Area guide · Gonzales
Things to do in Gonzales, LA
Gonzales is the Jambalaya Capital of the World and holds the Jambalaya Festival each Memorial Day weekend at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center, a 247-acre parish-run venue with events all year. You will also find Tanger Outlets at I-10 Exit 177, Jambalaya Park on Bayou Francois, the Tee Joe Gonzales Museum and the Gilla Brewing taproom. We checked every listing on October 29, 2026.
Reviewed by Nicole Gaudet, REALTOR®
Updated October 29, 2026
Places to go
Parks, shopping and local history
Hours and prices change, so confirm on the venue's own site before you go.
| Place | Address | What it is | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamar-Dixon Expo Center | 9039 S. St. Landry Ave., Gonzales, LA 70737 | 247-acre events venue owned and run by Ascension Parish: arenas, barns, pavilions, RV lots and fishing ponds | Events year-round; office (225) 450-1009 |
| Tanger Outlets Gonzales | 2100 S. Tanger Blvd., Gonzales, LA 70737 | Open-air outlet shopping center at I-10 and LA 30 (Exit 177) | Check the center’s site for hours |
| Bass Pro Shops Gonzales | 2200 W. Cabela’s Pkwy., Gonzales, LA 70737 | Hunting, fishing and outdoor store; the former Cabela’s page now carries the Bass Pro Shops name | (225) 743-3400 |
| Jambalaya Park | 1013 E. Cornerview St., Gonzales, LA 70737 | City park with a pool, amphitheater, splash park, walking path and fishing on Bayou Francois | Pool is $6 a day; call (225) 647-9564 for hours |
| Municipal Park | 1410 S. Burnside Ave. at Meylan Blvd., Gonzales | Four ball fields, batting cages, 14 tennis courts and a walking path | City park |
| Tee Joe Park | 524 Orice Roth Rd., Gonzales | Four soccer fields, two baseball fields and a walking path | City park |
| Tee Joe Gonzales Museum | 217 West Main St., Gonzales, LA 70737 | Home of Joseph “Tee Joe” Gonzales, the city’s first mayor (1922) and namesake | Free; tours Mon–Thu by appointment, (225) 647-9549 |
| Ascension Parish Library, Gonzales Branch | 708 S. Irma Blvd., Gonzales, LA 70737 | Public library branch | Open seven days; (225) 647-3955 |
| Gilla Brewing Company | 13025 Hwy. 44, Suites 108 & 109, Gonzales, LA 70737 | Brewery and taproom, opened October 2019 | Open daily |
| AP Food Truck Court | 607 E. Worthey St., across from the parish courthouse | Parish-run food truck court with rotating vendors | Check the parish page for vendors |
Sources: Lamar-Dixon Expo Center; Tanger Outlets Gonzales; Bass Pro Shops Gonzales; City of Gonzales, parks; Louisiana Office of Tourism, Tee Joe Gonzales Museum; Ascension Parish Library, locations; Gilla Brewing Company; Ascension Parish, AP Food Truck Court.
Yearly events
Events that come back every year
Dates as posted on October 29, 2026.
| Event | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Jambalaya Festival | Memorial Day weekend each May; the 59th ran May 21–24, 2026. 2027 dates not yet posted. | Lamar-Dixon Expo Center |
| Krewe of Ascension Mambo Parade | Each Carnival season; the 2026 parade rolled February 7 | Starts on Irma Blvd., Gonzales |
| Louisiana Outdoor Expo | A weekend each March; $15 adults, $5 ages 6–12 | Lamar-Dixon Expo Center |
| Christmas at Conway | Free city holiday event each November; the 2025 event was November 22 | Conway, Gonzales |
Sources: Jambalaya Festival; WBRZ, 59th Jambalaya Festival; Louisiana Office of Tourism, Mambo Parade; The Advocate, Around Ascension (March 11, 2026); WBRZ, Christmas at Conway.
Living in Gonzales
Homes in Gonzales, by the numbers
The housing market in Gonzales, from public data.
See prices, flood facts and how to buy here on our Gonzales page, and where to eat in our Gonzales restaurant guide.
Sources: ROAM MLS closed sales, July through September 2026 (based on information from the ROAM MLS for the period 07/01/2026 through 09/30/2026).
Questions
Gonzales: questions
Why is Gonzales called the Jambalaya Capital of the World?
Gonzales has carried the title since 1968 and holds the Jambalaya Festival each year.
WBRZ
When is the Jambalaya Festival?
Memorial Day weekend each May at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center. The 2026 festival ran May 21 to 24.
Jambalaya Festival
Where is Tanger Outlets Gonzales?
2100 S. Tanger Blvd., at I-10 and LA 30 (Exit 177).
Tanger Outlets
Who runs the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center?
Ascension Parish owns and operates the 247-acre venue at 9039 S. St. Landry Ave.
Lamar-Dixon Expo Center
Where is the public library in Gonzales?
The Ascension Parish Library Gonzales Branch is at 708 S. Irma Blvd. and is open seven days a week.
Ascension Parish Library
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