotton BowlCedar Hill; Fair Park
Oct 11 to 20NavaratriDFW Hindu Temple, Irving
Oct 17Trunk-o-PaloozaWaxahachie
Oct 24Crossroads of Texas GO TEXAN Country FestivalDowntown Waxahachie
Oct 31Halloween; Dallas Día de Muertos Parade and FestivalAround town; Dallas City Hall
Nov 1 to 2All Saints' and All Souls' DaysParishes everywhere
Nov 6 to 8Greek Food Festival of Dallas (72nd year)Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Dallas
Nov 8DiwaliIrving temples
Nov 11Veterans Day; Arboretum's final 12 Days season opensEverywhere; Dallas
Nov 13Gaylord Texan Lone Star Christmas and ICE! openGrapevine
Nov 13 to 14Festival of TreesFirst United Methodist, Waxahachie
Nov 14Ellis County Veterans CelebrationWaxahachie Civic Center
Nov 23 to 27Thanksgiving school breakDallas ISD and Waxahachie ISD
Nov 26Thanksgiving and Turkey Trot; Prairie Lights and ChristmasTime in Texas openWaxahachie; Grand Prairie; Joshua
Nov 28Small Business SaturdayWaxahachie and Ennis

Christmas season 2026

DatesEventWhere
Dec 1Christmas Parade and Community Tree LightingDowntown Waxahachie
Dec 4Mansfield Hometown HolidaysMansfield
Dec 4 to 12HanukkahMenorah lightings in Dallas
Dec 4 to 6, Dec 11 to 13Bethlehem RevisitedWaxahachie
Usually the first SaturdayMidlothian Christmas Celebration and Light-Up Parade (Dec 6 in 2025)Midlothian
Dec 12Our Lady of Guadalupe; YMCA Santa RunParishes; Railyard Park
Dec 12 to 13Historic Waxahachie Christmas Tour of HomesWaxahachie
Mid-December to Dec 25Interlochen lights (Dec 13 to 25 in 2025)Arlington
Dec 16 to 24Las PosadasParishes
Dec 21 to Jan 5Winter break (Waxahachie ISD Dec 21 to 31)Dallas ISD
Dec 25ChristmasEverywhere
Dec 26 to Jan 1Kwanzaa (DeSoto Kwanzaa Fest was Dec 30 in 2025)DeSoto; Fort Worth
Dec 31New Year's Eve; last night of Prairie LightsGrand Prairie

Winter 2027

DatesEventWhere
Jan 1New Year's Day; Cotton Bowl ClassicAT&T Stadium, Arlington
Jan 3Last day for the Gaylord Texan's Lone Star Christmas and the ArboretumGrapevine; Dallas
Jan 18Martin Luther King Jr. DayEverywhere
Mid-January to early FebruaryFort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo (2027 dates not posted)Fort Worth
Feb 6Lunar New YearAsia Times Square, Grand Prairie
About Feb 8Ramadan beginsMasjids in DeSoto and Duncanville
Early FebruaryWaxahachie Farmers Market season opens, Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Feb 7 in 2026)701 Howard Rd., Waxahachie
Feb 10Ash WednesdayChurches
February (Feb 14 in 2026)Hachie Gras Mardi Gras paradeDowntown Waxahachie
Feb 14 to 15Valentine's Day; Presidents DayEverywhere

Spring 2027

DatesEventWhere
Mar 5 to 7World Series of Pro ModTexas Motorplex
About Mar 9 to 10Eid al-FitrMasjids
Mar 15 to 19Spring breakDallas ISD and Waxahachie ISD
Mar 16 to 21TX2K27Texas Motorplex
Mar 17St. Patrick's Day (Mansfield's Pickle Parade was Mar 21 in 2026)Mansfield
Mar 22 to 23PurimSynagogues
Late MarchLawn and Garden Expo; Ellis County Youth ExpoWaxahachie
Mar 26 and 28Good Friday and Easter SundayChurches
AprilEnnis Bluebonnet Trails; festival usually the third weekendEnnis
Apr 10 to May 31Scarborough Renaissance FestivalWaxahachie
Apr 21 to 29PassoverSeders at home or with Chabad
Last Saturday of AprilDerrick Days (Apr 25 in 2026)Corsicana
May 9Mother's DayEverywhere
About May 16 to 17Eid al-AdhaMasjids
Memorial Day weekendNational Polka Festival (May 22 to 24 in 2026)Ennis
May 31Memorial Day; Scarborough's last dayWaxahachie

