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Gonzales, TX 78629
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5 Reasons You Need to be at the Come & Take It Celebration in Gonzales, TX
By Hunter Lanier
Most festivals stay in their lane. They have a singular focus, be it music, food, or a competition of some kind. However, when you’re celebrating the birth of Texas independence, that calls for something a bit…bigger.
The Come & Take It Celebration in Gonzales, TX is like 10 festivals rolled up in one. An art show, a car show, reenactments, contests, tournaments, concerts, and cook-offs are just the tip of the iceberg. In the list below, we’ll go through some of our favorite and most unique events in the Come & Take It Celebration.
Come & Take It Art Show
One of the beautiful things about art is that it’s rarely made to turn a profit; it’s made because the artist couldn’t keep it inside. That’s why community showcases like the Come & Take It Art Show are such a great way to get to know the true essence of a town.
In addition to admiring the artwork, the art show is open to anyone who would like to contribute. The work can be inspired by Texas independence or about something else entirely. Categories include oil, watercolor, mixed media, photography, and many more, so no matter what your preferred medium might be, there’s probably a place for you.
Ribbons will be awarded in each category, for both adults and children. That way, the adults don’t have to feel bad when they get beat by the kids.
Battle of Gonzales Reenactment
With all the festivities, it can be easy to forget what the Come & Take It Celebration is really about. Almost 200 years ago, Texans in Gonzales defied the Mexican government by refusing to return a cannon the city used for its own safety. Two young women, Caroline Zumwalt and Eveline DeWitt, helped consolidate the town’s response to Mexico’s demands with a simple flag reading “Come and Take It” beneath the picture of a cannon. Battle broke out and the Texans successfully stayed their Mexican rulers, with the help of a certain cannon.
Until the time machine hits store shelves, the Battle of Gonzales Reenactment is as close as you’re going to get to reliving this pivotal moment in Texas history. Experience the fog of war from gun smoke, the booming of the cannons, and the fervor of an inspired army. It’s an up-close-and-personal look at the origin of Texas’ rebellious nature, which is still going strong today.
Come and Fly It Chicken Flying Contest
Here’s an event you don’t see every day. The Come and Fly It Chicken Flying Contest is exactly what it sounds like. No metaphors, no wordplay—just a plunger pushing a chicken through a mailbox so that it flies as far as possible.
Highly trained experts in chicken runways will be onsite to judge the exact distance of the chicken flights. Winners will receive a trophy and the respect of the entire town! Don’t worry about bringing your own chicken. Just like attorneys, if you do not have a chicken, a chicken will be provided for you.
Free Live Music for the Whole Family
What’s a celebration without live music? Every day of the Come and Take It Celebration, there will be free concerts for the whole family to enjoy. On Friday afternoon, you can expect to see Lost Cause Band and Standing Peppers. But wait, there’s more! Eclipse, a Journey tribute band, will close out the show at 10pm.
Saturday brings the biggest lineup with shows starting around noon and going until 11 at night. Among the acts playing are Kin Faux, BlackHawk, and David Lee Garza. The hits don’t stop on Sunday, with Shiner Hobo Band putting on the final performance of the celebration.
Come & Take It Classic/Exotic Car Show
It’s not news to anyone that modern vehicles lack a little bit of the individuality and pizazz the roads used to see. It’s hard to tell one SUV from another and the colors tend to be a little on the dull side. All that changes at the Come & Take It Classic/Exotic Car Show.
Right in the heart of Gonzales’ town square, you can browse dozens of truly unique automobiles. Expect to find everything from restored fire trucks from the ‘50s to stylish muscle cars from the ‘60s to unbelievably fast exotics. If the outstanding creativity and swagger of the cars gets your mouth watering, there will be plenty of food vendors on hand who will help you with that!
Gonzales: Come & Take It In
If everything truly is bigger in Texas, there’s no way a celebration of its independence and defiant spirit could be anything less than huge. Exhibit A is the Come & Take It Celebration in Gonzales, which has an experience for everyone. Whether you’re a cook, a history buff, a gearhead, an artist, or you just like the idea of pushing a chicken out of a mailbox, you’ll find a place to fit right in.
The celebration is so big, we were only able to scratch the surface of everything there is to do. Check out a complete list of events by visiting this page. And if you’re looking for a place to stay nearby, Gonzales has no shortage of amazing accommodations.
About the Author: Hunter Lanier is the head writer and content specialist for Tour Texas. When he isn’t writing about the many great places in the state of Texas, he’s writing books and screenplays. He may or may not own an armadillo in the future.
