Best Free Things to Do in Waxahachie, Texas

These are the spots that’ll make you fall head over heels for this town. Each one’s got its own vibe, and you can easily hit the highlights in one amazing day.

Ellis County Courthouse

This courthouse is straight-up picturesque. This thing has been photographed more than any other courthouse in Texas, which makes total sense once you see it. It was built in 1895 with pink granite that literally glows like magic when sunlight hits it.

You need to walk the whole perimeter because each entrance has these wild, carved faces. Some beautiful, some downright eerie, and one mysterious “Green Man” that locals love to tell ghost stories about.

Historic Downtown Walking Tour

This walking tour is different because you’re like time-traveling through the 1800s without leaving Texas. Start at the courthouse, snag your free map from the Ellis County Museum, and just follow the numbers through streets where every building has something to say.

You also need to check out the old jail (kinda spooky), the stunning Victorian houses, and the Rogers Street Iron Bridge that’s very Instagrammable.

Getzendaner Memorial Park Adventures

This park is where you come to actually do stuff, not just sit around and look pretty. The 33-acre space has everything, including playgrounds where kids lose their minds with excitement, picnic spots that don’t suck, and hiking trails that stretch 3¾ miles through shaded paths.

Along the way, you’ll stumble across a bamboo forest, an old cemetery, and this epic squirrel carving on a giant tree that everyone somehow misses.

Ellis County Museum

This is located right on the courthouse square in a gorgeous 1889 building. The museum tells Ellis County’s story through exhibits that actually keep you interested instead of putting you to sleep.

Plus, it’s your starting point for maps and info about everything else in town, so definitely hit this first.

Waxahachie Creek Hike & Bike Trail

This trail is perfect when you want to get moving but don’t want to drive somewhere else to do it. The paved path winds along the creek for four miles. It connects different parts of town while giving you some seriously pretty views.

It starts at Getzendaner Park and ends at Lions Park, so you can make it as long or short as you want.

Victorian Architecture on the Gingerbread Trail

The Gingerbread Trail will show you the most gorgeous houses you’ll ever see. These Victorian beauties from the late 1800s are scattered throughout the historic neighborhoods, each one more stunning than the last.

Our advice is to grab a trail map and just wander. Every house has its own personality and incredible details that’ll make you wonder why we stopped building things this beautifully.

Lake Waxahachie Recreation

This 650-acre lake is where locals go to chill out and actually catch fish instead of just pretending to. It’s a few miles south of downtown and perfect for boating, kayaking, or just sitting by the water doing nothing.

The bass and catfish here are legendary, and there are three public access points, so you can always find a good spot.

Hunt for Hachie Hearts Around Town

This is probably the most fun scavenger hunt you’ll ever do as an adult. The city scattered over 20 oversized heart sculptures throughout downtown and the parks. Each one is painted by local artists to represent different businesses or aspects of Waxahachie.

You’ll find yourself getting genuinely excited every time you spot another one. Locals also love giving hints about where the tricky ones are hiding.

Sims Library Historic Architecture

This library is drop-dead gorgeous and actually one of the first public libraries in Texas. The white stone pillars and ornate trim make it a perfect example of neoclassical architecture, but honestly, you’ll just think “wow, that’s pretty.”

Step inside to check out furniture that’s nearly 100 years old and browse their collection. It’s open Tuesday through Saturday.

Chautauqua Auditorium

Built in 1902 and restored in the ’70s, this octagonal auditorium is one of only a handful like it in the entire country. The 2,500-seat venue hosts educational seminars, plays by the local community theater, and more.

Even if there’s no event happening, the building itself is worth seeing because the architecture is uber nice.

Local Parks and Green Spaces

Waxahachie parks are actual places you would want to hang out. Chapman Park is great for basketball and soccer, while the various neighborhood parks scattered around town offer quiet spots for picnics and letting kids run wild.

Each one has its own personality. They’re all well-maintained and actually fun to explore.

Historic Downtown District

The whole downtown area is basically an outdoor museum that you can walk through, shop in, and eat at. The buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s house antique shops, boutiques, and restaurants that locals actually frequent. 

It’s not just tourist stuff. This is where the community really lives and breathes, which makes it way more interesting to explore.

Rogers Street Iron Bridge

This historic bridge is way cooler than you’d expect a bridge to be. For years, it was the only way for farmers outside the county to bring their cotton and crops to market, so it has really witnessed all of Waxahachie’s economic history.

Now, it’s just a really photogenic spot that connects different parts of your walking tour.

Munster Mansion (Exterior Views)

Someone built a replica of the house from “The Munsters” TV show right here in Waxahachie. The owners, the McKees, designed and built it based on footage from the actual show, and it is spot-on.

You can only see it from outside the fence (it’s someone’s actual home), but it’s totally worth the drive just to see something this weird (and cool).

Webb Gallery

This gallery houses the most eclectic collection of American art and random awesome stuff you’ll ever see in one place. There are paintings, carnival banners, quilts, neon signs, and things you didn’t even know existed.

It’s housed in a historic building just off the courthouse square. Browsing here feels like treasure hunting.

Seasonal Free Things to Do in Waxahachie, Texas

Waxahachie throws parties year-round, and the best part is that most of these seasonal happenings won’t cost you a dime. You’ll literally never run out of reasons to come back each season.

Spring Activities and Crape Myrtle Blooms

Spring in Waxahachie is unreal, especially when the crape myrtles start doing their thing. The town is officially the “Crape Myrtle Capital of Texas” (yeah, that’s a real designation)! When those pink blooms explode all over the historic streets, it’s like someone painted the streets pink.

