Go walking in a Gonzales wonderland for a ‘Candyland’ Winterfest

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The Gonzales Main Street “Candyland” Winterfest is this weekend, and the event will be filled with fun activities for the entire family. Winterfest will have more than 30 food trucks, Santa’s Market vendors for shopping, bands and many other activities.

On Friday, Dec. 2, at 5 p.m., the downtown business Jingle Mingle will kick off the festivities along with beats by DJ Buddy from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., followed by performances by the Zydeco band Travis Matte & The Kingpins from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Country music artist Tanner Usrey will be performing from 9:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Get an early start at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, with Breakfast with Santa, sponsored by the Rotary Club, at First Methodist Church, 426 Saint Paul St. Advance tickets required (available for purchase at the Chamber of Commerce). Individual tickets are $8 per person. Tables of 8 are $50 and tables of 10 are $60. Enjoy pancakes and a photo op with Saint Nick!

Independence Square then will play host to Santa’s Market vendors, opening at 10 a.m., with many events including Candyland photo ops, cookie decorating, hot cocoa and ornament making as well as writing letters to Santa.

At noon, VFW Post 4817 is sponsoring a stew, beans and chili cookoff and Bloody Mary contest will take place. At 2 p.m. the Gonzales Elks Lodge is sponsoring a corn hole tournament.

Texas Hero Square will have kids rides and games beginning at 10 a.m., including a giant inflatable “snow mountain”, carousel swing and Candyland obstacle course.

The historic homes tour is from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on both Saturday, Dec. 3, and Sunday, Dec. 4, sponsored by the Historic Homes Association (advance tickets required, which may be purchased online at gonzaleshistorichomes.org or in person at Laurel Ridge, 827 Saint Joseph St.).

Homes on the tour include the JB Wells House Museum (833 Mitchell St.); W.M. Atkinson House/Old Gonzales College (820 Saint Louis St.); Episcopal Church of the Messiah and Manse (721 Saint Louis St.); J.B. Kennard House (621 Saint Louis St.); and 1936 Magnolia Oil Station (624 Saint Lawrence St.)

Stars in the Village, hosted by and at Pioneer Village, will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, with both online tickets and tickets available at the event available.

The city of Gonzales tree lighting ceremony will be held at the official city tree at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in Independence Square and then the annual Lighted Christmas Parade will begin at 7 p.m. to finish out the festivities, and the entire community is invited to attend and to participate. See page 18 for parade route.

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