Mardi Gras! Galveston is delighted to announce the distinguished recipients of the prestigious George P. Mitchell Mardi Gras Award: Mike Doherty and Kenneth Shelton. These two lifelong residents of Galveston Island will be honored at an awards ceremony on Friday, February 21, 5:30 PM, as part of the kick-off to Mardi Gras festivities. Here’s how to celebrate Mardi Gras the Galveston way, with parades, live music and pet-friendly costume contests. While some events are free, several of the city’s official parades and all of its concerts are held inside the gates of the Entertainment District. The city also recently announced heightened security measures for its events. The island’s 114 th Mardi Gras celebration began Friday, February 21, and continues until March 4, or Fat Tuesday. Both weekends will be packed with parades, parties and, of course, beads. Galveston’s island-style Mardi Gras has plenty of personality. Mardi Gras! Galveston is the third largest Mardi Gras celebration in the country and has a long history of festivities. The first celebration in Galveston was held in 1867, complete with a masked ball and Shakespearean reenactments! In 1871, two rival Mardi Gras societies, or “Krewes” were created. Mardi Gras in Galveston. Mardi Gras! Galveston is the place to be for a full-on celebration, with festivities running from February 21 through March 4, 2025. Known for its vibrant parades and coastal charm, Galveston offers one of Texas’s most unique Mardi Gras experiences. Galveston, the third largest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States, offers the unique chance to experience sand between your toes and gorgeous beach sunsets while taking in the revelry and lavish parades known to dominate Galveston Island during carnival season. The island’s 114th Mardi Gras celebration, to be held February 21 – March The good times will roll soon for 2025 Mardi Gras! Galveston. The 114th edition on Galveston Island is the largest Mardi Gras celebration in the Houston area. For those planning to go, here is Galveston, the third largest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States, offers the unique chance to experience sand between your toes and gorgeous beach sunsets while taking in the revelry and lavish parades known to dominate Galveston Island during carnival season. The island’s 114th Mardi Gras celebration, to be held February 21 thru Mardi Gras Day or Fat Tuesday is March 4 this year, according to Mardi Gras New Orleans. It is the last day of the Carnival season as it always falls the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Galveston, the extravagance found in Texas’ largest Mardi Gras celebration starts with the beads! More than 3 million beads will be thrown at Mardi Gras! Galveston and that’s just the beginning of the elaborate parades, headliner performances, family events, feasting and other festivities that come with hosting Mardi Gras island style. On the heels of the rave reviews of its newest ship Mardi Gras, Carnival Cruise Line today announced that its third Excel-class ship – to be named Carnival Jubilee – will be delivered in 2023 and based in Galveston. “Carnival was the first cruise line to offer year-round cruising from Galveston in 2000, and we have continued to grow our Mardi Gras revelers in Galveston will notice some changes the City of Galveston has made as part of an effort to enhance public safety during the annual carnival celebration. The island’s 114th Mardi Gras celebration begins Friday, February 21, and continues until March 4, or Fat Tuesday. Revelers at this year’s Mardi Gras will notice some changes the City of Galveston has made as part of an effort to enhance public safety during the annual carnival celebration. The island’s 114 th Mardi Gras celebration begins Friday, February 21, and continues until March 4, or Fat Tuesday. Krewe Babalu is the “every man’s Mardi Gras Krewe” founded in 1995 by Guy Taylor with the purpose of promoting Mardi Gras festivities on Galveston Island and promoting civic and social activities within the organization and the city of Galveston. Come join all the Mardi Gras Krewes! As a part of the line’s ongoing 50th birthday celebrations in 2022, Carnival Cruise line resurrected some of the names of its previous ships - Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration. The original Carnival Celebration was the first year-round vessel to homeport from Galveston in 2000 and was joined by the original Jubilee in 2022. Galveston Mardi Gras Parades – Dates, Routes & Must-See Events. Celebrate Mardi Gras in Galveston and Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler! Mardi Gras Galveston is a big event, attracting both newcomers and regular visitors with its parades, concerts, and vendors. Complementing the energy of the carnival, Galveston Police Additional ships homeporting from Port Canaveral for 2026/2027 will be announced soon by Carnival. Cruises from Galveston. Carnival is launching a new rotation of itineraries for new ship Carnival Jubilee, from Galveston beginning in September 2026. GALVESTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Galveston's biggest and brightest parade lit up the night at the 2025 Mardi Gras celebration. ABC13 broadcast live from the Knights of Momus Grand Night Parade on Welcome — in advance — to Carnival Jubilee! The next ship in line after Mardi Gras ® and Carnival Celebration™ has some big flip-flops to fill, and you can count on Carnival Jubilee to take things to the next level with six “zones” of fun. Zones are areas themed to transform your vacation into a unique mix of experiences — hop from
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