Waxahachie changes with the seasons. In October the drag races and festivals take over, in December the Victorian homes light up, in April the bluebonnets and the Renaissance festival bring half of North Texas down I-35E, and in July it all wraps up with fireworks.
This is our season-by-season list of what's happening in and around town, with 2026-27 dates wherever they're posted. We host a tiny home about 8 minutes from the courthouse square, so it's also the list we'd hand a friend before they book. Here's what the tiny home has.
At a glance
- Best months
- October and April, for mild weather and the biggest events
- Fall
- Crossroads of Texas (Oct 24), the Stampede of Speed and NHRA FallNationals (Oct 9 to 18), Scarborough's Hollow, pumpkin patches
- Winter
- The Christmas parade (Dec 1), Bethlehem Revisited, the Tour of Homes, and light shows within an hour
- Spring
- Tulipalooza, the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails, and Scarborough Renaissance Festival (Apr 10 to May 31, 2027)
- Summer
- The Gingerbread Trail, Juneteenth, July 3 fireworks, and the Summer Soul Affair
- From the tiny home
- About 8 minutes to downtown, and about 15 to the Scarborough grounds and Texas Motorplex
From the City of Waxahachie and Waxahachie CVB event calendars, event organizers, and monthly averages from usclimatedata.com, checked October 11, 2026.
The seasons at a glance
| Season | Highs / lows | Sunset | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (Sept to Nov) | Sept 89°/66° Oct 80°/56° Nov 67°/46° | About 6:55 p.m. in mid-October | Festivals, the drag races, football, porch evenings |
| Winter (Dec to Feb) | Dec 59°/38° Jan 57°/35° Feb 63°/39° | About 5:25 p.m. in early December | Christmas lights, fireplace nights, crisp night skies |
| Spring (Mar to May) | Mar 71°/47° Apr 78°/54° May 84°/63° | About 7:55 p.m. in mid-April | Tulips, bluebonnets, Scarborough, weddings |
| Summer (Jun to Aug) | Jun 92°/69° Jul 96°/73° Aug 96°/72° | About 8:35 p.m. in late June | Splash pads, lakes, fireworks, the drive-in |
Waxahachie events this weekend
No guide stays current week to week, so for this weekend, check these first:
- Our events this month page: this weekend, the rest of this month, and every month through December, updated monthly.
- City of Waxahachie event calendar: city festivals, parades, and Railyard Park events.
- Waxahachie CVB events: festivals, live music, markets, and holiday events, with filters by category.
- The Texas Theater: concerts, movies, and comedy on Main Street.
- Our other guides: the music festival list in our nightlife guide, and every holiday date in our holiday guide. Nearby towns have their own calendars in our Ennis, Midlothian, and Mansfield guides.
Fall in Waxahachie: September to November
Fall is our favorite season here. September still feels like summer, but by October the days are warm, the evenings are cool, and nearly every weekend has a festival, a race, or a game.
Fall 2026 events
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Last Saturday in September | Waxahachie Chautauqua, reviving the park's summer gatherings from the early 1900s | Getzendaner Park |
| Late September to Oct 18 | State Fair of Texas (through Oct 18 in 2026), with Texas vs. OU at the Cotton Bowl on Oct 10 | Fair Park, Dallas |
| Saturdays through Oct 31, plus Sun, Nov 1 | Scarborough's Hollow, a family fall fantasy festival, 1 to 9 p.m. | Scarborough grounds, 2511 FM 66 |
| Oct 9 to 18 | Stampede of Speed: a downtown cattle drive on Oct 9, Fan Fest on Oct 15, and the NHRA FallNationals Oct 14 to 18 | Downtown, Railyard Park, and Texas Motorplex |
| Sat, Oct 17 | Trunk-o-Palooza | Waxahachie |
| Sat, Oct 24 | Crossroads of Texas Country Festival: 200+ booths and more than 10 stages, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., free | Courthouse square |
| Oct 24 and 25 | Ennis Autumn Daze, plus a pumpkin patch and hay maze open Thursday to Sunday all October | Downtown Ennis |
| Thu, Oct 29 | Trick-or-Treat on the Square | Downtown Waxahachie |
| Sat, Nov 14 | Ellis County Veterans Celebration | Waxahachie Civic Center |
| Thu, Nov 26 | The Ellis County Turkey Trot at 6:45 a.m. (5K, 10K, and 8 miles), and opening night of Prairie Lights | Getzendaner Park; Grand Prairie |
Also good in the fall
- Pumpkin patches: Ennis (above), and Country Critters Farm in Alvarado, about 40 minutes away, on weekends. More in our family guide.
