Come and Take It will combine new attractions with familiar activities

Organizers of the annual Come and Take It Celebration, which will be held Oct. 4-6, say they are “excited to continue the tradition of our charming downtown festival, which has been the heart of this community for years.”

“What started out as a Come and Take It Day parade in the late 1950s has now grown into a three-day event that we celebrate every year,” CATI Chair Daisy Scheske Freeman said. “There’s something truly special about the Come and Take It Celebration — it’s a place where families, friends, Gonzales alumni, and history enthusiasts gather to create lasting memories as we celebrate the first shot for Texas independence.”

Freeman said this year’s Come and Take It Celebration includes several new attractions while “maintaining that familiar, family-friendly atmosphere that everyone loves.”

“We always strive to make the event better each year with the resources available to us, while continuing the tradition that makes the Come and Take It Celebration so special,” Freeman added.

Those who like fun and games can take part in mini golf, axe throwing and an “Escape the Alamo” escape room, presented by MobileEscapeRoom.com. The escape room allows festival goers to “step into history and see if you can make it out of this iconic Texas-themed escape room.”

What’s better than a regular old selfie? A 360-degree selfie, taken from the festival’s new 360° Selfie Station! Attendees can capture special moments in a new way with stunning 360-degree videos and photos that will be ready for “insta” posting to social media.

A new Come and Take It event this year is the Gonzales Memorial Hospital Auxiliary wheelchair race, which will be Saturday, Oct. 5, on Saint Joseph Street between Saint George and Saint Francis streets. Eight teams will compete for bragging honors and proceeds from the event will go to fund scholarships and assist with the purchase of equipment for the hospital.

The Come and Take It Ranch Rodeo, which benefits Norma’s House, is also new and expected to become a fan favorite at JB Wells Arena. Books open at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 5 with the rodeo starting at 3 p.m. Five-man teams can compete at an entry fee of $400 per man in branding, stray gathering, double mugging and sorting.

The first 10 teams entered will be allowed to compete (cash only) and there will be a guaranteed payout of $20,000 with 10 teams entered (60 perent payout with $8,000 added). For more information, contact Dub Whitehead at 830-857-4110.

Another big change this year will be a larger and “more sophisticated” stage for live performances, where such acts as Blackhawk, David Lee Garza, Eclipse: A Tribute to Journey, Los Galivanes, Kin Faux, Standing Peppers, Josh Calvin & The 183 South Band and Bill Pekar will entertain.

And when you need to go answer the call of nature? The CATI Committee has added “more VIP bathrooms and extra port-o-potties to ensure everyone’s comfort,” Freeman said.

Energy Waste will have VIP luxury port-o-potties on site all weekend long for those who long for extra comfort. A weekend pass to use these VIP facilities is $30 for adults, $15 for kids 9-12 and free for kids 8 and under with a paid adult pass. All-weekend bracelet passes are available at the Gonzales Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture Visitor Center or at Sage Capital Bank.

For those who don’t want to empty their wallets when they empty their bladders, regular and handicapped port-o-potties will still be available at the south end of both the beer garden and food tents.

Freeman said the committee, which is staffed by all volunteers, also has made changes to the event grounds to improve logistics, including a reduction of the food tent size to 20 feet on the north end.

“This change is part of our effort to streamline the organization of both commercial and non-profit food vendors,” Freeman said. “All commercial food vendors will now be placed along the north end of the square, while non-profits will remain under the food tent.

“In the past, this area was a mix of arts and crafts vendors and food, but with the new layout, load-in and load-out will be more efficient, and it will enhance the experience for attendees.”

Freeman noted that the committee is proud to support the community.

“With the community's support,  nonprofit food vendors kept 100 percent of their income for the past three years (2021-2022-2023),” Freeman said. “This directly benefits local projects and scholarships, which is something we’re incredibly passionate about.”

While some things are changing at the festival, others which are traditional will not. The Come and Take It Carnival and Petting Zoo return, as do the Come and Take It Parade, Come and Take It 5K Run/Walk, Come and Take It Art Show, Come and Take It Memorial Golf Tournament, JB Wells Historic Home and Museum Tours, Cornhole Tournament, the Come and Fly It Chicken Flying Contest, the Battle of Gonzales Re-enactment, Come and Take It Cookoff, the DRT annual Memorial Service and the Shiner Hobo Band, which always closes out Sunday afternoon.

For more information about the festival, go to https://gonzalestexas.com/come-and-take-it/.