Once a year, the quiet Victorian square in Gonzales becomes the most atmospheric festival town in Texas. On the first full weekend of October, the Come and Take It Celebration fills the streets with a parade, a reenactment of the 1835 battle, a Texas cook-off, an arts and crafts market, live music, carnival rides, and a weekend-long rush of people who come from all over the state to stand on the ground where the Texas Revolution began.
This is your Come and Take It Weekend Guide — what to do on each day, how to plan lodging and dinner, where to stand for the parade, when to watch the reenactment, and how to get the most out of the single best weekend of the year in Gonzales.
See also the Complete Come and Take It Celebration Guide for history-and-story depth; this guide focuses on practical weekend planning.
When It Is
The first full weekend of October each year. Three days — usually Friday through Sunday.
Confirm the current year’s exact dates and schedule with the Gonzales Convention and Visitor Bureau or the official event site.
Why It Is the Biggest Weekend of the Year
- Parade — floats, horses, marching bands, community entries.
- Reenactment of the October 2, 1835 Battle of Gonzales.
- Arts and Crafts Fair on the square.
- Texas Cook-Off — BBQ and chili competitions.
- Carnival rides.
- Live music.
- Extended hours at shops, restaurants, and museums.
- A town-sized energy you feel from the moment you arrive.
The Weekend at a Glance
- Friday: Arrive, dinner, parade or kickoff event, Legacy in Lights.
- Saturday: Parade, reenactment, cook-off, arts and crafts, carnival, dinner.
- Sunday: Events on the square, brunch, head home.
Friday
3:00 p.m. — Depart Early
Gonzales fills quickly on the opening Friday. Leave early.
5:30 p.m. — Check In
- Belle Oaks Inn, Saint James Bed and Breakfast, The Dilworth Inn for B&B stays.
- The Alcalde Hotel for boutique on the square.
- Holiday Inn Express, Garner Hotel, Sleep Inn for chain hotels on US 90A.
- Palmetto State Park for camping.
Book lodging months ahead. The Come and Take It weekend is the biggest lodging weekend in Gonzales.
6:30 p.m. — Dinner
Cow Palace Restaurant for Texas comfort food, Night Owl Brewhouse for Gonzales-made craft beer, or Gonzales Bistro for fine dining. Reservations essential.
8:00 p.m. — Friday Night Kickoff Event
Check the current-year event schedule for Friday-night openings — live music, kickoff ceremony, vendor-fair preview.
8:25 p.m. — Texas Legacy in Lights
The 34-minute projection-mapped film on the Memorial Museum facade. On Come and Take It weekend, watching the history you’re about to live-reenact the next day adds a layer.
9:15 p.m. — Second Showing or Nightcap
Saturday — The Big Day
7:30 a.m. — Early Breakfast
Get up early. Parade-day crowds start forming.
9:00 a.m. — Find Your Parade Spot
The parade route runs through the square. Stake out a shaded curb. Bring chairs, snacks, water.
10:00 a.m. — Parade
Floats, horses, marching bands, community organizations. 60–90 minutes.
11:30 a.m. — Arts and Crafts and Food Booths
Browse the vendor booths on the square. Lunch from food booths.
1:00 p.m. — Texas Cook-Off
BBQ and chili competitions. Sample if available.
2:30 p.m. — Battle of Gonzales Reenactment
Historical reenactors restage the October 2, 1835 battle — the one where Gonzales refused to surrender the cannon. Location varies; check the event schedule and arrive early.
4:00 p.m. — Continued Festivities
More vendor booths, carnival rides, live music.
6:00 p.m. — Rest
Back to lodging for a cool-down and a change.
7:00 p.m. — Dinner
Reservations essential weeks ahead — Gonzales Bistro, Cow Palace Restaurant, or Hard Times Tavern.
8:25 p.m. — Legacy in Lights
9:15 p.m. — Nightcap
Craft beer at Night Owl Brewhouse or on the square.
Sunday
9:00 a.m. — Breakfast
10:00 a.m. — Morning on the Square
- Church services at historic congregations.
