Things To Do In and Near Downtown Waxahachie, Texas.

A visit to the magnificent Ellis County Courthouse is one of the things to do in and near downtown Waxahachie, Texas. It is often noted as the most photographed courthouse in Texas.

A free walking tour around downtown will present you with beautiful, unique buildings from the late 1800s to early 1900s, and eating and shopping experiences await you there, too.

But that’s not all.

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Now, let’s go ahead and check out what you can do in Waxahachie, Texas, for a day visit. It is based on my countless visits to the area.

I include information on annual festivals in town to make your day visit more eventful.

Things To Do In and Near Downtown Waxahachie, Texas.

Without further ado, I have for you here the things to do in Waxahachie, Texas, that you’ll be able to do when you make a day trip from Fort Worth. And of course, from Dallas to Waxahachie.

1. Hiking, Walking, Running, or Biking at Getzendaner Memorial Park – 400 South Grand Avenue

Start your day in Waxahachie at Getzendaner Park, arriving around 8 a.m. This 33-acre park provides areas for playing, picnicking, and exercising. It also serves as a starting point for hiking and biking trails, connecting Getzendaner to Lions Park (351 Lions Park Road.)

This hiking/walking trail is paved and mainly covered by big trees. The distance is about 3-¾ miles to the end, with trail marks every ¼-mile. You can walk the whole trail or part of it.

There are some surprising things along the Getzendaner trail, like a bamboo forest, an old cemetery, and crossing a historic Rogers Street Bridge.

Next to the hiking/walking trail is the biking trail. I am not a biker, but I heard it’s one of the favorite trails in the DFW area.

If you hike here, I suggest you stay on the hiking/walking trail.

Other things to see at this park:

– Historic Matthews Street Bridge. For many years, it was the only access for people outside the county to bring and sell their cotton and other crops to nearby gins and First Monday Trade Days.

– Historic Chautauqua Auditorium. It is one of the few octagonal auditoriums in the country. Open during special events and Gingerbread Trail.

– Squirrel carving on a big tree by the playground. Don’t miss it!

– Three Hachie Heart (I will tell you more about it below).

2. Stop at the Visitor Center/Ellis County Museum – 201 S. College St.

Here are the second things to do in and near downtown Waxahachie, Texas, on your list. A first place to stop in downtown Waxahachie. A place for you to grab the travel brochures and learn about the city’s history.

Yes, this Visitor Center is also home to the Ellis County Museum. Open on Monday to Saturday, from 10 am to 5 pm.

If you arrive around 10, there’s a chance for you to find a parking space around the Courthouse, which is across the building. If you arrive after 11, there’s a free city parking garage a block away to the east on S Jackson and E Jefferson if all the parking spots around the square are full.

After the museum, go outside and you will see a City of Waxahachie mural on the building across the street. You won’t miss this giant mural but don’t cross the street yet. Turn left from the museum and walk a few yards.

You will see a selfie station with the Hachie heart hashtag on the ground. Stand on it with the mural as the background. Take pictures. Then share it on your social media with the hashtag #hachieheart.

3. Lunch time

Chances are it will be closer to noon by the time you leave the Visitor Center area. What’s better than eating lunch before you do the Walking Tour?

Waxahachie has several good eating places around downtown. They serve Southern comfort food, BBQ, Mexican and Cajun-style seafood, burgers, and sandwiches. We’ve been to three restaurants, and we liked them all.

Here are our recommendations:

Pop’s Burger Stand – It’s the best burger and fries in town, recommended by my IG friend. Try their El Camino, the 6.5 oz. Premium Angus beef with crispy bacon, pico de gallo, pepper jack cheese, and cilantro Mayo. It’s so good! My niece likes their Low & Slow Burger, the 6.5 oz premium Angus beef with crispy bacon, grilled onion, and cheddar cheese topped with Pop’s Low & slow BBQ sauce. The milkshake looks good, but we didn’t try any. 

Address: 107 S Monroe St., 3 blocks west of Visitor Center. Just walk there. There is outdoor seating so you can bring your dog.

Farm Luck Soda Fountain & Dry Goods – It’s a place for light lunch, serving all kinds of sandwiches and milkshakes. I like their Aunt’s Sandy Chicken Salad served on a toasted croissant. Save a room for their World’s Smallest Sundae. Beautiful place and everything is under $10.

Address: 109 W Franklin St., just a block away west of the Visitor Center. (The same block as the mural). Outdoor seating for guests with dogs is available.

Straight From Philly – We ate here because we parked near the restaurant and weren’t disappointed. Their Philly cheese steak was delicious as well as the fries. There’s a nook for a live band in the restaurant. Prices are $15 and below.

Address: 110 E Main St., one block north of the Visitor Center.

4. Ellis County Courthouse Tour – 109 S Jackson St.

Now that you are full, it is time to visit Ellis County Courthouse. Located in the middle of downtown, you will not miss this nine-story courthouse towering over downtown Waxahachie.

The courthouse was designed in Richardsonian Romanesque architecture style by James Riely Gordon and was built in 1895.

This courthouse looks like a fairy tale palace with its turrets and spires. And not to mention the pink granite and red limestone used to build the courthouse.

You must walk around the building and step back, look above, and inspect closely the exterior of the building.

The most striking features you will find are the faces carved at the four entrances of the buildings. Each entrance has different carved faces, depicting a man, a woman, a lion head, a child, or a youth, including a “Green Man”, an ancient figure prevalent in European architecture.