- Football: Cowboys home games at AT&T Stadium run through January 3, including Thanksgiving Day. See our game day guide.
- Meteor showers: the Orionids on October 21 to 22 and the Leonids on November 16 to 17. Times are in our stargazing guide.
- Hunting: Central Zone dove season runs September 1 to October 25, and general deer season opens November 7. See our hunting guide.
- The last farmers markets: Saturdays 9 to 1 on Howard Road. The visitors bureau lists October 10 as the final market of 2026.
- Fall color, Texas style: Maximilian sunflowers along the roadsides, Autumn at the Arboretum in Dallas, and migrating monarchs. See our wildflower guide.
Winter in Waxahachie: December to February
Winter is mild, with the occasional hard freeze and sunsets before 5:30. December is all about Christmas in the Gingerbread City; January and February are the quiet, cozy stretch.
Winter 2026-27 events
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Tue, Dec 1 | Christmas Parade and Community Tree Lighting: activities at 6 p.m., the lighted parade at 6:30 | Courthouse square |
| Dec 4 to 6 and 11 to 13 | Bethlehem Revisited, a free walk-through Bethlehem with live animals, 6 to 9 p.m. | 402 N. College St. |
| Dec 12 and 13 | Christmas Tour of Homes | Historic homes around town |
| Nov 26 to Dec 31 | Prairie Lights, a drive-through light show | Grand Prairie, about 40 min |
| Nov 13 to Jan 3 | Lone Star Christmas and ICE! at the Gaylord Texan | Grapevine |
| Fri, Jan 1 | Cotton Bowl Classic, a College Football Playoff quarterfinal | AT&T Stadium, Arlington |
| Mid-January to early February | Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo (2027 dates not posted yet) | Fort Worth |
| February | Hachie Gras, Waxahachie's Mardi Gras parade and downtown crawl (Feb 14 in 2026; Mardi Gras is Feb 9, 2027) | Downtown Waxahachie |
Every light show, market, and holiday from Thanksgiving to Kwanzaa is in our holiday guide.
Also good in the winter
- Crisp night skies: the Geminids on December 13 to 14 (a thin crescent Moon sets around 9:30 p.m.), the Quadrantids on January 3 to 4, and Orion high in the south.
- Duck season at Bardwell Lake: North Zone ducks run November 14 to 29 and December 5 to January 31, and deer season runs to January 3.
- Indoor days: the antique stores around the square, a show at The Texas Theater, the Ellis County Museum, and Epic Waters, the indoor waterpark in Grand Prairie, about 45 minutes away.
Spring in Waxahachie: March to May
Spring is the busiest and prettiest season. Tulips give way to bluebonnets, and the Renaissance festival fills every weekend from April 10. It's also storm season, so check the forecast before outdoor plans.
Spring 2027 events
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Late February to mid-March | Tulipalooza: hundreds of thousands of tulips and daffodils, flower picking, and food trucks (2027 dates not posted yet) | Getzendaner Park |
| Mar 5 to 7 | World Series of Pro Mod | Texas Motorplex, Ennis |
| Mar 15 to 19 | Spring break for Waxahachie ISD and Dallas ISD | Schools out |
| Mar 16 to 21 | TX2K27 | Texas Motorplex, Ennis |
| Mar 19 to 21 | Grand Prix of Arlington, an IndyCar street race | Arlington |
| Thu, Apr 1 | Texas Rangers home opener | Globe Life Field, Arlington |
| April | Ennis Bluebonnet Trails: 40+ miles of mapped drives, usually peaking the second to third week of April | Ennis; see our bluebonnet guide |
| Apr 10 to May 31 | Scarborough Renaissance Festival: Saturdays, Sundays, and Memorial Day Monday | Scarborough grounds |
| Memorial Day weekend | Hachie Stock Music Fest (May 22 to 24 in 2026) | Railport Brewing, downtown |
| Memorial Day weekend | National Polka Festival, with polka bands at three dance halls (expected May 28 to 30 in 2027) | Ennis |
Also good in the spring
- Wedding season: local venues price March through June as peak season. Our wedding guide covers venues and guest lodging.
- Wildflowers past the bluebonnets: Indian paintbrush and winecups on the roadsides.
- The farmers market: Saturdays 9 to 1 at 701 Howard Rd. The city lists the season as starting the first weekend in May, but the visitors bureau's 2026 listing began in February, so check before an early-spring visit.
- Spring stars: the Big Dipper rides high in the north, and Leo crosses the south.
Summer in Waxahachie: June to August
Summer is hot, so locals do things early, late, or in the water. The payoff is long evenings: sunsets after 8:30, porch time with the freight trains, and the best meteor shower of the season.