Summer and early fall 2027

DatesEventWhere
First weekend of JuneGingerbread Trail Tour of Homes (Jun 6 to 7 in 2026)Waxahachie
Jun 10 to 12ShavuotSynagogues
Mid-JuneWaxahachie Juneteenth Festival; Best Southwest JuneteenthRailyard Park; rotating city
Jun 19Juneteenth; Ellis County parade in EnnisEllis County
Jun 20Father's DayEverywhere
Late JuneRed Oak, White and Blue; Ennis Freedom FestRed Oak; Ennis
Jul 3 to 4Crape Myrtle Festival and FireworksWaxahachie Sports Complex and downtown
Late AugustEllis County Home and Garden Show; Blues on MainWaxahachie; Ennis
Sep 6Labor DayEverywhere
Late SeptemberState Fair of Texas and Scarborough's Hollow return; Waxahachie Chautauqua (last Saturday)Dallas; Waxahachie
Oct 1 to 3, Oct 10 to 11Rosh Hashanah; Yom KippurSynagogues

Hot chocolate, cookies, and holiday treats

Fresh Market Coffee

501 S. Rogers St. · Historic MKT Depot

Hot chocolate made with mocha and steamed milk and topped with whipped cream, plus pastries baked in-house daily. Open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

Family pick

The Dove's Nest

105 W. Jefferson St.

Homemade pies and desserts downtown, plus a gift shop for stocking stuffers. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nothing Bundt Cakes

1700 N. Hwy 77, Suite 170

Bundt cakes for the holiday table. Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 10 to 6, closed Sunday.

Buc-ee's

1402 S. I-45, Ennis · about 17 minutes

The Texas road-trip stop for fudge, jerky, and Beaver Nuggets. Easy stocking stuffers.

H-E-B

800 US-77 · about 8 minutes

Everything for the holiday meal and baking day. Check holiday hours before Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Cork House Winery

213 E. Main St.

Waxahachie's first winery, for a glass after the parade or a holiday date night.

Holiday meals out: our family picks are Country Cafe for breakfast, Atkins Seafood, and Ida Mae's for soul food. More in our weekend guide. Holiday hours vary, so call ahead.

Holiday foods, Texas style

  • Tamales at Christmas. Families make or buy them by the dozen.
  • Pecan pie. Texas's official state pie, and a must at Thanksgiving.
  • Gingerbread. You're in the Gingerbread City. Build a gingerbread house in the tiny home kitchen.
  • Christmas cookies and hot cocoa by the fireplace.
  • Fruitcake from Collin Street Bakery in Corsicana, baking since 1896.
  • Kolaches, the Czech-Texan pastry, a nod to Ennis and its National Polka Festival.
  • Latkes and sufganiyot for Hanukkah, sweets for Diwali, dumplings for Lunar New Year, and the Karamu feast for Kwanzaa.
  • Black-eyed peas and greens on New Year's Day, for luck.

The holidays with kids

  • Bethlehem Revisited has live sheep, camels, and donkeys, and it's free.
  • The Christmas parade and tree lighting downtown on December 1.
  • The Mach Christmas Display in Ennis, a walk-through about 20 minutes away.
  • Gaylord Texan ICE! with Harry Potter, ice slides, and snow tubing. Ages 3 and under are free.
  • Dallas Zoo Lights and the Prairie Lights Holiday Village, with carnival rides.
  • A kids' tour during the Christmas Tour of Homes.
  • Trunk-o-Palooza and Scarborough's Hollow in October, egg hunts at Easter, and fireworks 5 minutes away on July 3.
  • Baking day in the tiny home kitchen: cookies, gingerbread houses, and hot cocoa.