When you look up to the roof, you will see the genuine four-faced clock tower and the bronze eagles perched on the roof.

You can see the tower from Getzendaner Trail when you hit the historic Rogers Street Bridge.   

The Ellis County Courthouse has long been designated as “number 8” on the outstanding architectural achievements in Texas. You will take lots of pictures here.

5. Waxahachie Downtown Walking Tour & Shopping Time

The walking tour starts two blocks north of the courthouse. You will see buildings built from the late 1800s to the early 1900s that house stores, restaurants, and the Visitor Center.

Follow the arrows and numbers in the brochure. Stop, look up and down, step back, and inspect the buildings you will see on the tour. Some are in good condition, while others need work and better maintenance.  

If you want to check out the stores around downtown Waxahachie, I suggest doing it while taking the walking tour rather than returning after the tour. This will save time and energy. If you come with your family, they can rest outside while you take a shopping break.

Antique/vintage stores, gift shops, boutiques, quilting stores, and herb shops are everywhere. Check out Old Town Vintage Antiques, The Doves Nest, Multitudes, Junk For Joy, Wild Thyme Herb Shop, Common Thread Quilting, and Bon Ton Vintage.

When you arrive at the corner of N. Rogers St. and Madison St., turn west for a block. You will see Red Barn Flea Market across the street. It’s big and has lots of stuff. You can always drive here when you leave downtown, but parking is limited.

Some of my favorite found on this walking tour are the Old Ellis County Jail, Rogers Street Iron Bridge, the Victorian Buildings on N. College St., Rogers Hotel, and the Courthouse.

   

Remember the Hachie Heart I mentioned earlier?

As part of the city marketing campaign “Waxahachie: A place in your heart, Texas,” oversized heart sculptures have popped up across Waxahachie.

At least 20 hearts (and counting) are set out at various locations throughout the downtown area and Getzendaner Park.

Local businesses support this campaign by adopting the hearts and contacting local artists to paint it. Each heart reflects the businesses or an aspect of Waxahachie.

So far I’ve seen ten, including three at Getzendaner Park.

So, use this walking tour as a Hachie Heart hunting activity, too.

The other thing you will find during the walking tour is the Love Lock fence. It is on the corner of Franklin and College Street. You can buy the red heart-shaped locks at the Ellis County Museum for $10 and put your heart there.

6. Historic Waxahachie Driving Tour

At the end of your walking tour, you have two options: straight to the driving tour or stop for a coffee, ice cream, and treats at one of the restaurants around the square. This is also the end of your day ticking off things to do in Waxahachie, TX.

The driving tour has two directions: the East Driving Tour and the West Driving Tour. Both begin at the courthouse square.

When you see the brochure, you’ll find that you already covered most of the places around downtown. Since Waxahachie is not very big, you can do both directions easily. Just be careful when you drive around.

Things to do in Waxahachie area

Before you leave Waxahachie, there’s one place that you need to check. Head to Munster Mansion.

Remember “The Munsters” 60’s sitcom show? Yep, you can find the replica of the house in Waxahachie. The McKees, the mansion owner, designed and built it based on the footage of the shows.

This is a living “mansion”, so respect the owner’s privacy. You can take pictures from outside the fence. Or, visit Waxahachie during their annual open house.

They also host several events in a year, and you can find all the information and the address of the mansion on their website Munster Mansion.

Where Is Waxahachie?

It’s only 26 miles south of Dallas and 42 miles east of Ft. Worth. It makes a perfect day trip from the Metroplex.

It is settled between I-35E and I-45 in the northern part of Texas.

How to pronounce Waxahachie

Let’s learn how to pronounce the city’s name. (credit to Yes To Texas.)

• Walks-uh-hatch-ee
• Wox-uh-hat-chee
• Wocks-uh-hatch-ee
• Waxahachie

Some of the Annual Events in Waxahachie

SCARBOROUGH RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL 8 weekends in April and May through Memorial Day Monday.

CROSSROADS OF TEXAS FILM & MUSIC FESTIVAL A celebration of the best in Texas film and music. Last weekend in April, starting on Thursday.

CINCO DE MAYO FESTIVAL

GINGERBREAD TRAIL HISTORIC HOME TOUR First Saturday and Sunday in June. As some of you know, Waxahachie is a Gingerbread City.

COW CREEK COUNTRY CLASSIC BIKE RIDE Third Saturday in June.

CRAPE MYRTLE FESTIVAL Waxahachie was designated as the “Crape Myrtle Capital of Texas” and each year they have concert and fireworks show on July 3rd and a parade on July 4th.    

ANNUAL CHAUTAUQUA ASSEMBLY Every September, featuring cultural and educational events, speakers, programs, and demonstrations.

SCREAMS Walk the world’s largest Halloween theme park in the month of October, every Friday & Saturday before Halloween.

TEXAS COUNTRY REPORTER FESTIVAL One day arts & music festival hosted by Kelli & Bob Phillips from the Texas Country Reporter weekly TV show. Last Saturday in October.

VETERANS DAY WEEKEND On Friday and Saturday of the weekend, an area of downtown Waxahachie turns to WWII battle scene.

CANDLELIGHT HOME TOUR Several owners open their historic houses to visitors to enjoy the decorated homes. It is on the second Saturday & Sunday in December.

BETHLEHEM REVISITED A recreation of Old World Bethlehem at Christ’s birth. It is conducted the first 2 weekends in December.