Fall in Ellis County: Pumpkin Patches, Festivals and Race Weekends (Sept–Nov)

Ellis County — Ennis, Waxahachie, and Midlothian, about 35–45 minutes south of downtown Dallas — gets a real fall season without the Dallas Arboretum-sized crowds or parking hassle. Here's what's actually happening September through November, organized by month so you can plan around it.

Why Ellis County for a Fall Weekend

Ennis, Waxahachie, and Midlothian sit roughly 35–45 minutes from downtown Dallas on I-45 and I-35E — close enough for a half-day trip, far enough to trade Dallas-scale crowds for easier parking and a slower pace. This isn't a bigger version of Dallas's fall scene; it's a genuinely local one, built around small farms, a historic downtown, and one of the country's biggest drag-racing weekends.

September — Late-Summer Wind-Down

Early fall is quiet before the pumpkin patches open — most Ellis County farms don't ramp up until late September or October. It's a good window for a downtown Waxahachie walk or an early-evening outing while temperatures are just starting to drop from summer highs.

October — Pumpkin Patches and the NHRA Fall Nationals

October is the peak month. Downtown Ennis runs an annual pumpkin patch and hay maze right in town, and the area has several working farms that open for the season, including Hidden Honey Farm in Waxahachie (pick-your-own pumpkins, tractor-pulled hay rides, farm animals) and a handful of smaller Ennis-area patches. Dates, hours, and admission change year to year — check each farm's current Facebook page or website before you drive out.

October is also when Texas Motorplex hosts the NHRA Fall Nationals (2026: October 14–18) as part of its 10-day "Stampede of Speed" festival — read our full Fall Nationals weekend guide for the day-by-day breakdown.

Month	What's Happening
September	Quiet transition month; downtown Waxahachie walks, early-evening outings
October	Pumpkin patches open across the county; NHRA Fall Nationals / Stampede of Speed (Oct 14–18, 2026)
November	Patches wind down; early holiday season begins in downtown Waxahachie and Ennis

Fall in Downtown Waxahachie

Waxahachie's historic courthouse square is a destination on its own — it draws real search demand as a day trip (1,900 searches a month for "things to do in Waxahachie") independent of any single fall event. Expect a walkable square with local shops and restaurants; check the city's current events calendar for anything seasonal happening the week you visit, since specific fall programming varies year to year.

November — Early Holiday Season Begins

By November, pumpkin patches are winding down and the area starts easing into the holiday season — downtown Waxahachie and Ennis both lean into small-town holiday programming as the month goes on. We'll cover that in more depth as the season gets closer.

Planning Your Trip from Dallas

Ennis is about 35 minutes and Waxahachie about 40–45 minutes from downtown Dallas. A single day trip can realistically combine a pumpkin patch with a downtown Waxahachie stop, or a Fall Nationals visit with a downtown Ennis detour — and parking in either town is dramatically easier than at big Dallas venues.

Save Ellis County for April Too

Fall isn't Ellis County's only season worth the drive — April brings the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails and, with them, Ennis Slingshot Experience's open-cockpit Slingshot rides through the wildflowers. If you're already planning a fall trip, it's worth grabbing a gift card now so a spring visit is already on the calendar.

See everything else to do in Ennis and Ellis County, or plan your April Slingshot trip now.

Sources: City of Ennis, Pumpkin Patches & More (Northeast Texas), Downtown Ennis, TX. Confirm current hours, dates, and admission for any named farm or event directly before visiting.