Lots to do when you visit Waxahachie in Spring
City offers the Scarborough Renaissance Festival, historic buildings and lots of outdoor family fun
By Amy Rognlie | Photos courtesy of Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce and Scarborough Renaissance Festival
You may not be able to pronounce its name, but you will find loads of things to do in Waxahachie for a getaway weekend or day trip.
Designated by the Texas Legislature as the Crape Myrtle Capital of Texas, Waxahachie is only 100 miles north of Temple and offers a quirky and wonderful mix of history, festivals, shopping and fine food, not to mention recreational activities and an outdoor summer concert series in the new Railyard Park amphitheater.
If that isn’t enough, how about a world-famous renaissance festival? The Scarborough Renaissance Festival in Waxahachie has offered a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience for over 40 years, with 2022 marking its 41st season. This year, the festival runs on weekends from April 9 to May 30, and there is something for everyone: combat jousting, birds of prey exhibitions conducted by the nonprofit Last Chance Forever Conservancy out of Central Texas, and 20+ stages of unique, non-stop, interactive entertainment.
“Where else can you meet a knight, have a conversation with a queen or a mermaid, or even become a part of a show?” asks festival marketing director Helaine Thompson. “We create a diversion from the everyday stresses by enabling people to step back in time to a different place where worries are forgotten. Our guests will experience entertainment and a bygone era that is unlike anything else offered in the region.”
Besides the live entertainment, the festival also offers dozens of games of skill and “human-powered” Renaissance Rides. At more than 200 shoppes filled with exquisite crafts, many artisans demonstrate their skills and make products right before your eyes. Bring your appetite to try offerings at five food “kitchens,” including giant roasted turkey legs, Scottish Eggs, handmade pastas, fresh from scratch pastries, and the largest food-on-a-stick selection in Texas. Those 21 and older can enjoy craft beer, seltzers, ciders, wine, a full bar and a custom blended mead. Learn more at www.srfestival.com.
If you’d prefer a slower-paced visit to Waxahachie, take time to drive around town to view the largest collection of gingerbread architecture in the Southwest. Nicknamed “Gingerbread City,” Waxahachie was one of the wealthiest areas of the state in the early 1900s, thanks to its cotton crops. Queen Anne Victorian, Gothic Revival, Bungalow, Romanesque and Greek Revival are a few architectural styles you’ll see.
Popular stops are historic public buildings including the Ellis County Courthouse, the Ellis County Museum and the renovated Sims Library.
Tour historic houses in the area during the 52nd annual Gingerbread Trail Tour of Homes on June 4-5. Get tickets at Ticket www.gingerbreadtrail.net.
Not to be missed are the Waxahachie Chautauqua Auditorium and the Munster House reproduction. The unusual octagonal open-air auditorium was built in 1902 and restored in 1975. Today, the auditorium is on the National Register of Historic Places and sits in the 23-acre Getzendaner Memorial Park. The Munster Mansion is a replica of the house used in the 1960s TV show “The Munsters” and has been painstakingly recreated room by room. Tours and murder mystery nights can be booked online at www.munstermansion.com.
Don’t forget to throw in your bike or walking shoes to enjoy the 8-mile hike and bike trail that runs along the Waxahachie Creek and scenic woods. Furry friends are welcome, and you can access the newly renovated Wag-A-Hachie Dog Park from the trail. While you’re enjoying the great outdoors, check out the Waxahachie Disc Golf Course, or grab your clubs to challenge yourself on the links of the Waxahachie Golf Club.
Upcoming events include the Cinco de Mayo Festival on May 7 and the ongoing Downtown Waxahachie Farmer’s Market, which begins in April. If you can’t make it in the spring, put the Crape Myrtle Festival and Parade on your calendar for July 3-4. Enjoy an outdoor concert and fireworks as well as a patriotic parade. Historic West Main Street, lined with crape myrtles and American flags on the lawns of the historic homes, provides a picturesque backdrop to the festivities of this annual tradition.