The Scarborough Renaissance Festival kicks off during this time, too. This is composed of eight weekends of knights, music, and people in costumes who are way more committed to their characters than you’d expect.

Summer Outdoor Adventures

Of course, outdoor fun cranks up every summer. Lake Waxahachie becomes everyone’s second home. You’ll find families camping out there all day, kids jumping off docks, and serious fishermen who show up at dawn and don’t leave until sunset.

The hiking trails are shaded enough that you won’t melt. Meanwhile, evening walks downtown feel quite magical when those historic buildings start glowing in the golden hour light.

Fall Festival Season

Waxahachie goes completely nuts with festivals during the fall, and it’s the best kind of chaos. The Texas Country Reporter Festival turns downtown into this massive celebration where you’ll eat way too much food truck BBQ and discover local artists you never knew existed.

Veterans Day Weekend also turns part of downtown into a WWII battle scene that’s both educational and totally badass to watch.

Winter Holiday Celebrations

Winter in Waxahachie feels like stepping into a Christmas movie that doesn’t suck. The Candlelight Home Tour lets you peek inside gorgeous historic houses all decorated for the holidays, while Bethlehem Revisited recreates what Old World Bethlehem might have looked like.

The whole downtown gets decked out with lights and decorations. Meanwhile, locals go all out with the holiday spirit in a way that’s genuinely heartwarming instead of cheesy.

Planning Your Free Day in Historic Downtown

To make your Waxahachie day trip perfect, a little planning will go a long way. These tips will save you time and hassle so you can focus on the fun stuff.

Best Times to Visit Waxahachie

Waxahachie is pretty great year-round, but this place really shows off during spring and fall. 

Spring means there are those legendary crape myrtle blooms and perfect weather for walking around. Meanwhile, fall means festival season and temperatures that will make you want to spend all day outside.

Summer can get Texas-level hot, but early morning or late afternoon visits are totally doable. Plus, that’s when you get the best light for photos anyway.

Getting Around Ellis County

Downtown Waxahachie is super walkable. Like, actually walkable, not “technically walkable but you’ll hate it” walkable. You can park at the courthouse square (free!) and you can hit most of the main attractions on foot.

If you want to see Lake Waxahachie or some of the outer parks, you’ll need to drive, but nothing’s more than a few minutes away. The whole town is laid out in a way that makes sense, so you won’t spend half your day trying to figure out where you are.

Where to Grab a Bite Without Breaking the Bank

All that exploring is gonna make you hungry, that’s for sure. Waxahachie’s got your back with food that’s actually good and won’t destroy your budget. These spots are where locals eat, which means you’re getting the real deal.

Best Local Diners and Cafés

Pop’s Burger Stand is hands down the best burger joint in town. Try their El Camino with crispy bacon, pico de gallo, and pepper jack cheese, and you’ll understand why locals rave about this place.

Farm Luck Soda Fountain & Dry Goods also serves up killer sandwiches and milkshakes in this cute vintage setting, where everything’s under $10. Their World’s Smallest Sundae is also super adorable.

For something heartier, Straight From Philly does legit Philly cheesesteaks that’ll make you forget you’re in Texas and their fries are really addictive.

Food Trucks and Street Eats

Food trucks here are way better than you’d expect for a smaller town. During festivals and events, you’ll find trucks serving everything from authentic Mexican tacos to BBQ that’ll ruin you for chain restaurants forever.

You’ll catch rotating food vendors at the Downtown Farmers Market on weekends! You can also sample local produce and chat with the actual farmers who grew your food.

Perfect Picnic Spots with Great Views

Getzendaner Park has these perfect shaded spots under huge trees where you can spread out a blanket and actually relax without feeling like you’re sitting in an oven.

Lake Waxahachie has picnic areas right by the water that are pretty romantic if you’re into that. The breeze off the lake makes even hot days bearable.

Also, the courthouse square has benches where you can people-watch while you eat. You’re also surrounded by some of the prettiest architecture in Texas.

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Most Instagram-Worthy Spots in Waxahachie

You’re gonna want to document this trip because Waxahachie is quite photogenic. These spots will make your followers think you hired a professional photographer when really you just knew where to point your phone.

Golden Hour Photography Locations

The Ellis County Courthouse during golden hour is stunning! That pink granite literally glows like it’s lit from within, and the towers create these dramatic shadows that make every shot look professional.

The Victorian houses on the Gingerbread Trail get this warm, dreamy light that makes them look straight out of a fairy tale.

Also, Lake Waxahachie looks super nice during sunset (especially if you can catch some of those dramatic Texas clouds reflected in the water).

Best Selfie Spots Downtown

The Hachie Heart selfie station by the Ellis County Museum is literally designed for this. Stand on the heart hashtag with that giant city mural behind you for a perfect selfie. The

Love Lock fence is cheesy but photogenic as hell, especially if you can get the courthouse in the background. You might also want to drop by The Rogers Street Iron Bridge because it has that vintage industrial vibe that looks way cooler than it sounds. The carved faces on the courthouse entrances make for some seriously mysterious close-up shots.

Hidden Photo Gems Locals Love

That bamboo forest along the Getzendaner trail is completely unexpected and creates this cool, jungle-like backdrop that nobody will believe is in Texas.

The squirrel carving on the giant tree is quirky and fun, plus most people walk right past it so you’ll have something unique.

Plus, the historic cemetery you’ll stumble across on the hiking trail has this haunting beauty that photographs amazingly. The old headstones and mature trees will create natural frames for your shots.