Where to stay for the holidays

Coming home for the holidays and there's no room at Mom's? Planning a Christmas lights trip from Dallas? Here's why our tiny home works:

  • Room for the family: sleeps six to seven, with a queen bed downstairs, two queen air mattresses in the loft, and a sofa.
  • A full kitchen for the holiday meal, baking day, a seder, iftar, or the Karamu feast.
  • Warm and cozy: heating, a color-changing LED fireplace, and a smart TV for holiday movies.
  • Washer and dryer for a long holiday stay.
  • Bring the dog: pets welcome with approval.
  • Room for the RV: plenty of parking for trucks, trailers, and RVs if relatives roll in.
  • A base for the big lights: about 40 minutes to Prairie Lights, 55 to Interlochen, and an hour to the Gaylord Texan.
  • About 8 minutes to the parade, the Tour of Homes, and downtown, and about 5 to the July 3 fireworks.

Book early for holiday weeks. Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break, and Memorial Day weekends are when families travel. Book early on VRBO or Airbnb.

The Waxahachie Tiny Home living room with the LED fireplace glowing on a winter evening
Fireplace on, cocoa in hand.

How far is everything from the tiny home?

From the tiny home toDistanceDrive
Waxahachie Sports Complex (July 3 fireworks)2.5 miAbout 5 min
Downtown Waxahachie (parade, Tour of Homes, Bethlehem Revisited)3.6 miAbout 8 min
H-E-B Waxahachie3.8 miAbout 8 min
Waxahachie Civic Center (Veterans Celebration, markets)6.4 miAbout 12 min
Buc-ee's, Ennis14.1 miAbout 17 min
Downtown Midlothian14.5 miAbout 20 min
Downtown Ennis (Polka Festival, Bluebonnet Trails, Mach display area)15.5 miAbout 20 min
DeSoto Civic Center (Kwanzaa Fest)19 miAbout 25 min
Lancaster (Juneteenth 2026 host)19.2 miAbout 30 min
Downtown Cedar Hill22.2 miAbout 30 min
Islamic Association of DeSoto22.8 miAbout 35 min
Mansfield City Hall (Hometown Holidays)25.8 miAbout 35 min
Duncanville Islamic Center26.2 miAbout 35 min
Dallas Zoo (Zoo Lights)28.4 miAbout 35 min
Klyde Warren Park, Dallas32 miAbout 35 min
Prairie Lights, Grand Prairie31 miAbout 40 min
Dallas City Hall (Día de Muertos parade)31.4 miAbout 40 min
Fair Park, Dallas (State Fair)33.1 miAbout 45 min
Asia Times Square, Grand Prairie (Lunar New Year)35.5 miAbout 45 min
Dallas Arboretum37 miAbout 45 min
AT&T Stadium, Arlington39 miAbout 45 min
Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington38.2 miAbout 50 min
Congregation Beth Shalom, Arlington39.8 miAbout 50 min
Galleria Dallas41.7 miAbout 50 min
Interlochen, Arlington43.3 miAbout 55 min, plus the line
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Irving45.4 miAbout 55 min
DFW International Airport50 miAbout 1 hour
Gaylord Texan, Grapevine52 miAbout 1 hour

Estimated drive times without traffic, September 2026. Holiday traffic adds more.

Holiday plans

Plan A: Tour of Homes weekend (December 11 to 13, 2026)

Friday

  • AfternoonCheck in and stock upH-E-B for cocoa and cookie supplies, then settle in.
  • 6 to 9 p.m.Bethlehem RevisitedThe free living Bethlehem downtown, about 8 minutes away.

Saturday

  • 8 a.m.YMCA Santa Run, or hot chocolateRun at Railyard Park, or let Fresh Market Coffee do the work.
  • 1 to 7 p.m.Christmas Tour of HomesSix decorated historic homes.
  • EveningDinner, then the lightsAtkins Seafood, then a carriage ride if they're running.

Sunday

  • MorningBaking day at the houseCookies, cocoa, and the fireplace.
  • EveningBethlehem Revisited, last nightOr head home to Dallas, about 35 minutes.

Plan B: Big lights weekend

  • FridayMach Christmas Display or Prairie LightsEnnis if it's an open night (20 minutes), or Prairie Lights (40).
  • SaturdayGaylord Texan dayTimed ICE! tickets in the afternoon, the tree and lights after dark, then an hour back to the tiny home.
  • SundayInterlochen on a weeknight instead?If your stay runs into the week, go Monday to Thursday, before 9 p.m.

