Waxhaw's 2026 holiday season spreads across about a month and three locations. It starts with the tree lighting downtown on Saturday, Nov. 21. The busiest stretch comes on the weekend of Dec. 12 and 13. That Saturday starts at the Museum of the Waxhaws on Waxhaw Highway. Sunday morning moves to the farmers market on Waxhaw Parkway, and the day ends on the parade route downtown.
Downtown has one more factor this year. Union County Water is about two months into a sewer replacement project that the Town expects to take about 10 months, so holiday visits downtown will share the streets with crews. Because of that, the stops away from downtown matter more than usual.
Nov. 21 Lights a Downtown That Still Has Crews in It
The Town of Waxhaw's Tree & Downtown Lighting starts at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21, and the tree lights up at 5:45 p.m. During the two hours before, there are photos with Santa and character meet-and-greets on W. N. Main Street. Holiday music starts at 4 p.m. at the Community Corner. The Rotary Club of Weddington and Waxhaw and local Girl Scout troops run reindeer food and craft tables. A Children's Entrepreneur Market sells handmade gifts made by young local makers. The activities are free. Food trucks and market purchases cost money.
That evening, N. Church Street will be closed from McDonald Street to 75. McDonald Street will be closed from 16 to Church, West North Main Street from 16 to Broad Street, and East North Main Street from North Providence to 16. The Town suggests parking in the gravel lot on North Broome Street, at the Downtown Park at 301 Givens Street, or on the street near businesses. ADA parking is along N. Church Street between Price and McDonald.
The construction is the second phase of a two-part project. Phase 1 started Sept. 29, 2025, with contractor Dawn Development Company replacing about 8,000 linear feet of cast-iron water mains laid in the 1930s. That phase is finished. Phase 2 replaces about 4,000 feet of sewer line. Crews will use trenchless replacement in some spots and traditional excavation in others. Most of the new pipe follows the old underground routes, which the Town says keeps surface disruption down.
The Town says downtown businesses stay open throughout. Lane shifts, short closures and equipment in the road are still possible. The Town's update for the week of Oct. 26 closes Price Street to through traffic between N. High Street and N. Broad Street, and properties along it remain reachable. The Town hasn't posted a construction schedule for the lighting weekend or the parade. Its downtown water project page posts weekly updates and is the place to check before heading in.
The Weekend Leaves Main Street First
On Saturday, Dec. 12, Old Waxhaw Christmas comes to the Museum of the Waxhaws at 8215 Waxhaw Highway. Sunny Day Markets hosts it from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the listing promises local vendors and holiday activities. It's away from downtown, so the sewer work and parade closures don't come into play.
On Sunday morning the action moves to Waxhaw Parkway. The Waxhaw Farmers Market holds its 2026 Winter Holiday Market at 27283 Waxhaw Parkway on Sunday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The market calls it a day of handmade goods, food and holiday shopping before the Waxhaw Christmas Parade. Vendors must be handcrafted only, meaning they made it, baked it or grew it. The market closes an hour before the parade begins, so you can do both.
Some calendars online list the farmers market's holiday event on Dec. 12. The market's own site says Sunday, Dec. 13, and Old Waxhaw Christmas at the museum is the Saturday event.
Here is the whole weekend in order:
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Sat., Dec. 12, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | Old Waxhaw Christmas, hosted by Sunny Day Markets | Museum of the Waxhaws, 8215 Waxhaw Hwy. |
| Sun., Dec. 13, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. | Waxhaw Farmers Market Winter Holiday Market | 27283 Waxhaw Pkwy. |
| Sun., Dec. 13, 2:30 p.m. | Parade route closes to inbound traffic | Downtown Waxhaw |
| Sun., Dec. 13, 2:45 p.m. | Parade route closes to all vehicles | Downtown Waxhaw |
| Sun., Dec. 13, 3 p.m. | Town of Waxhaw Christmas Parade | Downtown Waxhaw |
| Sun., Dec. 13, 5:30 p.m. | Parade route reopens | Downtown Waxhaw |
From Waxhaw Parkway to the Parade Route
The time between the market closing and the route closing is the part to plan. The Town's Christmas Parade page says inbound traffic gets cut off at 2:30 p.m. and every vehicle at 2:45. That leaves about half an hour after the market closes to drive downtown and park. The Town says to arrive early and expect delays, and parking along the parade route will not be available this year.
The Town's suggested parking is the Waxhaw Downtown Park at 301 Givens Street and the lot at 521 N. Broome Street. ADA spaces are along N. Church Street between Price and McDonald and in the lot next to the Waxhaw Woman's Club. The ADA area closes when it fills or at 2:45 p.m., whichever comes first. The Town's general downtown parking map dates to 2022. Each event page has the current parking instructions.
The parade has local school marching bands, floats and entries from more than 70 businesses and community members, and announcers stationed along the whole route. Santa closes it out. If your business, club or neighborhood group wants a spot in the lineup, registration closes Nov. 30.
The Dates Around the Big Weekend
The rest of the season is quieter and just as dated:
- Saturday, Nov. 28. The Waxhaw Farmers Market is open, and the Downtown Waxhaw Association calendar encourages market visitors to head downtown afterward and shop local businesses.
- Saturday, Dec. 5, noon. The Town's Senior Citizens Christmas Party is in the Forest Hill Church auditorium at 8120 Kensington Drive. It's free for eligible seniors in the Town's stated service area and $10 for other non-residents.
- Saturday, Dec. 19, noon. The Wreaths Across America ceremony is at Southside Cemetery, where wreaths go on nearly 200 veterans' graves.
- Tuesday, Dec. 22. The WFM Christmas Evening Market is the last market of a season that started April 18. Hours haven't been posted yet.
The Town's 2026 calendar has a December Menorah Lighting with the date still listed as TBD. Some older holiday listings online still show past years' dates for the lighting, parade and menorah. This year's dates are the ones on the Town's event pages.
New Since Summer, Off Main Street
Some recent changes away from downtown will be part of many holiday weekends this year.
The natural-surface trail between Town Creek Park and Creekview Drive in MillBridge reopened in September 2026 after a rebuild, and the ribbon cutting was Oct. 16. The Town's announcement says the roughly 2,870-foot route has a new bridge and better all-weather tread. That matters in December, when trails get muddy.
On Providence Road South, West End Bagels is getting a second location ready at 1526 Providence Rd. S., Suite 150, in the former Java's Brewing Bakery & Café space. WhatNow Charlotte reported Oct. 11 that the owners hope to open by the end of 2026, with no firm date yet.
On Cuthbertson Road, Triveni Supermarket opened on Feb. 21, 2026, at 2531 Cuthbertson Rd. CharlotteFive reported that it carries groceries, bakery items and prepared Indian dishes.
The downtown parade route will reopen at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 13. For the next several months, downtown will still have crews at work, and the Town will keep posting weekly street closures.
We love being part of Waxhaw's holiday season, from the museum on Saturday to the parade route on Sunday. If you have questions about the area, or there's a holiday stop you think more neighbors should know about, the team at Boykin Property Group would love to hear from you. Let's walk you home.
