by Hunter Lanier

If you’ve ever driven through Gonzales, you might not have realized you passed right through one of Texas’ best-kept secrets. This little city in the heart of the Lone Star State has quietly assembled a fall lineup that puts bigger destinations to shame—and without charging you a small fortune for parking, to boot.

Bring comfortable shoes, a decent camera, and a strategy for all the festival food you're about to encounter. Because once you discover what Gonzales does with October and November, you'll understand why savvy Texas travelers always clear out a weekend or two for the birthplace of Texas Independence.

Texas Legacy in Lights

The most exciting event in Gonzales just might be Texas Legacy in Lights in October. More than a film and more than a lightshow, this is an immersive cinematic experience that transforms the historic Gonzales Memorial Museum into a 32-foot by 96-foot 3D canvas. And you thought your TV at home was big.

This state-of-the-art 3D projection mapping is possible thanks to the Austin Film Crew—a completely Texas-based team dedicated to Hollywood-quality visuals. If you’re wondering why you haven’t seen something this cool before, it’s because Gonzales is just the fifth U.S. city to host this kind of digital mapping display. The sound design, created by a former NASA media engineer, uses speakers and subwoofers buried in the ground and hidden by plants. When the show depicts the Battle of Gonzales, you'll feel like you're standing in the middle of the action. We won’t judge if you duck to miss the cannonballs!

Running twice nightly, six nights a week, the experience covers more than 90,000 square feet and tells the entire story of Gonzales. That story includes its major role in Texas’ fight for independence, the “Immortal 32” that answered William Travis’ call for help at the Alamo, and the "Old 18" who refused to give up their cannon to Santa Anna's Mexican Army. Got a kid who’s bored at school? Texas Legacy in Lights brings legends to life in a way that a schoolroom can’t. You can watch the trailer right here.

Come and Take It Celebration

Every Texan knows those four legendary words: come and take it. If you could distill the rebel spirit of Texas into a single phrase, this just might be it. Gonzales is the very place where that flag was made—the very place where the Texas Revolution kicked off.  It should come as no surprise then that modern-day Gonzales celebrates those famous words every year with the Come and Take it Celebration.

If you think celebrations of history are boring—or you have some younger members of the family who do—this is the event to break the curse. This is history with parades, live music, a car show, and vendors selling everything from homemade salsa to cowboy hats so big, they could shelter a small family during a rainstorm. The battle reenactment at Pioneer Village, too, is genuinely entertaining, especially if you have snacks.

Among all the activities, there is, perhaps, none more popular than the chicken flying contest. Bring your best chicken and see if it can capture first place by flying the farthest from a high perch. Trophies will be awarded for first, second, and third place. And hey, if your chicken lays a proverbial egg and comes in dead last, there’s a trophy for that, too!

The festival proves that learning about the past doesn't have to feel like homework. Interactive activities test skills you didn't know you had, historical tours guide you through locations where actual Texas heroes made actual history, and the whole event maintains that perfect balance between education and entertainment that makes you wish your high school history teacher had spent a little time in Gonzales.

Purple Cactus Art Festival & Market

Just when you think Gonzales has shown you everything it's got, the Purple Cactus Art Festival arrives to prove that big ideas usually spring from small places. Held at JB Wells Park, this festival showcases local and regional artists who create everything from jewelry that will upgrade your entire wardrobe to paintings that’ll make for the perfect souvenir. Who needs a refrigerator magnet when you can bring home an indie masterpiece?

The festival operates on the concept that art should be accessible and enjoyable rather than intimidating and pretentious. You can sip a reasonably priced latte while listening to live music, wander through displays of all sizes, and talk to the artists themselves. Sometimes, the story behind the art can change your entire perspective. Oh, and some booths offer mini workshops where you can flex your own creativity!

The Purple Cactus Art Festival creates the kind of atmosphere where discovering new artists feels like finding treasure, where buying handmade items feels like supporting dreams, and where creativity is contagious. You won’t just leave Gonzales with new art; you’ll be bringing home a little inspiration, too.

Your Gonzales Adventure Awaits

Gonzales in the fall offers something increasingly rare: authentic experiences that don't require you to fight crowds or empty your savings account. From a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience to an art festival that proves there’s no creative spirit quite like Texas’, Gonzales knows how to do the holiday season right.

Sure, you could spend your fall weekends doing the same things everyone else does in the same overcrowded places everyone else goes. Or you could discover what happens when a community creates celebrations because they genuinely want to share what makes their city—and their state—special.

Ready to experience Gonzales' fall magic? The first step is picking out a cozy hotel, which Gonzales just so happens to have plenty of!

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 reviewing upcoming films on his YouTube channel, Feature Underground.