- Continued vendor booths (some run Sunday).
- Memorial Museum ($5) — quieter Sunday visit.
- Pioneer Village.
12:30 p.m. — Lunch
Baker Boys BBQ (Texas Monthly Top 50) if it’s open; otherwise a cafe on the square.
2:00 p.m. — Head Home
Avoid late-afternoon highway bottlenecks by leaving early.
Schedule Note
Event schedules vary year to year. The parade, reenactment, cook-off, arts and crafts, and carnival are typical fixtures, but exact times, routes, and add-ons change. Always confirm with the Gonzales Convention and Visitor Bureau.
Where to Stay
- Belle Oaks Inn — luxury B&B.
- Saint James Bed and Breakfast — 1914 Kokernot Mansion.
- The Dilworth Inn — top-rated B&B.
- The Alcalde Hotel — boutique on the square.
- Holiday Inn Express, Garner Hotel, Sleep Inn — chains on US 90A.
- Palmetto State Park — camping.
Book months in advance. Some visitors book a year out.
See Where to Stay in Gonzales, Texas.
Where to Eat
- Gonzales Bistro — fine dining; reserve weeks ahead.
- Hard Times Tavern — best-in-town burgers, plus fries, tater tots, onion petals, and onion rings fried in beef tallow.
- Cow Palace Restaurant — Texas comfort food.
- Baker Boys BBQ — Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ.
- Food booths on the square — cook-off samples, festival food.
- Cafes on the square — lighter options.
See Best Restaurants in Gonzales, Texas.
Packing List
- Comfortable walking shoes.
- Folding chairs for the parade.
- Sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses.
- Water bottles.
- A blanket for Legacy in Lights.
- Camera.
- Cash for food booths and vendor sales.
- A tote bag for arts-and-crafts purchases.
- Sweater or light jacket — October evenings are cool.
- A lightweight rain layer — October storms are possible.
Tips for a Smooth Come and Take It Weekend
- Book lodging months ahead.
- Reserve Bistro weeks ahead.
- Arrive Friday, not Saturday morning. Parking fills.
- Get to the parade route 30 minutes early.
- Bring cash — many food booths are cash-preferred.
- Stay hydrated. October can still be warm in South-Central Texas.
- Plan to sleep in Gonzales — even driving in from Luling or Shiner is a hassle on parade day.
- Check Legacy in Lights schedule — may adjust for festival weekend.
For Families
- Reenactment is kid-friendly and educational.
- Carnival rides for younger kids.
- Pioneer Village any time the event pace feels heavy.
- Early Legacy in Lights at 8:25 p.m.
- Festival food.
For History Buffs
- Reenactment is the anchor.
- Memorial Museum on Sunday morning (quieter).
- Immortal 32 memorial before the festival crowd.
- A Legacy in Lights viewing on Friday before the Saturday battle.
- Victorian-neighborhood walk to see the cattle-baron homes built after the revolution.
For Couples
- A B&B stay.
- Bistro dinner on Friday (quieter than Saturday).
- Saturday parade together.
- A second Legacy in Lights showing.
For Groups
- Chain hotels on US 90A.
- Long-table Bistro or Cow Palace dinner.
- Shared parade spot.
- A group cook-off sampling round.
Seasonal Notes
- Early October in South-Central Texas — mild days, cool evenings.
- Rain possible.
- Legacy in Lights usually at summer showtimes (8:25 and 9:15 p.m.) this early in October.
Final Word
Come and Take It Weekend is the most atmospheric small-town weekend in Texas. A parade through a Victorian square, a battle reenactment on the ground where the first shot was fired, a Texas cook-off, a carnival, a projection-mapped history film two evenings in a row, and the whole town alive with community energy. Book early. Pack light. Pace yourself. Bring the family. Come home with stories you’ll retell every October.
Pair this guide with the Complete Come and Take It Celebration Guide, Gonzales, the Important History Town, Fall Weekend in Gonzales, Texas, and the Gonzales, Texas Visitor Guide for complete planning.