Di Come and Take It Celebration is di single biggest event in Gonzales, Texas — a three-day outdoor festival held every year on di first full weekend of October to mark di anniversary of di first shot of di Texas Revolution, fired right here on October 2, 1835. Expect a parade, a 5K run, a cook-off, live music, reenactments of di Battle of Gonzales, an art show, a car show, contests, tournaments, food booths, and a historic square packed elbow-to-elbow wit 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 di Come and Take It Celebration?
Every year, di first full weekend of October, Gonzales commemorates di defiant 1835 moment dat started di Texas Revolution. A small group of settlers — di 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 di town in 1831. Di town flew a hastily made flag showing a black star, a picture of di cannon, and three words dat have echoed through Texas ever since: Come and Take It. On di morning of October 2, 1835, they fired di cannon, di Mexican troops withdrew, and Texas was, in every meaningful sense, at war.
Di 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 di great small-town Texas festivals — part history, part family reunion, part rodeo weekend — and di single busiest weekend of di year in Gonzales.
When Is It?
Di Come and Take It Celebration takes place on di first full weekend of October every year (Friday evening through Sunday afternoon). For exact 2026 dates and a full schedule, check wit di Gonzales Convention & Visitor Bureau or di Come and Take It Celebration social channels a few months before di 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 di Texas Legacy in Lights screenings nightly.
Di Headline Events
Parade
Saturday morning is di 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; di route through downtown fills up fast.
5K Run/Walk
A Saturday-morning 5K draws runners from all over di 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 di 1835 standoff to life — di cannon, di flag, di fog, di Mexican withdrawal. Check di official schedule for times; di reenactment usually runs in di late afternoon on one of di festival days.
Live Music
Multiple stages across di 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 di state. Di food is unreasonably good, di competition is friendly-fierce, and samples are usually part of di fun.
Art Show and Car Show
Di art show highlights Texas-themed regional artists wit works for sale. Di car show is classic Americana — hot rods, muscle cars, and immaculately restored pickup trucks parked in long lines along di square.
Contests and Tournaments
Expect a rotating mix dat typically includes a washer tournament, domino tournament, horseshoe tournament, dance contests, and a cash-prize “Miss Come and Take It” pageant.
Historical Programs
Di 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 di festival, di free Texas Legacy in Lights projection-mapping film plays on di Memorial Museum’s facade. Summer showtimes (early October falls in di summer schedule): 8:25 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Dis na a must-do during Celebration weekend — arrive early for a seat on di lawn.
Suggested Three-Day Itinerary
Friday
- Afternoon: Arrive an check into your hotel or B&B.
- Evening: Walk di historic square. Grab dinner at Gonzales Bistro or Hard Times Tavern.
- 8:25 p.m.: Catch Texas Legacy in Lights on di museum lawn.
Saturday
- Morning: Saturday 5K run (if you’re running); otherwise coffee on di square and early parade seats.
- 9:00 a.m.: Parade.
- 11:00 a.m.: Wander di cook-off and art show. Lunch from a food vendor or at Baker Boys BBQ.
- Afternoon: Reenactment, car show, live music.
- Evening: Dinner on di 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 di 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 di square.
- Saint James Bed and Breakfast — di historic 1914 Kokernot Mansion.
- Di 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 di 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 di where to stay in Gonzales, Texas guide for more.
Where to Park
On festival days, plan to park on di edges of downtown or at designated satellite lots and walk in. Streets on di square itself are often closed for vendors, performances, and di parade. Shuttles sometimes run from satellite lots; check di 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 di 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 di Celebration Family-Friendly?
Absolutely. Kids love di parade, di cook-off samples, di reenactment drama, di car show, and di outdoor projection screening. Strollers navigate di square without issue on most days. See di Best Family wetin 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 di 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 di Best Historic Sites in Gonzales, Texas article for a full guide.
Food and Drink During di Festival
Beyond di cook-off and vendor booths, di 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 an a lively taproom.
See di 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 di festival events — di museums shine during Celebration weekend.
- Stay for Legacy in Lights at least once. It’s di bow on top of di whole weekend.
Come and Take It, Today
Di phrase on dat little 1835 flag has become one of di 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 di phrase comes home. It’s di town dat said dose words, celebrating wit di whole state, every October, on di same square where it all started.
Pair dis guide wit Di Complete Come and Take It Story for Visitors, di Gonzales, Texas history guide, and di weekend trip to Gonzales, Texas itinerary for di full experience.