The Waxahachie Christmas Parade and Community Tree Lighting is Tuesday, December 1, 2026. Family activities start downtown at 6 p.m., the lighted parade rolls at 6:30, and the night ends with the tree lighting on the lawn of the historic Ellis County Courthouse.
We host a tiny home on farmland about 8 minutes from the courthouse square. Here's what the visitors bureau has posted so far, and what it hasn't, so you know what to check before you go.
At a glance
- Date
- Tuesday, December 1, 2026 (the Tuesday after Thanksgiving)
- Time
- 6 to 9 p.m.: activities at 6, parade at 6:30, then the tree lighting
- Where
- Downtown Waxahachie; the tree lighting is on the Ellis County Courthouse lawn
- Route
- Through downtown; no street-by-street route posted yet
- Floats
- Groups can apply to enter a float, vehicle, or walking group
- Questions
- Waxahachie CVB, 469-309-4040, info@waxahachiecvb.com
From the Waxahachie Convention and Visitors Bureau's 2026 event page, checked October 24, 2026.
Parade night schedule
- 6 p.m.Family activitiesFamily-friendly activities downtown before the parade.
- 6:30 p.m.Lighted Christmas paradeFloats, vehicles, and walking groups lit up for the night, traveling through downtown.
- After the paradeCommunity tree lightingOn the lawn of the historic Ellis County Courthouse. The event is listed until 9 p.m.
A change from last year: in 2025 the parade was on Tuesday, December 2, and the visitors bureau listed the tree lighting at Railyard Park. For 2026 it lists the courthouse lawn.
Parking and the parade route
- Route: the visitors bureau says the parade travels through downtown Waxahachie, but it hasn't posted the streets. Check its event page the week of the parade.
- Parking: nothing parade-specific has been posted. The visitors bureau's page links to the city's downtown parking map.
- Our tip: it's a Tuesday night. Getting downtown before the 6 p.m. activities gives you more time to park and find a spot near the courthouse for the tree lighting.
Enter a float or walking group
The visitors bureau invites groups to decorate a float, vehicle, or walking group and represent Waxahachie in the parade. Entries go through its parade application. Questions about entries go to the Waxahachie CVB at 469-309-4040 or info@waxahachiecvb.com.
More Christmas in Waxahachie, 2026
The parade kicks off a full month downtown. Here's what else is on, with the details in our holidays guide:
- Festival of Trees: Friday, November 13, 5 to 9 p.m., and Saturday, November 14, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at First United Methodist Church, for Habitat for Humanity of Ellis County.
- Junior Service League Christmas Market: Friday and Saturday, December 4 to 5, at the Waxahachie Civic Center.
- Bethlehem Revisited: December 4 to 6 and 11 to 13, 6 to 9 p.m., a free walk-through Bethlehem with live animals behind Central Presbyterian Church.
- Downtown carriage rides for CASA: Friday and Saturday evenings, December 11 to 12 and 18 to 19.
- YMCA Santa Run: Saturday, December 12, 8 a.m., at Railyard Park.
- Historic Waxahachie Christmas Tour of Homes: December 12 to 13, 1 to 7 p.m., six decorated historic homes.
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Staying nearby
Our tiny home sits on farmland outside Waxahachie, about 8 minutes from the courthouse square. It sleeps up to 7, with a full kitchen, a porch, and a dark country sky after the lights downtown. Ask about booking direct, or check our dates on VRBO.
How far is everything from the tiny home?
| From the tiny home to | Distance | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Courthouse square, downtown Waxahachie | 3.7 mi | About 8 min |
| Downtown Dallas | 31 mi | About 35 min |
Estimated drive times from the tiny home without traffic, October 2026. Expect slower driving downtown on parade night.
Questions we get
When is the Waxahachie Christmas parade in 2026?
Tuesday, December 1, 2026, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Family activities start downtown at 6 p.m., the lighted parade starts at 6:30, and the community tree lighting follows.
Where is the Waxahachie Christmas tree lighting?
For 2026, the Waxahachie Convention and Visitors Bureau lists the tree lighting on the lawn of the historic Ellis County Courthouse downtown. In 2025 it was at Railyard Park.
What is the Waxahachie Christmas parade route?
The visitors bureau says the parade travels through downtown Waxahachie but hasn't posted a street-by-street route for 2026. Check its event page the week of the parade.
Where do you park for the Waxahachie Christmas parade?
No parade-specific parking has been posted. The visitors bureau's event page links to the city's downtown parking map.
How do I enter a float in the Waxahachie Christmas parade?
The visitors bureau invites groups to enter a decorated float, vehicle, or walking group, and takes entries through a parade application on waxahachiecvb.com. Questions go to 469-309-4040 or info@waxahachiecvb.com.
What else is happening in Waxahachie for Christmas 2026?
Bethlehem Revisited runs December 4 to 6 and 11 to 13, the Junior Service League Christmas Market is December 4 to 5 at the Civic Center, horse-drawn carriage rides run December 11 to 12 and 18 to 19, and the Historic Waxahachie Christmas Tour of Homes is December 12 to 13.
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 the visitors bureau's official listing and update it as more is posted. Times and routes can change, so confirm before you go.
Last updated October 24, 2026
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