Here's what's happening in Waxahachie, weekend by weekend, from late October through the end of 2026: haunts and movie nights at the Chautauqua, what the visitors bureau calls Texas' largest one-day arts, music, and food festival, a veterans celebration, a lighted Christmas parade, a living nativity, and the historic homes tour.
We host a tiny home about 8 minutes from downtown, and we keep this page current. Every date below was checked with the organizer or the Waxahachie Convention & Visitors Bureau on the date at the top of the page. Plans change, so confirm before you drive in, especially for anything outdoors. For every town around us, see our events by town guide. For the whole year by season, see our events and festivals guide, and for every holiday, our holidays guide.
At a glance
- Biggest weekend
- Oct. 24: the Crossroads of Texas Country Festival downtown
- Halloween
- Terror Trail Friday and Saturday nights, Trick-or-Treat on the Square Oct. 29 (3 to 5 p.m.), Scarborough's Hollow through Nov. 1
- Racing
- Texas Radial Round Up at Texas Motorplex, Oct. 29 to 31, then car shows in November
- Christmas
- Parade Dec. 1, Bethlehem Revisited Dec. 4 to 6 and 11 to 13, Tour of Homes Dec. 12 and 13
- Book early
- Crossroads weekend, parade week, and the Tour of Homes weekend
From the City of Waxahachie, the Waxahachie CVB, and each organizer, checked October 14 to 18, 2026.
This weekend: October 23 to 25
- Fri., Oct. 23Game Over: An 8-Bit NightmareAn 8-bit-themed haunt at the Chautauqua Building in Getzendaner Park, 400 S. Grand Ave. The ticket page lists a 7 p.m. start with multiple times, tickets from $10. Check HauntPay for other nights.
- Fri. and Sat.Terror TrailReindeer Manor's walk-through haunt on Mathew St., across from the Wags-A-Hachie Dog Park, 7 to 10:30 p.m. Tickets at reindeermanor.com.
- Sat., Oct. 24Crossroads of Texas Country FestivalThe big one: more than 200 GO TEXAN booths on the courthouse square and 10+ stages, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., free. Jake Worthington headlines the main stage with Kenny Whitmire.
- Sat., Oct. 24Monster Madness 4v4 soccerWaxahachie Soccer Association's costume tournament at the Sports Complex, from 9 a.m. into the night. See our tournament guide.
- Sat., Oct. 24Scarborough's HollowThe fall fantasy festival on the Scarborough grounds, 1 to 9 p.m. See our Scarborough guide.
- Sat. and Sun.Ennis Autumn DazeA free fall festival in downtown Ennis, about 20 minutes away: Saturday noon to 9 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Midweek: an interactive showing of Beetlejuice at the Chautauqua Auditorium on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Everything happening in the towns around us is in our events by town guide.
The rest of October 2026
| When | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Wed., Oct. 28 | Interactive Hocus Pocus | An interactive showing at the Chautauqua Auditorium, 400 S. Grand Ave. |
| Thu., Oct. 29 | Trick-or-Treat on the Square | Costumes, candy, and games around the historic square, 3 to 5 p.m., free. |
| Thu., Oct. 29 | MJ and Prince: Texas Thriller Tour | A Michael Jackson and Prince tribute show at the Texas Theater, 110 W. Main St., 7 p.m. |
| Oct. 29 to 31 | Texas Radial Round Up | Radial-tire drag racing at Texas Motorplex, about 15 minutes away. See our Motorplex guide. |
| Fri., Oct. 30 | Interactive Night of the Living Dead | At the Chautauqua Auditorium, 7 to 9 p.m. |
| Fri. and Sat., Oct. 30 and 31 | Terror Trail's final nights | 7 to 10:30 p.m. on Mathew St. |
| Sat., Oct. 31, and Sun., Nov. 1 | Scarborough's Hollow's final days | 1 to 9 p.m. Online tickets were $31.56 for ages 13 and up and $17.53 for ages 5 to 12, fees included; 4 and under free. |
Not into scary? The Waxahachie Haunted History Tour walks downtown on Saturday nights (see every week), and our holidays guide lists fall festivals and pumpkin patches across Dallas-Fort Worth.
