Mardi Gras in Texas: Food, Fun, and More Food!
Discover > Truly Texan > Mardi Gras in Texas: Food, Fun, and More Food!
Get ready with those flashy beads ‘cause Galveston, Texas is coming back with Mardi Gras celebrations, and it’s coming back big! After a long and bleary hiatus brought on by the pandemic, Mardi Gras! Galveston festivities are returning from February 18 till March 1 with parades, parties, music, food, and, of course, beads! TexasRealFood covers the best that Galveston, TX has to offer when it comes to farms, ranches, breweries, distilleries, artisan food producers, wineries, farmers’ markets, and more!
This year’s celebrations mark the 111th Mardi Gras! Galveston event in Texas and is expected to attract more than 350,000 attendees.
Party in Galveston
According to the gala’s organizers, Yaga’s Entertainment, Galveston is set to welcome a festival offering more than 50 exhibits, at least 14 parades, live entertainment, and luxurious Gulf Coast cuisine.
Galveston’s historic downtown recreation district will host 10 days of Mardi Gras partying, with large crowds and merry spirits. Nearly all the parades will pass through downtown Galveston, meaning you can indulge in the colorful view either standing on the street or cheering from a balcony. The main stages are also located downtown, where you can watch a number of buzzing live performances. The festival’s largest parades are due to run along the beachfront on Seawall Boulevard.
The two-weekend event is indispensable to Galveston Island’s revenue. So naturally, the expectations for this year’s Mardi Gras event are high, with the economic impact projected to be in the ballpark of $15 million.
The Entertainment Lineup
Leading the entertainment lineup is the celebrated platinum-selling rock band 3 Doors Down, which heads the festival’s first eve of concerts on Saturday, February 19. The Latin Grammy Award-winning Tejano group Siggno will take center stage the next day, celebrating Hispanic heritage on Sunday, February 20.
The parades begin on February 18 with the George P. Mitchell Mardi Gras Award Honoree Parade and continues with the Grand Night Parade led by the Knights of Momus Krewe, the Zaniest Golf Cart Parade, and the Danny Weber Memorial Fire Truck Parade, among others.
The second round of festivities kicks off with country artist Matt Stell performing on Friday, February 25. Other music performances include Scooter Brown Band, Jeff Canada, David Lee Garza y Los Musicales and Jay Perez.
There is something for everyone at this Galveston Island festival, including a beachfront locavore carnival, handmade crafts, and a night scene featuring everything from Cajun and salsa to jazz and rock and roll.
There are plenty of both paid and free opportunities to get involved in. If you want to participate in the Funky Uptown Umbrella Parade, you can decorate an umbrella and march along the historic Strand.
An initiative truly unique in its concept, Beads for Need will see its launch during the gala festivities. In partnership with the Galveston Independent School District art program and Life Skills program, Beads for Needs is a recycling plan that rescues one million thrown-away beads from the trash and upcycles them for use in future Mardi Gras! Galveston events.
The Streamin’ on the Strand Airstream Rally is another new event added to this year’s program. More than 47 members of Airstream Club International will be lining up their travel trailers inside the Entertainment District on Mechanic Street for the first of the two weekends.
Celebrating Hispanic heritage is Fiesta Gras!, touted to be a display of true fiesta atmosphere with everyone dressed to the nines. The day is new to the Mardi Gras! Galveston calendar and is sure to be a big hit. Also, get ready to witness a spectacular headline show by the musical powerhouse LaDezz.
Partiers turned parents, make sure to mark Sunday, February 27 in your diaries for a free day-long event, Family Gras!. Colorful krewes featuring the Shriners Hospital for Children & Sunshine Kids Parade, Firefighters Children’s Parade, and Krewe of Barkus & Meoux Parade are guaranteed to get the whole family into the festive spirit!
Build Your Krewe!
Good news for all you excited party-goers — this year, you can build your krewe! So get your family and friends together and ride your way through Galveston on a Mardi Gras float.
Those on a float can also access a balcony party for $175 per person. The ticket includes beads, float insurance, a driver, entrance to the event’s Entertainment District, as well as access to a private balcony party complete with a cash bar and other facilities.
Looking for some Mardi Gras food offerings in Galveston and the surrounding areas? Here’s where you should head!
Oak Cliff Brewing Company
Oak Cliff Brewing Company is a production brewery and taproom that offers fresh, high-quality craft beers. Before festivities get underway for the weekend, Oak Cliff Brewing Co. is holding a Mardi Gras Masquerade on Friday, February 25 at 7 pm. For $75 per person, attendees will be welcome to enjoy beer, wine, light bites, and live brass band music all night long.
You can also attend the annual Mardi Gras Oak Cliff Parade on Sunday, February 27 at 4 pm. The parade kicks off near Kessler Theater and finishes up in Bishop Arts.
Learn more about the event here!
Address: 1300 S. Polk St., Dallas, TX 75224
JAXON Texas Kitchen & Beer Garden
Work your way through a multitude beer taps and remarkable Texas and Southern style fare at Jaxon Texas Kitchen & Beer Garden. Head on here on March 1 from 6 pm onwards for live music, specialty drinks, and crawfish boil. Themed drinks on offer include a frozen pineapple Hurricane, King Cake shots and beer specials. Get ready to tuck into Cajun broiled crawfish, chicken gumbo, and mini King Cake skillets. There will also be a live broadcast of the lower Greenville parade and show-stopping music by Unfaded Brass Band. Go ahead and m your reservation here.
Address: 311 S Akard St. Dallas, TX, US 75202
Contact: 214-838-1422
The Rustic
This uptown live music location and restaurant is coming alive this Fat Tuesday (March 1) with a special Mardi Gras celebration. Dynamic stage aficionado Joseph Veazie will be there to entertain guests at The Rustic. For dinner, expect to indulge in plenty of crawfish, jambalaya, étouffée, and frozen Hurricanes.
Address: 17619 La Cantera Pkwy, Suite 204, San Antonio, TX 78257
Contact: 210-245-7500
Beerfoot Brewery
Did you know you can get in FREE to Mardi Gras! Galveston? Bring along a decorated umbrella on Friday, February 18 for free entry to the festival. Visit Beerfoot Brewery at Float to use their supplies and unleash your creative spirit. Supplies and umbrellas are first come first serve. The party starts at 7 pm.
Click head on down to their social media page to RSVP.
Address: 2816 Avenue R 1/2, Galveston, TX 77550
Contact: 409-762-2337
Headed to Galveston for this year’s Mardi Gras! Galveston? While there, why not check out these local eateries, bakeries, and pubs from our TexasRealFood listings! Share your party pics and tag us @texasrealfood!