Plan C: Thanksgiving week (November 25 to 29, 2026)

  • WednesdayArrive and shopGroceries for the feast before the rush.
  • ThursdayTurkey Trot, feast, footballRun at 6:45 a.m., cook all day, Cowboys on TV, then Prairie Lights' opening night.
  • FridayLeftovers and restPorch, fireplace, and pie.
  • SaturdaySmall Business SaturdayShop the square and grab lunch at The Dove's Nest.

Plan D: Hanukkah weekend (December 4 to 6, 2026)

  • FridayFirst candleArrive before sundown and light the first candle at the house.
  • SaturdayLatkesFry latkes in the full kitchen. Check Dallas Chabad listings for public lightings later in the week.
  • SundaySlow morningSufganiyot and coffee on the porch.

Plan E: Fourth of July (July 3 to 5, 2027)

  • July 3Crape Myrtle FestivalFestival from 6 p.m., fireworks at the Sports Complex about 5 minutes from the house.
  • July 4Parade and rodeoVeterans breakfast, the 10 a.m. parade downtown, and the free rodeo.
  • July 5Holiday MondaySlow morning, then an easy drive home.

Holiday tips

  • Book holiday weeks early. Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break, and Memorial Day weekends fill first.
  • Buy Gaylord ICE! tickets ahead. Entry is timed, prices change by date, and Saturdays are the peak day.
  • Go to Interlochen on a weeknight, before 9 p.m., with a restroom stop first. The line can top an hour.
  • Check the Mach display's social pages before driving to Ennis. It only opens on select nights.
  • Check holiday hours. Restaurants, shops, and even grocery stores change hours or close on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
  • Dress warm for evening events. The parade, Bethlehem Revisited, carriage rides, and light shows are all outdoors after dark.
  • Bring cash for donations at Bethlehem Revisited and for carriage ride tickets.
  • Don't miss the last year of the Arboretum's 12 Days of Christmas gazebos.
  • Watch the Waxahachie CVB calendar for 2027 dates as they're announced.

Plan ahead for holiday weeks. If you know your dates, check the calendar on VRBO and book early.

Questions we get

Are there giant Christmas lights within 30 minutes of Waxahachie?

The Mach Christmas Display in Ennis, about 20 minutes from the tiny home, is a 3.5-acre walk-through with more than 500,000 lights that was featured on ABC's The Great Christmas Light Fight. It opens on select nights, posted on the family's social pages. Downtown Waxahachie's parade, carriage rides, and lit-up square are about 8 minutes away. Dallas Zoo Lights (about 35 minutes) and Prairie Lights (about 40 minutes) are the next closest big displays.

Is it Interlochen or Interlocken, and when are the lights?

It's spelled Interlochen. The Lights at Interlochen is a neighborhood in northwest Arlington where nearly 200 homes decorate for Christmas. In 2025 it ran December 13 to 25, 6 to 10 p.m., and it's free. Expect a wait of an hour or more to get in, then about an hour to drive through. It's about 55 minutes from the tiny home.

What is the Gaylord Texan ICE! theme for 2026?

Harry Potter. ICE! featuring Harry Potter is part of the Gaylord Texan's Lone Star Christmas, November 13, 2026, to January 3, 2027, with 2 million pounds of hand-carved ice in 10 themed rooms and six two-story ice slides.

Do I have to stay at the Gaylord Texan to see ICE!?

No. Most Lone Star Christmas events, including ICE!, are open to day guests with a ticket. Self-parking was $30 a day. The Gaylord Texan in Grapevine is about an hour from the tiny home.

When is the Waxahachie Christmas parade in 2026?

Tuesday, December 1, 2026. Activities start at 6 p.m. downtown, the lighted parade starts at 6:30, and the community tree lighting at the Ellis County Courthouse follows. It's free and held the Tuesday after Thanksgiving every year.

When is the Waxahachie Christmas Tour of Homes in 2026?

December 12 and 13, 2026, from 1 to 7 p.m. both days. Six decorated historic homes are open, and proceeds support Historic Waxahachie, Inc.

When is Bethlehem Revisited in 2026?

December 4 to 6 and December 11 to 13, 2026, from 6 to 9 p.m., at 402 N. College St. in Waxahachie. Admission is free, with donations welcome.

Why is Waxahachie called the Gingerbread City?

