Once a year, di quiet Victorian square in Gonzales becomes di most atmospheric festival town in Texas. On di first full weekend of October, di Come and Take It Celebration fills di streets wit a parade, a reenactment of di 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 di state to stand on di ground where di Texas Revolution began.
Dis na your Come and Take It weekend guide — what to do on each day, how to plan lodging and dinner, where to stand for di parade, when to watch di reenactment, and how to get di most out of di single best weekend of di year in Gonzales.
See also di Complete Come and Take It Celebration Guide for history-and-story depth; dis guide focuses on practical weekend planning.
When It Is
Di first full weekend of October each year. Three days — usually Friday through Sunday.
Confirm di current year’s exact dates and schedule wit di Gonzales Convention and Visitor Bureau or di official event site.
Why It Is di Biggest Weekend of di Year
- Parade — floats, horses, marching bands, community entries.
- Reenactment of di October 2, 1835 Battle of Gonzales.
- Arts and Crafts Fair on di 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 di moment you arrive.
Di 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 di square, brunch, head home.
Friday
3:00 p.m. — Depart Early
Gonzales fills quickly on di 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.
- Di Alcalde Hotel for boutique on di square.
- Holiday Inn Express, Garner Hotel, Sleep Inn for chain hotels on US 90A.
- Palmetto State Park for camping.
Book lodging months ahead. Di Come and Take It weekend is di 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 di current-year event schedule for Friday-night openings — live music, kickoff ceremony, vendor-fair preview.
8:25 p.m. — Texas Legacy in Lights
Di 34-minute projection-mapped film on di Memorial Museum facade. On Come and Take It weekend, watching di history you’re about to live-reenact di next day adds a layer.
9:15 p.m. — Second Showing or Nightcap
Saturday — Di Big Day
7:30 a.m. — Early Breakfast
Get up early. Parade-day crowds start forming.
9:00 a.m. — Find Your Parade Spot
Di parade route runs through di 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 di vendor booths on di 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 di October 2, 1835 battle — di one where Gonzales refused to surrender di cannon. Location varies; check di 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 di square.
Sunday
9:00 a.m. — Breakfast
10:00 a.m. — Morning on di 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 di square.
2:00 p.m. — Head Home
Avoid late-afternoon highway bottlenecks by leaving early.
Schedule Note
Event schedules vary year to year. Di parade, reenactment, cook-off, arts and crafts, and carnival are typical fixtures, but exact times, routes, and add-ons change. Always confirm wit di 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.
- Di Alcalde Hotel — boutique on di 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, an onion rings fried in beef tallow.
- Cow Palace Restaurant — Texas comfort food.
- Baker Boys BBQ — Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ.
- Food booths on di square — cook-off samples, festival food.
- Cafes on di square — lighter options.
See Best Restaurants in Gonzales, Texas.
Packing List
- Comfortable walking shoes.
- Folding chairs for di 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 di 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 di event pace feels heavy.
- Early Legacy in Lights at 8:25 p.m.
- Festival food.
For History Buffs
- Reenactment is di anchor.
- Memorial Museum on Sunday morning (quieter).
- Immortal 32 memorial before di festival crowd.
- A Legacy in Lights viewing on Friday before di Saturday battle.
- Victorian-neighborhood walk to see di cattle-baron homes built after di 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.) dis early in October.
Final Word
Come and Take It Weekend is di most atmospheric small-town weekend in Texas. A parade through a Victorian square, a battle reenactment on di ground where di first shot was fired, a Texas cook-off, a carnival, a projection-mapped history film two evenings in a row, and di whole town alive wit community energy. Book early. Pack light. Pace yourself. Bring di family. Come home wit stories you’ll retell every October.
Pair dis guide wit di Complete Come and Take It Celebration Guide, Gonzales, di Important History Town, Fall Weekend in Gonzales, Texas, and di Gonzales, Texas visitor guide for complete planning.