November 2026
| When | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Sun., Nov. 1 | Scarborough's Hollow's last day; daylight saving time ends | Clocks fall back an hour overnight Saturday. |
| Sat., Nov. 7 | Junk in the Trunk | A shopping event downtown. The CVB hasn't posted hours yet. |
| Sat. and Sun., Nov. 7 and 8 | Ronnie Dawson Days | At the Chautauqua Auditorium, Saturday from noon through Sunday at 4 p.m. |
| Sat., Nov. 7 | Veterans Day Parade, Mansfield | 10 a.m., about 35 minutes away. See our Mansfield guide. |
| Wed., Nov. 11 | Veterans Day | |
| Fri. and Sat., Nov. 13 and 14 | Festival of Trees | Decorated trees and wreaths auctioned for Habitat for Humanity of Ellis County, at First United Methodist Church, 505 W. Marvin Ave. Friday 5 to 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| Sat., Nov. 14 | Ellis County Veterans Celebration | Free, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Waxahachie Civic Center: live music, a slideshow of local veterans, a wreath-laying at the Ellis County Veterans Memorial with a three-round volley and taps, and a military-style flyover. |
| Sat., Nov. 14 | Bark and Brew | At Railport Brewing, 405 W. Madison St., 1 to 9 p.m. |
| Thu., Nov. 26 | Ellis County Turkey Trot | Thanksgiving morning at Getzendaner Park: the 8-miler starts at 6:45 a.m., the 10K at 7, and the 5K at 7:15. $35 plus a sign-up fee on the race page. |
| Sat., Nov. 28 | Small Business Saturday | Downtown Waxahachie's boutiques. See our shopping guide. |
Thanksgiving week is also when the big Dallas-Fort Worth light shows open. Dates are in our holidays guide.
December 2026
| When | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Tue., Dec. 1 | Christmas Parade and Community Tree Lighting | Downtown, 6 to 9 p.m.: family activities at 6, the lighted parade at 6:30, then the tree lighting on the courthouse lawn. |
| Thu., Dec. 3 | Lights of Ennis Parade and Block Party | Downtown Ennis, about 20 minutes away. |
| Fri., Dec. 4 | Hometown Holidays, Mansfield | A tree lighting, Santa, light displays, and fireworks at City Hall, 5 to 9 p.m., about 35 minutes away. |
| Fri. and Sat., Dec. 4 and 5 | Junior Service League Christmas Market | Holiday shopping at the Waxahachie Civic Center, 2000 Civic Center Ln. The league hasn't posted 2026 hours or admission yet. |
| Dec. 4 to 6 and 11 to 13 | Bethlehem Revisited | A free living nativity with costumed villagers, camels, sheep, and donkeys, 6 to 9 p.m. at 402 N. College St., behind Central Presbyterian Church. Mary and Joseph arrive at the top and bottom of each hour. Free parking at the Jesus Center, 423 N. College St. |
| Sun., Dec. 6 | Texas TCG Expo | A trading card game expo at the Waxahachie Civic Center, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Dec. 11 and 12, 18 and 19 | Downtown Christmas Carriage Rides | Friday and Saturday evenings downtown, benefiting CASA of Ellis County. Times and prices aren't posted yet. |
| Sat., Dec. 12 | YMCA Santa Run | A 5K and a 1-mile fun run from Railyard Park, with a Santa suit included in registration ($25 to $48). The start time is listed as both 8 and 9 a.m., so check the race page. |
| Sat. and Sun., Dec. 12 and 13 | Historic Waxahachie Christmas Tour of Homes | 1 to 7 p.m., rain or shine: a self-guided tour of decorated historic homes with a collector's guidebook, a kids' tour, and local pop-ups at each house. Tickets are sold on Eventbrite and were listed at $13 to $34 when we checked; see Historic Waxahachie. |
| Fri., Dec. 25 | Christmas Day | |
| Thu., Dec. 31 | New Year's Eve | No Waxahachie celebration posted yet. We'll add plans here when they're announced. |
Every Christmas light show, market, and parade within an hour, plus Hanukkah, Las Posadas, and Kwanzaa, is in our holidays guide.
Every week
- Waxahachie Haunted History Tours: a guided night walk through downtown history and ghost stories, Saturdays 8:30 to 10:30 p.m., meeting at the courthouse. Book ahead at (972) 921-5517.
- Galaxy Drive-In, Ennis: movies on several screens, nightly from 6 p.m., about 20 minutes away.
- The Texas Theater: concerts, movies, and comedy on Main Street. Check its calendar.
- Live music downtown: Railport Brewing and Cork House Winery book live music; check their schedules. See our nightlife guide.
- Hooky Entertainment: movies, bowling, and an arcade, open daily 9:30 a.m. to midnight.
- The farmers market ran its last 2026 Saturday on Oct. 10 and returns in May.
Where to check for changes
- Waxahachie CVB events: festivals, music, markets, and holiday events.
- City of Waxahachie events: city festivals, parades, and Railyard Park events. Parks & Recreation answers at (469) 309-4270.
- Waxahachie Parks & Recreation on Facebook, for weather changes on the day.