Summer 2027 events
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| First weekend of June | Gingerbread Trail Tour of Homes (June 6 to 7 in 2026) | Historic homes and downtown |
| Mid-June | Waxahachie Juneteenth Festival, and the Ellis County Juneteenth parade in Ennis on June 19 | Railyard Park; Ennis |
| Jul 3 and 4 | Crape Myrtle Festival: a July 3 festival and fireworks (9:15 p.m. in 2026), then a July 4 parade, a free rodeo, and the Liberty and Lemonade Stroll | Waxahachie Sports Complex and downtown |
| July (Sat, July 18 in 2026) | Summer Soul Affair: free R&B, soul, and funk with line dancing and food vendors | Railyard Park |
| Aug 12 to 13 | Perseid meteor shower: watch from about 3:30 a.m. to dawn | Any dark porch |
| Late August | Ellis County Home and Garden Show; Blues on Main | Waxahachie; Ennis |
Also good in the summer
- Splash pads: free at Railyard Park, George Brown Plaza, and Matthew's Park in the warm months. Details are in our family guide.
- Swimming: the swim beach at Cedar Hill State Park on Joe Pool Lake ($7 for adults; reserve a day pass), or Hawaiian Falls, the outdoor waterpark in Mansfield.
- Lakes at dawn: boating and fishing on Lake Waxahachie and Bardwell Lake before the heat. See our lakes guide.
- U-pick sunflowers: Hemingway Hill, Western Belle Farm, and Mars Hill Farm.
- Movies under the stars: the Galaxy Drive-In in Ennis opens nightly from 6 p.m.
- The Milky Way: Sagittarius's teapot sits in the south with the brightest part of the Milky Way above it.
Rodeos and car shows
Ellis County is cattle and pickup country, so both show up on the calendar every year.
Rodeos
- Ellis County Livestock Show & Rodeo, late March: a PRCA-sanctioned outdoor rodeo at the Ellis County Expo Center, 2300 W. Hwy 287 Bypass, about 10 minutes from the tiny home, with two evening performances (March 27 and 28 at 7:30 p.m. in 2026). It's part of the Ellis County Youth Expo, and 2027 dates weren't posted when we checked, so watch ecyexpo.com.
- The July 4 rodeo: free, with the Crape Myrtle Festival parade. See summer.
- Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, mid-January to early February: the big one, about an hour away. See winter.
Car shows
- C10s in the Park, September: classic Chevy and GMC C10 pickups fill Getzendaner Park, with a Friday night cruise-in and a Saturday evening Party on the Square downtown presented by Goodguys. It's free for spectators. 2025 was its 10th year (September 19 and 20); check the CVB calendar for the next dates.
- Waxahachie Bible Church Classic Car Show, early September: a morning show at 621 N. Grand Ave. (September 5, 8 a.m. to noon, in 2026).
- Drag racing: the NHRA FallNationals and the rest of the season at Texas Motorplex in Ennis are in our Motorplex guide.
The best time to visit Waxahachie
- For weather and events: October and April. Mild days, cool nights, and the biggest weekends of the year.
- For Christmas: the first two weekends of December, when the parade, Bethlehem Revisited, and the Tour of Homes line up.
- For a quiet trip: January, February, and August, the months with the fewest big events.
- Book these weekends early: Scarborough Saturdays in April and May, NHRA week in mid-October, the Tour of Homes weekend in December, and July 3 and 4.
The Waxahachie Tiny Home
Where to stay in any season
Made for every season
- Fall and spring: a covered porch facing open farmland, for cool evenings and big sunsets.
- Winter: an LED fireplace and a full kitchen for long nights in.
- Summer: a washer and dryer for lake towels, and freight trains rolling across the fields at sunset.
- All year: self check-in, fast WiFi, free parking, and pets welcome with approval.
Ask about booking direct for lower fees, or check our dates on VRBO.
Good to know: tips for planning around the seasons
- Confirm dates the week before. We list 2026-27 dates where they're posted and last year's where they aren't, and events do move.
- Summer: plan outdoor time before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m., and carry water.
- Spring: afternoon storms can build fast, so check the radar before an outdoor festival.
- Fall and winter: bring a jacket for evening events. It cools off quickly after sunset.
- Downtown festivals: the public parking garage at 205 S. Jackson St. is about three blocks from Railyard Park.
