Louisiana might get all the attention when it comes to rowdy Mardi Gras Celebrations in the US. But here in Houston, you can go all out for Galveston’s massive annual festival. Every year for over a century, Mardi Gras! Galveston turns the town green, purple, and yellow – providing amped up entertainment, innumerable parades, family events, and all the beads under the sun!
From February 2 – February 13, Mardi Gras! Galveston will takeover the town with a non-stop carnival celebration as the third largest Mardi Gras festival in the country, expecting a draw of over 350,000 attendees.
Events will start at 5 pm on Friday, February 2 with Party Gras! a brass-band led procession from The Press Box on 24th and Post Office to its end at The Tremont House, where the George P. Mitchell Mardi Gras Award Presentation will commence.
Also scheduled for the first day of festivities are the Mardi Gras! Galveston Parade with Grand marshal Trey from the Fe, George P. Mitchell Mardi Gras Award Honoree Parade, and The Funky Uptown Umbrella Brigade – the latter, a world record breaker for most umbrellas in a parade. This is all just the first day.
A kaleidoscopic mix of parades will ensue over the course of two weeks. Mardi Gras! Galveston will also see a variety of special events including a Jolly Jester Jaunt 5k – in which participants earn some sweet perks – on Saturday, February 3; the 13th Annual Zanies Golf Cart Parade, Krewe d’iHeart Media Parade, Krewe of Gambrinus Parade, and Fiesta Gras! on Sunday, a celebration of Hispanic heritage featuring food vendor, novelties, and live performances.
For the kiddos, the festival will also feature a variety of family-oriented events that include a coloring contest, as well as Family Gras! – an assortment of parades starting at noon on Sunday, February 11.
At the risk of burying the lead here, Mardi Gras in Galveston will also stage a banging lineup of musical acts. On February 3, patrons can catch indie rockers, Gin Blossoms, on the main stage; norteño band, Duelo on Sunday, February 4; and country stars, Eli Young Band on February 9.
Tickets for the Galveston Mardi Gras festival range in prices and are available by the day or in weekend packages. For more details, visit their ticketing information here.