Celebrate Mardi Gras in Galveston Texas This Year

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Jan. 17, 2024 — Get ready to unleash your inner party spirit because Mardi Gras! Galveston is about to kick off with a bang on Feb. 2, 2024. This vibrant celebration, filled with lively parades, awards, and jaunts, promises an unforgettable weekend of fun and festivities along a beautiful coastline.

Join us for the 113th annual celebration of Mardi Gras with beads, music and sunshine. If you’ve never celebrated Mardi Gras at the beach, then this is a must-see experience for your 2024. For those who want to do some good, there will be a blood drive and a 5k run.

New Culture and Community Award

This year will feature the first-ever Newe Krewe Award recognizing unparalleled contributions to the local community and culture. The inaugural winner is Krewe de Isle of Misfits, founded by Becky Major and Michael Mandina, who wow the crowds every year with their creativity. These artists pay exquisite attention to detail on their floats. Their theme ideas are literally out of this world. Previous decorations have included NASA, Post-Apocalyptic, and Circus. Check out their theme for this year as they receive their award in front of the Tremont House.

Live Music For All

Headliners on the Corona Extra stage at Saengerfest Park include the Gin Blossoms, Duelo and the Eli Young Band. You can also catch musical acts from Mid Life Crisis, Hayden Barker, and The Line Up. If dance music is your jam then catch DJ Kyxx, DJ Zitro, and DJ Nonstopp. Thomas Gray and the Randy Cobio Band will also be there to liven things up. There are many more artists performing. View the full lineup on Mardi Gras Galveston’s website.

Parades, Parades, Parades

There are so many different parades during this celebration. It all starts with the George P. Mitchell Mardi Gras Award Honoree Parade which takes over the streets, boasting marching bands, dancing squads, and local floats. Get ready to catch beads and treats as the parade kicks off at 25th & Mechanic Street, creating a wave of energy through Mechanic Street and the Strand.

As the night progresses, don’t miss the dazzling Funky Uptown Umbrella Brigade in memory of Mary Pregler. Known for breaking world records with their bedazzled umbrellas, this parade promises a lively experience and a larger turn-out in 2024.

Cap off the evening with the spectacular Mardi Gras! Galveston Parade, featuring festive floats, marching bands, and dancers, marking the culmination of the first day’s celebrations.

Don’t miss the Mix Radio, Art Car, & Jeep Parade. It’s a visual feast featuring rolling art and tricked-out Jeeps. The night crescendos with the massive Krewe of Gambrinus Parade at 6 pm, launching 14 huge floats and over 600,000 beads and trinkets. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage with Fiesta Gras on Feb. 4th. The Univision Houston Parade with Grand Marshal Karina Gonzalez showcases the rich cultural tapestry with floats, marching bands, and dance “krews.” The vibrant Los Locos Vaqueros features Mardi Gras-themed Jeeps, Mariachi bands, and decorated floats.

From the Krewe d’Esprit Rosaire Parade at 11:00 am, showcasing Black Catholic traditions, to the whimsical Z Krewe Z Parade at 1:00 pm, and the high-energy KRBE Krewe Parade at 2:30 pm, the day is filled with diverse parades.

The festivities continue with the Ben E Keith Parade at 4:00 pm and the Jumpin’ Jays Bumpin’ Bus Parade at 5:00 pm, offering a true party atmosphere. The grand finale is the Knights of Momus Grand Night Parade at 6:00 pm, lighting up the streets with colorful floats and marching bands.

Family Fun Too!

Wrap up the celebrations with Family Gras, featuring the Shriners Children’s Texas & Sunshine Kids Parade. The afternoon continues with the Krewe of Barkus and Meoux Parade, a delightful event by the Galveston Island Humane Society. The day concludes with the Firefighters Children’s Parade, a heartwarming event dedicated to families and children.