The Come and Take It Celebration is the single biggest event in Gonzales, Texas — a three-day outdoor festival held every year on the first full weekend of October to mark the anniversary of the first shot of the Texas Revolution, fired right here on October 2, 1835. Expect a parade, a 5K run, a cook-off, live music, reenactments of the Battle of Gonzales, an art show, a car show, contests, tournaments, food booths, and a historic square packed elbow-to-elbow with Texans who show up in boots, hats, and “Come and Take It” T-shirts.
If you’re coming for your first time, here’s everything you need to know to plan a memorable weekend.
What Is the Come and Take It Celebration?
Every year, the first full weekend of October, Gonzales commemorates the defiant 1835 moment that started the Texas Revolution. A small group of settlers — the Old Eighteen, soon joined by volunteers from nearby towns under Colonel John Henry Moore and Captain Albert Martin — refused to hand over a six-pound cannon loaned to the town in 1831. The town flew a hastily made flag showing a black star, a picture of the cannon, and three words that have echoed through Texas ever since: Come and Take It. On the morning of October 2, 1835, they fired the cannon, the Mexican troops withdrew, and Texas was, in every meaningful sense, at war.
The Celebration honors all of it. What started as a one-day event in 1956 grew into a ten-day affair in 1975 before settling into its now-traditional three-day format in 1976. Today it’s one of the great small-town Texas festivals — part history, part family reunion, part rodeo weekend — and the single busiest weekend of the year in Gonzales.
When Is It?
The Come and Take It Celebration takes place on the first full weekend of October every year (Friday evening through Sunday afternoon). For exact 2026 dates and a full schedule, check with the Gonzales Convention & Visitor Bureau or the Come and Take It Celebration social channels a few months before the event.
Where Does It Happen?
Events are centered on:
- Confederate Square and Downtown Gonzales — parade route, live music, vendors, reenactments, and art show.
- J.B. Wells Park — arena events, car show, and tournaments.
- Gonzales Memorial Museum grounds — memorial ceremonies and the Texas Legacy in Lights screenings nightly.
The Headline Events
Parade
Saturday morning is the big parade — antique cars, horseback riders, high school bands, military units, historical reenactors in period dress, and more than a few floats carrying waving dignitaries. Stake a curb spot early; the route through downtown fills up fast.
5K Run/Walk
A Saturday-morning 5K draws runners from all over the state. Cool fall weather, a flat course, and finish-line BBQ make it a favorite for families and fitness groups. Register in advance.
Battle of Gonzales Reenactment
Costumed reenactors bring the 1835 standoff to life — the cannon, the flag, the fog, the Mexican withdrawal. Check the official schedule for times; the reenactment usually runs in the late afternoon on one of the festival days.
Live Music
Multiple stages across the festival feature Texas country, Tejano, rock, and folk acts. Expect a mix of regional favorites and local bands, and plan to stay past sunset for at least one show.
Cook-Off
A serious barbecue and chili cook-off draws pitmasters and teams from across the state. The food is unreasonably good, the competition is friendly-fierce, and samples are usually part of the fun.
Art Show and Car Show
The art show highlights Texas-themed regional artists with works for sale. The car show is classic Americana — hot rods, muscle cars, and immaculately restored pickup trucks parked in long lines along the square.
Contests and Tournaments
Expect a rotating mix that typically includes a washer tournament, domino tournament, horseshoe tournament, dance contests, and a cash-prize “Miss Come and Take It” pageant.
Historical Programs
The Gonzales Memorial Museum, Pioneer Village, and Jail Museum often run special programming during festival weekend — extended hours, featured talks, and living-history demonstrations.
Texas Legacy in Lights
Every night of the festival, the free Texas Legacy in Lights projection-mapping film plays on the Memorial Museum’s facade. Summer showtimes (early October falls in the summer schedule): 8:25 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. This is a must-do during Celebration weekend — arrive early for a seat on the lawn.
Suggested Three-Day Itinerary
Friday
- Afternoon: Arrive and check into your hotel or B&B.
- Evening: Walk the historic square. Grab dinner at Gonzales Bistro or Hard Times Tavern.