Where to stay on a big weekend
Race week, Crossroads Saturday, and the Tour of Homes weekend fill the hotels on US-287 and Civic Center Lane. Book when you pick your weekend. Every hotel in town is compared in our where to stay guide.
Our tiny home sleeps up to 7 and sits on farmland about 8 minutes from the square, so you can stay for the parade and be on the porch, under the stars, about 8 minutes later. Ask about booking direct, or check our dates on VRBO.
Good to know: tips for event days
- Downtown parking is free: about 1,000 spaces on the street, in public lots, and in the three-level garage at 205 E. Jefferson St. On festival days, come early or use the garage.
- For the Christmas parade, get to the square before the 6 p.m. activities to find a spot, and bring a blanket for the curb. December evenings can get chilly.
- Race days: give yourself extra time to get into Texas Motorplex on race days, like the Texas Radial Round Up, Oct. 29 to 31. Gate tips are in our Motorplex guide.
- Eat early on Crossroads Saturday and parade night, when downtown restaurants fill. See our where to eat guide.
How far is everything from the tiny home?
| From the tiny home to | Distance | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Courthouse square (Crossroads, the parade) | 3.7 mi | About 8 min |
| Bethlehem Revisited, N. College St. | 3.7 mi | About 7 min |
| First United Methodist (Festival of Trees) | 3.9 mi | About 7 min |
| Railyard Park (Santa Run) | 4.0 mi | About 9 min |
| Terror Trail, Mathew St. | 4.1 mi | About 9 min |
| Getzendaner Park (Trunk-o-Palooza, Game Over, Turkey Trot) | 5.2 mi | About 10 min |
| Waxahachie Civic Center | 6.4 mi | About 10 min |
| Waxahachie Sports Complex | 2.7 mi | About 7 min |
| Scarborough's Hollow | 6.7 mi | About 15 min |
| Texas Motorplex | 10.2 mi | About 15 min |
| Downtown Ennis | 15.5 mi | About 20 min |
| Mansfield | 26.7 mi | About 35 min |
Estimated drive times from the tiny home without traffic, October 2026.
Questions we get
What events are in Waxahachie this weekend?
For October 23 to 25, 2026: the Crossroads of Texas Country Festival on the square Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Game Over: An 8-Bit Nightmare at the Chautauqua Building on Friday, Terror Trail on Friday and Saturday nights, Scarborough's Hollow on Saturday, and Ennis Autumn Daze all weekend, about 20 minutes away.
What is happening in Waxahachie in October 2026?
Still ahead: the Crossroads of Texas Country Festival (Oct. 24), Ennis Autumn Daze (Oct. 24 and 25), Trick-or-Treat on the Square (Oct. 29, 3 to 5 p.m.), the Texas Radial Round Up at Texas Motorplex (Oct. 29 to 31), Terror Trail on Friday and Saturday nights, and Scarborough's Hollow through Nov. 1. Earlier in the month: the NHRA FallNationals (Oct. 14 to 18) and Trunk-o-Palooza (Oct. 17).
When is the Crossroads of Texas festival in 2026?
Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the courthouse square. Admission is free, with more than 200 booths and 10+ stages.
When is the Waxahachie Christmas parade in 2026?
Tuesday, December 1, 2026. Family activities start at 6 p.m. downtown, the lighted parade begins at 6:30, and the community tree lighting follows on the courthouse lawn.
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., behind Central Presbyterian Church. It's free, with free parking at the Jesus Center, 423 N. College St.
When is the Waxahachie Christmas Tour of Homes in 2026?
December 12 and 13, 2026, from 1 to 7 p.m., rain or shine. Tickets are sold on Eventbrite through Historic Waxahachie, and sales usually open in late October.
Is there a trunk or treat in Waxahachie?
Trunk-o-Palooza ran October 17, 2026, at Getzendaner Park. Still ahead: Trick-or-Treat on the Square on Thursday, October 29, from 3 to 5 p.m., plus Scare on the Square in Cedar Hill the same night and Boo Bashes in DeSoto (Oct. 30) and Lancaster (Oct. 31).
Is there a haunted house in Waxahachie?
Reindeer Manor's Terror Trail runs Friday and Saturday nights in October from 7 to 10:30 p.m. on Mathew St., and Game Over: An 8-Bit Nightmare is at the Chautauqua Building in Getzendaner Park, with tickets from $10.
Is there a Thanksgiving race in Waxahachie?
Yes. The Ellis County Turkey Trot is Thanksgiving morning, November 26, 2026, at Getzendaner Park, with an 8-miler at 6:45 a.m., a 10K at 7, and a 5K at 7:15.
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 18, 2026
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