How far is everything from the tiny home?
| From the tiny home to | Distance | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Waxahachie Sports Complex (July 3 fireworks) | 2.5 mi | About 5 min |
| Downtown Waxahachie and the courthouse square | 3.7 mi | About 8 min |
| Railyard Park | 4.0 mi | About 9 min |
| Waxahachie Farmers Market | 4.7 mi | About 10 min |
| Getzendaner Park (Tulipalooza, Chautauqua, Turkey Trot) | 5.2 mi | About 10 min |
| Waxahachie Civic Center | 6.4 mi | About 10 min |
| Scarborough Renaissance Festival and Scarborough's Hollow | 6.7 mi | About 15 min |
| Lake Waxahachie (Boat Dock Park) | 7.9 mi | About 15 min |
| Texas Motorplex, Ennis | 10.2 mi | About 15 min |
| Galaxy Drive-In, Ennis | 10.7 mi | About 20 min |
| Downtown Ennis (Autumn Daze, Polka Festival, Blues on Main) | 15.5 mi | About 20 min |
| Bardwell Lake (High View Park) | 18.2 mi | About 25 min |
| Hawaiian Falls, Mansfield | 24.2 mi | About 30 min |
| Cedar Hill State Park | 26.4 mi | About 40 min |
| Fair Park and the Cotton Bowl, Dallas | 33.4 mi | About 45 min |
| Dallas Arboretum | 37.1 mi | About 50 min |
| AT&T Stadium, Arlington | 39 mi | About 50 min |
Estimated drive times without traffic, October 2026.
Questions we get
What festivals are in Waxahachie?
Fall brings the Crossroads of Texas Country Festival downtown, Scarborough's Hollow, and the Stampede of Speed around the NHRA FallNationals. Winter has the Christmas parade, Bethlehem Revisited, and the Tour of Homes. Spring has Tulipalooza and Scarborough Renaissance Festival, and summer has the Gingerbread Trail, Juneteenth, the Crape Myrtle Festival, and the Summer Soul Affair.
When is the Waxahachie fall festival in 2026?
The big one is the Crossroads of Texas Country Festival on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the courthouse square. It's free, with more than 200 booths and 10 stages. Scarborough's Hollow also runs Saturdays through October 31, plus November 1.
What is the best time of year to visit Waxahachie?
October and April. Both have mild weather, and they line up with the biggest events: the fall festivals and drag races in October, and the bluebonnets and Scarborough Renaissance Festival in April.
What is there to do in Waxahachie in the winter?
December is all Christmas: the parade on December 1, Bethlehem Revisited, the Tour of Homes, and big light shows within an hour. After the holidays, come for the Geminid and Quadrantid meteor showers, antique shopping, a show at The Texas Theater, duck season at Bardwell Lake, and Hachie Gras in February.
What is there to do in Waxahachie in the summer?
Go early or late, or get wet: free splash pads, the swim beach at Cedar Hill State Park, Hawaiian Falls in Mansfield, and Lake Waxahachie at dawn. The big events are the Gingerbread Trail in June, Juneteenth, the July 3 fireworks, and the Summer Soul Affair at Railyard Park.
When is Tulipalooza in 2027?
The 2027 dates aren't posted yet. In 2026 it ran February 27 to March 15 at Getzendaner Park, and dates usually come out early in the year.
When are the Waxahachie Fourth of July fireworks?
On July 3, at the Waxahachie Sports Complex, about 7 minutes from the tiny home. In 2026 the festival started at 6 p.m. and the fireworks at 9:15, with the parade and a free rodeo on July 4. Expect the same pattern in 2027.
Is the Texas Country Reporter Festival still in Waxahachie?
No. The Texas Country Reporter Festival was held in Waxahachie for years, then moved to downtown Grand Prairie in 2025. The 2026 festival was March 28, and 2027 dates weren't posted when we checked. Waxahachie's big fall festival is now the Crossroads of Texas Country Festival on the courthouse square: Saturday, October 24, 2026, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., free.
Is there a rodeo in Waxahachie?
Yes. The Ellis County Livestock Show & Rodeo, a PRCA-sanctioned rodeo, holds two evening performances in late March at the Ellis County Expo Center (March 27 and 28 in 2026). There's also a free rodeo on July 4 with the Crape Myrtle Festival.
Are there car shows in Waxahachie?
Yes. C10s in the Park brings classic Chevy and GMC trucks to Getzendaner Park each September, free for spectators, with a cruise-in and a Party on the Square downtown. The Waxahachie Bible Church Classic Car Show was September 5 in 2026. For drag racing, Texas Motorplex in Ennis is about 15 minutes away.
How far is Waxahachie from Waco?
Our tiny home is about 70 miles from downtown Waco, about 1 hour 20 minutes without traffic.
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 October 24, 2026
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