- 8:25 p.m.: Catch Texas Legacy in Lights on the museum lawn.
Saturday
- Morning: Saturday 5K run (if you’re running); otherwise coffee on the square and early parade seats.
- 9:00 a.m.: Parade.
- 11:00 a.m.: Wander the cook-off and art show. Lunch from a food vendor or at Baker Boys BBQ.
- Afternoon: Reenactment, car show, live music.
- Evening: Dinner on the square, then Legacy in Lights.
Sunday
- Morning: Breakfast and a slower walk. Catch any remaining vendors or concerts.
- Late morning: Head over to Palmetto State Park for a quick nature break before the drive home.
- Afternoon: Head home.
Where to Stay
Come and Take It weekend sells out lodging fast — and when we say fast, we mean six months or more in advance. Your best bets:
- Belle Oaks Inn — seven luxury B&B suites walking distance from the square.
- Saint James Bed and Breakfast — the historic 1914 Kokernot Mansion.
- The Alcalde Hotel — boutique design-forward option.
- Sleep Inn, Garner Hotel, Holiday Inn Express, La Quinta, Best Western — reliable chain hotels on US 90A.
- Palmetto State Park camping — one of the best festival weekends to tent-camp or RV.
If all Gonzales lodging is gone, expand your search to Luling, Seguin, or Shiner — all within 30 minutes.
See the Where to Stay in Gonzales, Texas guide for more.
Where to Park
On festival days, plan to park on the edges of downtown or at designated satellite lots and walk in. Streets on the square itself are often closed for vendors, performances, and the parade. Shuttles sometimes run from satellite lots; check the event guide in advance.
What to Wear and Bring
- Boots or comfortable shoes. You’ll be on your feet for hours.
- A hat. Fall Texas sun is still strong.
- Sunscreen.
- A light jacket. Evenings cool off.
- Camp chairs or a blanket for the Legacy in Lights lawn.
- Cash for vendors. Many take cards but cash moves faster.
- A reusable water bottle.
- Your best “Come and Take It” T-shirt. You’ll fit right in.
Is the Celebration Family-Friendly?
Absolutely. Kids love the parade, the cook-off samples, the reenactment drama, the car show, and the outdoor projection screening. Strollers navigate the square without issue on most days. See the Best Family Things to Do in Gonzales page for more.
History Highlights to See While You’re Here
Take advantage of being in Gonzales during Celebration weekend to dig deeper:
- Gonzales Memorial Museum — home of the original “Come and Take It” cannon.
- Gonzales County Jail Museum — 1887 building, iron cells, reconstructed gallows.
- Pioneer Village Living History Center — ten relocated 1800s buildings.
- J.B. Wells House Museum — 15-room 1885 Victorian mansion.
See the Best Historic Sites in Gonzales, Texas article for a full guide.
Food and Drink During the Festival
Beyond the cook-off and vendor booths, the downtown square’s restaurants are running at full tilt all weekend:
- Baker Boys BBQ — two-time Texas Monthly Top 50. Go early on Saturdays.
- Gonzales Bistro — reserve ahead.
- Cow Palace Restaurant — breakfasts for weekend mornings.
- Night Owl Brewhouse — Gonzales-made craft beer and a lively taproom.
See the Best Restaurants in Gonzales, Texas guide.
Final Tips
- Book lodging six months out. Seriously.
- Show up Friday evening if you can. Sundays are quieter and some vendors pack up early.
- Plan one big history stop per day around the festival events — the museums shine during Celebration weekend.
- Stay for Legacy in Lights at least once. It’s the bow on top of the whole weekend.
Come and Take It, Today
The phrase on that little 1835 flag has become one of the most recognizable symbols in Texas — a shorthand for independence, defiance, and Texans not being told what they can and can’t do. Come and Take It weekend is where the phrase comes home. It’s the town that said those words, celebrating with the whole state, every October, on the same square where it all started.
Pair this guide with The Complete Come and Take It Story for Visitors, the Gonzales, Texas History Guide, and the Weekend Trip to Gonzales, Texas itinerary for the full experience.