Mardi Gras! Galveston has been celebrated in this historic beach town for more than 150 years. This year will be a bit different. Citing safety concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Galveston officials have decided to put a hold on letting the good times roll. Most Mardi Gras! Galveston events – parades, concerts and parties – have been canceled.
That doesn’t mean you can’t head to the island and participate in some alternative events and activities. Here are a few to consider:
Krewe of Saints House Floats Tour
Mardi Gras enthusiasts can walk, bike or drive through Galveston’s neighborhoods to get a glimpse of festively decorated homes during the first Krewe of Saints House Floats Tour. Participating homes will be on view from Friday, Feb. 5 through Tuesday, Feb. 16. On Saturday, Feb. 13 from 5-7 p.m., homeowners and their friends and neighbors will be on hand to dole out beads to viewers. For the locations of participating homes, visit www.kreweofsaints.org.
The Bryan Museum presents Galveston’s Mardi Gras: A Retrospective
The Bryan Museum brings this special exhibit to its halls from Jan. 30 through Feb. 28. With support from its partner, Mitchell Historic Properties, the museum will showcase items from the more than 150 years of Mardi Gras celebrations that have taken place in Galveston, home of the third largest Mardi Gras in the country. Experience the pomp and revelry from lavish masked balls and torchlit parades that marked this celebration for more than a century. The exhibit includes custom doubloons, paintings, invitations, masks, commemorative posters and photographs. The Bryan Museum is located at 1315 21st St. For more information and hours of operation, visit www.thebryanmuseum.org.
King Cakes in Galveston
Tasty and colorful king cakes add to the fun of the carnival season. Several bakeries in Galveston create their own delicious versions of this traditional cake.
Gypsy Joynt Galveston, 2711 Market St., www.gypsyjoynt.com
Maceo Spice & Import Company, 2706 Market St., www.maceospice.com
PattyCakes Bakery,704 14th St., www.pattycakesgalveston.com
Ile Petite Bakery, 2108 Church St., www.ilepetitebakeryanddelillc.com
Sunflower Bakery & Café, 512 14th St., www.thesunflowerbakeryandcafe.com
About Mardi Gras! Galveston
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 the colorful marching bands, and the infectious merriment that dominates the island for two full weeks.