Mardi Gras to Kick Off on Galveston Island this Weekend!
GALVESTON- Mardi Gras! Galveston will kick off on the Gulf Coast this Friday, February 1, 2013. Mardi Gras Galveston is the third largest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States, attracting more than 300,000 attendees annually. The two-week celebration is best known for its lavish parades held on the streets of the city’s historic downtown and beachfront. The 2013 event is scheduled to be the biggest Mardi Gras! Galveston celebration yet with 38 concerts, 24 parades, 20 balcony parties and five elegant masked balls.
Mardi Gras, the traditional festival of feasting and merrymaking that precedes the season of Lent, was first publicly observed on Galveston Island in 1867. Following a sabbatical imposed in 1941 by war and challenging times, Mardi Gras! Galveston was revived in 1985 by Galveston-born preservationist and developer George P. Mitchell. The largest celebration of its kind in Texas and the third largest in the nation, Mardi Gras! Galveston brings the island’s streets to life with parade viewers shouting for beads, lively tunes played by colorful marching bands, and the infectious merriment that dominates the island for two full weeks.
In addition to the annual “Funky Uptown Umbrella Brigade” – in which Mardi Gras! Galveston organizers earned a world record for the largest choreographed umbrella dance last year – revelers will also enjoy:
1st Weekend, The BIG Weekend!
Friday, February 1, 2013
5:00pm
Party Gras! Procession
Join us for a Dixieland jazz band walking procession. To kick-off a parade in their honor, Jim and Dancie Ware will be parading from M&M Restaurant to The Tremont House with friends, family, supporters and Mardi Gras revelers in true Mardi Gras! Galveston style! This will be the ultimate crowd pleaser!
5:30pm
George P. Mitchell Mardi Gras Award Ceremony
Honoring Dancie and Jim Ware
Presented by: The Tremont House and Hotel Galvez
Award to Dancie and Jim Ware will be held in front of the Tremont House at 5:30pm followed by a cocktail reception and the George P. Mitchell Mardi Gras Parade.
7:00 pm
George P. Mitchell Mardi Gras Parade
Honoring Dancie and Jim Ware
The George P. Mitchell Parade Honoring the 2013 recipients, will begin at 7:00pm from The Tremont House with the Budweiser Clydesdales, Ball High School Marching Band, La Marque High School Band and festive floats and parade through the Historic Strand District on the kick off night of Mardi Gras! Galveston Friday, February 1, 2013.
8:30pm
Funky Uptown Umbrella Brigade
DANCE…the Hokey Pokey with the 3rd Annual Funky Uptown Umbrella Brigade and help us top 1500 dancers! This FREE event offers families, friends, corporate groups, organizations and individuals a chance to do a little dance, have a little fun and get down tonight. NEW! This year join us for the PRE PARTY at the Jagermeister DJ Stage. We have decided to do things a little backwards this year (literally)…the parade will head down Mechanic Street from 20th to 25th then up to Strand and perform the Hokey Pokey right in the middle of the ACTION!
10:00pm
Krewe da’ Yaga’s Parade
Only the most irie vibes will be heard from this krewe. Rounding out the first night of Mardi Gras! Gaveston 2013, Krewe da’ Yaga’s Café makes its return with a parade full of Yaga’s Café family of the past, present and future. This is one not to be missed. Board shorts and flip flops required!
Saturday, February 2, 2013
11:00am
NEW! Jolly Jester Jaunt 5K Run for Fun!
JOIN US FOR THE 102ND CELEBRATION OF MARDI GRAS! GALVESTON FEBRUARY 2ND, 2013 @ 11AM BY GALLOPING THROUGH THE HISTORICAL STRAND DISTRICT (WITH AN OPTIONAL STICK PONY). THE FIRST 500 GALLOPERS WILL BE GIVEN JESTER HATS AND A JESTER THEMED RUN SHIRT TO PERFORM THE WHIMSICAL EVENT (COLORFUL LEGGINGS MIGHT BE A GOOD CALL)! For more information and registration CLICK HERE.
1:00pm
Zaniest Golf Cart Parade
Presented by: The Daily NewsWhy stop with a world record-breaking umbrella parade when you can have the Zaniest (DECORATED) Golf Cart Parade? This parade is another great chance for friends and family to get together and participate in this interactive display of the ZANY spirit of Mardi Gras! Galveston. Free Entertainment District entry to all participants of the parade.
Text MGGALV to 70626 to Enter To WIN the Official Mardi Gras! Galveston Golf Cart and lead the parade!
3:00pm
iHEARTRADIO Rocks The Block Parade
Tune into this rockin’ parade as the Clear Channel iHEARTRADIO Krewe cruises down Strand with festive floats, Worthing High School Band and La Marque High School Band! iHeartRadio is a free, all-in-one digital radio service that lets you find more than 1,500 Live Stations or create commercial-free, all-music Custom Stations featuring songs from the artist you select and similar music AND a proud sponsor of Mardi Gras! Galveston.
4:00pm
Art Car Parade
The streets of Galveston will be transformed into a whimsical pallet as the art cars return to Mardi Gras! Galveston. The parade will feature fun, wacky, Art Cars cruising down the Strand. This parade is sure to inspire the artist in us all!
