What’s the first thing that you think of when you hear about Mardi Gras?
Get your mind out of the gutter! I know, New Orleans gets all the press for Mardi Gras, but Galveston has been having a Mardi Gras celebration for 108 years and it is the third largest celebration in the United States! Balcony parties, parades, bands, and I haven’t even gotten to the Mardi Gras balls, all within the back drop of a historic downtown and the seawall.
Spread out over two weekends and Fat Tuesday, there are 23 parades, 22 balcony parties and 29 live concerts. Want to dress up? Check out one of the mysterious masked balls. Want to watch the parade from up high? Get yourself tickets to one or more of the balcony parties. Or just hang out on the street and collect beads until you can’t walk anymore.
Cheat Sheet
Mardi Gras in Galveston Parades
Starting at 5:00 PM Friday Feb 22nd, and running all day Saturday, and Sunday for two weekends there are zany golf cart parades, art car parades, funky umbrella parades and Jeep parades. But the whole celebration would be disappointing if you missed the Krewe of Barkus and Meoux pet parade. That’s right there is a pet parade and you don’t want to miss it! No word on how the cat’s throw beads though. If you’re feeling nostalgic for the 70s, then do the hustle over to The Strand for the Krewe D’Art Party and Disco Bus.
Mardi Gras in Galveston Masked Balls
So you want to avoid the rif raff in the street and would rather rub elbows with the black tie and masked crowd. Then you’re in luck because there are multiple black tie events featuring live entertainment, mouth watering buffets, dancing, and of course parade watching. Maybe if you’re infuential enough you can get invited to Tilman and Paige Fertitta’s San Luis Salute.
Mardi Gras in Galveston Balcony Parties
This is where you want to be! Cash bars, balconies, music, and a bird’s eye view of the parade! What else do you need? Dance the night away while you enjoy looking down on the little people fighting the crowds in the street.
Mardi Gras in Galveston Bands
Two stages on The Strand will host over 30 concerts. Headliners are going to be country stars Pat Green and Jason Cassidy. Want to dance the night away to electronic music? Yeah, me neither, but if you do, then there’s a whole stage set up for you with DJ’s, laser lights, and thumping music at 21st and Mechanic Street.
Mardi Gras in Galveston Tickets
You won’t need tickets for the parades on 25th and along the Seawall, but you will need tickets to get into The Strand area, the balcony parties, and of course the masked balls. Slip on over here for all your ticket needs.
All dressed up and no place to stay? Make yourself comfortable at one of these hotels.
Hungry? Great restaurants abound in Galveston.