For its Victorian homes covered in ornate "gingerbread" trim, the decorative woodwork that looks like icing on a gingerbread house. The town has about 170 Victorian-era buildings.

When is Hanukkah in 2026, and where is a public menorah lighting?

Hanukkah begins at sundown on Friday, December 4, 2026, and ends at nightfall on Saturday, December 12. We didn't find a public lighting in Ellis County. The nearest big one has been The Intown Chabad's menorah lighting at Klyde Warren Park in Dallas, about 35 minutes away.

Where can I celebrate Diwali near Waxahachie?

Diwali is Sunday, November 8, 2026. The nearest large Hindu temples are in Irving, about 55 minutes away, including BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir and the DFW Hindu Temple. Klyde Warren Park in Dallas has also hosted Diwali in the Park.

Where is the nearest mosque to Waxahachie?

The Islamic Association of DeSoto and the Duncanville Islamic Center are each about 35 minutes from the tiny home. Eid prayers are held in the morning at each masjid, so check their announcements for times.

When is Kwanzaa, and are there celebrations nearby?

Kwanzaa runs December 26 to January 1 every year. DeSoto, about 25 minutes north, hosts a free Kwanzaa Fest at its civic center (December 30 in 2025), and Fort Worth's Dock Bookshop holds a program each day.

Where is the biggest Lunar New Year celebration near Waxahachie?

Asia Times Square in Grand Prairie, about 45 minutes away. In 2026 it celebrated over three weekends with lion dances and a firecracker show, and admission was free. Lunar New Year 2027 is Saturday, February 6.

Is there a Thanksgiving Turkey Trot in Waxahachie?

Yes. The Ellis County Turkey Trot is Thanksgiving morning, November 26, 2026, at 6:45 a.m. at Getzendaner Park, with 5K, 10K, and 8-mile run and walk options.

When are the Waxahachie Fourth of July fireworks?

Waxahachie's Crape Myrtle Festival and Fireworks happen over July 3 and 4. In 2026 the fireworks were July 3 at 9:15 p.m. at the Waxahachie Sports Complex, about 5 minutes from the tiny home, and the parade was July 4 at 10 a.m.

When is the National Polka Festival in Ennis?

Every Memorial Day weekend. In 2026 it ran May 22 to 24. In 2027 it should fall on May 28 to 30, the same weekend as the Scarborough Renaissance Festival's final days. Ennis is about 20 minutes from the tiny home.

Does Waxahachie celebrate Juneteenth?

Yes. Railyard Park hosts a Juneteenth festival with music, food trucks, and cultural exhibits, and Ellis County holds a parade in Ennis and events in Italy, Midlothian, and Waxahachie. Juneteenth 2027 is Saturday, June 19.

Is 2026 the last year for the Dallas Arboretum's 12 Days of Christmas?

Yes. The Arboretum calls the 2026 season, November 11, 2026, to January 3, 2027, the final one for its 12 Days of Christmas gazebos.

Are restaurants open on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day?

Many local restaurants close or keep short hours on those days. The tiny home has a full kitchen, so plenty of guests cook their own holiday meal. Stock up at H-E-B, about 8 minutes away, and check holiday hours first.

Where can I get hot chocolate in Waxahachie?

Fresh Market Coffee in the historic MKT Depot downtown serves hot chocolate made with mocha and steamed milk and topped with whipped cream. It's open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Can I bring my dog home for the holidays?

Yes. Pets are welcome at the tiny home with prior approval and a small pet fee. See our pet-friendly guide.

We're visiting family for the holidays. Does the tiny home work for that?

It's a good fit. It sleeps six to seven, has a full kitchen and a washer and dryer, and there's room to park an RV or trailer if part of your group brings one.

Is it cold in Waxahachie at the holidays?

North Texas winters are usually mild, but cold snaps happen and evenings get chilly. The tiny home has heating and an LED fireplace, and you'll want a warm coat for outdoor events.

About this guide

Written by the hosts of The Waxahachie Tiny Home, a family-run rental on farmland just outside Waxahachie. We checked the details on this page against official sources and update it as things change. Hours, prices, and dates move around, so confirm before you go.

Last updated September 30, 2026

Home for the holidays.

A full kitchen for the feast, a fireplace for the long nights, about 8 minutes to downtown Waxahachie, and an easy drive to the big light shows.

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