9:30pm
Build Your own Krewe Parade
Get the chance to experience Mardi Gras! Galveston from a whole new perspective!” We make it easy for you to BUILD YOUR OWN KREWE and ride in a Mardi Gras parade complete with float, beads, driver, balcony party and entry into Mardi Gras! Galveston. Join this parade of Mardi Gras floats and the La Marque High School Marching Band and get your TICKET TO RIDE! Ask us how! Contact[email protected]
Sunday, February 3, 2013
11:00 am
FAMILY GRAS!
FREE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT ENTRY. On Sunday February 3, the Entertainment District will be free to the public for a FAMILY GRAS celebration. Donations will be taken at the gate to benefit the Sunshine Kids and Shriners Hospitals for Children. We encourage you to bring the whole family down for the 2 parades, live music, vendors and more!
12:00pm
FAMILY GRAS! 1K Run/Walk
Family Gras! 1K is a great way for the entire family to have fun together, get some exercise, AND an early start to the FAMILY GRAS! activites all while showing their support for the incredible kids at Shriners Hospitals for Children and The Sunshine Kids! The race begins at 21st and Strand and continues around the Historic Strand District. Walking, running or strolling are encouraged at this non-competitive, non-timed event for all ages! 100% of your entry fee will go to support the Sunshine Kids and Shriners Hospitals for Children.
1:00pm
Sunshine Kids Parade
Bring out the entire family for a day full of Sunshine. The Sunshine Kids Parade will begin at 1:00pm with festive floats and the Ball High School Marching Band. The Sunshine Kids is an organization that provides activities for children with cancer.
3:00pm
Shriners Hospitals for Children-Galveston Parade
Family Gras continues at 3:00pm with the Shriners Hospitals for Children-Galveston Parade. Patients, families and friends of Shriners Hospital for Children will become a part of the Mardi Gras! Galveston festivities with floats, Ball High School Marching Band, Santa Fe High School Band and Shriners Clowns and Mini-Cars!
2nd Weekend
Friday, February 8, 2013
8:00 pm
Krewe Babalu All-Krewe Parade
Krewe Babalu of Galveston, a non-profit organization kicks off its 8th annual All- Krewe Parade. The parade will begin at 25th and Mechanics Row. It will then continue down Mechanics to 21st Street, go left on 21st to the Strand and the go left on Strand back to 25th street. Many of Galveston Island’s krewes will again participate and be covered by generous amount of beads and throws. This year the Dynamo Girls from Houston will be the Honorary Grand Marshalls of this year’s parade and will be available to sign calendars after the parade at our balcony party. Come let the Good Times Roll with Krewe Babalu!!!
7:00pm
Danny Weber Memorial Fire Truck Parade
Danny Weber, Sr. was a lifelong Galvestonian who spent over 30 years in the Galveston Fire Department as he worked his way through the ranks, eventually becoming Fire Chief. After he retired, still wishing to serve the community he loved, he ran for City Council, serving three terms as the District 5 Representative. Danny was a devoted family man and a good friend to all who knew him. This parade is dedicated to Danny because of his love for his community, fire department, and Mardi Gras! Galveston.
10:00pm
Krewe of Maximilian Parade
Take a Walk on the Wild Side and join Krewe of Maximilian as they roll into Galveston and down the Strand in this new parade with the La Marque High School Band. Parade will begin at 20th and Strand and continue to 25th Street, down Mechanic and exit the district at 21st Street.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
1:00pm
Z Krewe 19th Z Processional
3:00pm
Houston Chronicle Neauxs Krewe Parade
Hot off the press!!! This Neauxs Krewe will be rolling down Strand at 3:00pm tossing more than newspapers with festive floats and marching bands from Ball High School, Worthing High School, La Marque High School. Houston Chronicle is the 6th largest newspaper in the United States and a PROUD sponsor of Mardi Gras! Galveston.
Ford Parade Brought to You by Texas Ford Dealers
Ford is proud to be a part of Mardi Gras Galveston. It’s Ford Truck Month, come see why Ford is the best-selling brand of trucks for 36 years in a row and the number one choice in every major industry including Livestock production, heavy construction and crude oil, to name a few. Check the facts atFordWeOwnWork.com and get to Your Local Ford Dealer. Ford parade will feature festival floats, Ford Trucks and the La Marque High School Marching Band!
6:30pm
Knights of Momus Grand Night Parade
Mardi Gras! Galveston’s largest parade will feature floats, marching bands, dignitaries, bead throwing and more. Parade starts at 19th and Seawall Boulevard, turns right on 25th Street and continues to Mechanic Street. Right on Mechanic Street to 21st Street, left on 21stto The Strand. Left on Strand and end at the Railroad Museum.
Tuesday, February 12th, 2013
6:30pm
Krewe of Aquarius Fat Tuesday Parade
Mystic Krewe of Aquarius presents “Fat Tuesday” at 6:30pm in the Strand District and historic downtown. Each year this grand parade in the final hours of Mardi Gras the Krewe’s of Gambrinus, BABALU, Thalasar, Baccus and Z Krewe join Aquarius for the revelry. The parade will feature marching bands, dance teams and dozens of lighted floats. Come enjoy one of Galveston’s most popular parades.
For more information on Mardi Gras! Galveston visit mardigrasgalveston.com