Our Insider’s Guide to Christmas Events brings you the best of the festive performances, Yuletide activities, fun events and things to do that will get you into the holiday spirit this Christmas season in Waxahachie, Texas.
Festival of Trees
Date: November 17, 2023: 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. and November 18: 2023, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: First United Methodist Church, 505 West Marvin Avenue, Waxahachie TX 75165
Decorated trees, wreaths, and a wide variety of holiday season decor and Christmas trimmings, including wreaths, decorations, gift baskets, and weekend getaways, will be presented and available through a silent auction that starts the season of holidays.
Toys for Tots Car Show
Date: November 18, 2023: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: Wayne Boze Funeral Home, 1826 US Highway 287 Business, Waxahachie TX 75165
Admission: Entry granted with a toy donation per person.
Wayne Boze Funeral Home and Dallas Lowriders will host a Toys of Tots Car Show with prizes, food trucks, vendors and live music. All proceeds go toward the workd of Ellis County Toys for Tots.
Christmas at SAGU
Date: November 27, 2023: 6:30 p.m.
Location: SAGU front lawn, 1200 Sycamore Street, Waxahachie TX 75165
Admission: free
SAGU is hosting an earlier Christmas season celebration with pictures with Santa, train rides and hayrides, live traditional and contemporary Christmas music from the Chorale and Jazz band, Christmas ornament painting, and homemade cookies and hot chocolate.
Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony
Date: November 28, 2023: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Downtown Waxahachie, 101 West Main Street, Waxahachie TX 75165
Admission: free
Serving as Waxahachie’s city-wide kick-off of the holiday season, the Waxahachie Christmas Parade and Community Tree Lighting Ceremony begins with a parade and ends with the ceremonious lighting of the Christmas tree display in Downtown Waxahachie.
Before and after the tree lighting, the courthouse square will be full of family-oriented holiday season mirth with plenty of activities, including the Jingle Jam Pre-Parade Party at Railyard Park at 455 South College Street in Downtown Waxahachie, plus $5 photos with Santa at Courthouse Park across from the historic Ellis County Courthouse.
Waxahachie Junior Service League Christmas Market
Date:
Mimosas at the Market: December 1, 2023: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
V.I.P. Party: December 1, 2023: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
General Admission: December 2, 2023: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Waxahachie Civic Center: 2000 Civic Center Lane, Waxahachie TX 75165
Admission: From $10 – $50. Tickets are available at the Waxahachie Junior Service League website
Shop with more than 100 vendors for local, handcrafted and unique gifts, holiday decor, home accents, toys, clothing and accessories during the annual Waxahachie Junior Service League Holiday Market. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit various nonprofit organizations in Waxahachie and Ellis County.
Bethlehem Revisited
Date: December 1 – 3: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. and December 8-10: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Behind Central Presbyterian Church, 402 North College Street, Waxahachie TX 75165
Admission: free with donations accepted.
For more than 25 years, Bethlehem Revisited has attracted thousands of attendees to view a city block-wide live nativity scene, complete with shopkeepers, artisans and a twice-hourly portrayal of Joseph and Mary arriving at the inn only to find no vacancies.
For 2023, tacos, hots dogs, nachos, pocorns and beverages will be available for purchase at Covenant Life Church, 432 North College Street, Waxahachie TX 75165, which is about two blocks from the event.
Read more about Bethlehem Revisited.
It’s a Wonderful Life
Date: December 1, 2023: 7:00 p.m. and December 2, 2023: 2:00 p.m.
Location: S.A.G.U. Hagee Communications Center, 499 E University Avenue #401, Waxahachie TX 75165
The S.A.G.U. Drama Department presents a live radio play adaptation of the film, It’s a Wonderful Life.
Christmas on the Square at the Ellis County Museum
Date: December 2, 2023: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Ellis County Museum, 201 S College St, Waxahachie, TX 75165
Admission: free with R.S.V.P.
An evening of holiday cheer as Ellis County Museum members and guests toast to a year of growth and success for the Ellis County Museum. Celebrate in vintage style overlooking the historic downtown Waxahachie square while enjoying festive music, food and drinks, and merry company.
For museum members, the party will serve as the end of year annual meeting and vote.
This event is free, and guests are welcome. An R.S.V.P. is required as the event is limited to the first 110 guests.
Tunes for Toys
Date: December 3, 2023: noon – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Railyard Brewing Company, 405 West Madison Street, Waxahachie TX 75165
Admission: Entry requires the donation of an unwrapped toy or equivalent monetary donation.
Join the Railport Brewing Co and Twisted Southern Entertainment for their 2nd Annual Tunes for Toys.
Participants will enjoy live music, food trucks, and craft beer. Proceeds will benefit the Ellis County Toys for Tots.
Waxahachie Community Theatre Presents: Yeti, It’s Cold Outside
Date:
December 8 and 9, 2023: 7:30 p.m.
December 10, 2023: 2:30 p.m.
Location: University Church, 221 Solon Road, Waxahachie TX 75165
Admission: Tickets are available through the Waxahachie Community Theatre website.
An original Christmas season comedy written by local resident and Waxahachie Community Theatre actor Kevin Roberts, Yeti, It’s Cold Outside follows a family on a Christmas vacation gone wrong. When they seek refuge from a snowstorm in an abandoned cabin, they find two eccentric Yeti hunters bent on capturing the legendary cryptid. Will the holiday spirit prevail as Christmas Eve draws near?
Winter Fest at Sims Library
Date: December 9, 2023: 10:30 a.m. – noon
Locations: Sims Library, 515 W Main St, Waxahachie, TX 75165
A festive time for families when children can meet Santa, make reindeer food, eat snacks, and enjoy hot chocolate. Parents, bring your phone or your own camera to take pictures of your kids with Santa Claus.
Free Pictures with Santa Claus
Date: December 9, 2023: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location: The Vestal Group, 200 West Marvine Avenue, Waxahachie TX 75165
Admission: free
The Vestal Group, a real estate agency, will present its 2nd Annual Pictures with Santa event. Families are welcome to bring props and enjoy a hot chocolate bar.
The Vestal Group will also host a Cozy and Clean Drive to collect gently used coats and jackets along with any size toiletry items. All items will be donated to Waxahachie Care.
Waxahachie Y.M.C.A. 5K Santa Run
Date: December 9, 2023: 8:00 a.m.
Location: Railyard Park, 455 S College Street, Waxahachie TX 75165
Admission: registration required. See the 5K Santa Run website for entry fees.
Join in on the absurd fun of the 10th annual Waxahachie Family YMCA Santa Run during which all participants will be suited in a 5-piece Santa suit and then be let loose for a 5K run with milk and cookies waiting for them at the finish line. Some runners will run as the Grinch who stole Christmas.
JCPenney Kidzone Christmas Craft Time
Date: December 9, 2023: 11:00 a.m. – noon
Location: JCPenney, 1441 N Hwy 77, Waxahachie, TX 75165
Admission: free, but seating and supplies are limited, so prior registration at the store is required.
During the JCPenney Kidzone Craft session, participants will make either a gingerbread house photo frame or a Christmas tree-toting truck photo frame. Supplies are provided.
Christmas at Railyard Park
Date: December 9, 2023: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Railyard Park, 455 S College Street, Waxahachie TX 75165
It is Christmastime at Railyard Park – join the activities for an evening of free Christmas family fun.
- Christmas Movie Sing-a-Long
- Christmas Dance Party
- Face Painting
- Inflatable Snow Globe
- Toys for Tots Toy Drive (new, unwrapped toys for ages 0-14)
- Carriage Rides (fee applies)
- Mini-donuts (prices vary)
- And more
Nutcracker Tea
Date: December 10, 2023: 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Location: Chautauqua Audiotorium, 400 South Grande Avenue, Waxahachie TX 75165
Join Danceworks Waxahachie at the historic Chautauqua Auditorium to see a performance of the Nutcracker Ballet while enjoying sweet treats and refreshments.
The Nutcracker Tea was started in 2014 by the late Danceworks founder, Jennifer Stevens, to give the community a glimpse into the Nutcracker Ballet. Her hope was to bring families together and to spread a little Christmas Cheer.
A portion of the proceeds of this special event goes to the Jennifer Stevens Memorial Scholarship to assist graduating dancers and chorus members in their education.
General Admission Ticket: $20
VIP Tickets are available for $35 and include reserved seating and access to our silent auction, raffle, or drawing.
Doors will open at 1:00 PM (for the 2:00 show) and 3:30 PM (for the 4:00 show).
Buy tickets for the Nutcracker Tea >>
Jingle Jam
Date: December 16, 2023: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Location: First Baptist Church of Waxahachie, 450 US-287 BYP, Waxahachie, TX 75165
Admission: free
First Baptist Waxahachie will host a Christmas activity that includes:
- Live music
- Hot cocoa and yummy treats
- Games
- Christmas movies
- Photo ops throughout the church
- Fun craft making
- S’mores stations
- Free pictures with Santa
Bring a shelf-stable food to support Waxahachie CARE and get a giant-sized Christmas cookie. (i.e beef jerky, Compleats, Pre-made rice and mashed potatoes, cooked ham in a package, cup noodles, etc.)
Gather the family and spend a night together celebrating the season
Photos with Santa
December 22 and 23, 2023
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Fish City Grill
2001 Enterprise, Waxahachie, TX 75165
Fish City Grill is hosting a photos with Santa session this Friday and Saturday. Admission is free.
Build a snowman workshop
December 22, 2023
First session: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Second sessin: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
My Junking Habit
307 S Rogers St, Waxahachie, TX 75165
Admission: $15
Enjoy a cozy morning or afternoon crafting with the kids and creating a one-of-a-kind snowfriend. All supplies will be provided with easy instructions given by an art teacher and the owner of My Junking Habit.
Small children must be accompanied by an adult as glue guns and glue dots will be used.
Elf — FREE SHOWING with Santa
December 22, 2023
Showtimes: 5:30 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
Sit with Santa: 7:15 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
The Texas Theater
110 W Main St, Waxahachie, TX 75165
Admission: Free
Santa’s bringing free entertainment to Waxahachie Friday night as the Texas Theater in Downtown Waxahachie hosts two free showings of Elf with Will Ferrell. Between the two showtimes, Santa will appear in the lobby to offer a last-minute chance to address him with a wish list.