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. Mardi Gras! Galveston Parade. Revelers will enjoy this festive night parade, as it circles the Entertainment District wrapping up the first day of celebrations for Mardi Gras! Galveston, 2025. A group of 9 Festive Floats will be throwing beads and trinkets, plus more marching bands & dancers bringing the hype. 10:00 p.m. Mardi Gras! Galveston Parade Revelers will enjoy this festive night parade, as it circles the Entertainment District wrapping up the first day of celebrations for Mardi Gras! Galveston, 2025. A group of 9 Festive Floats will be throwing beads and trinkets, plus more marching bands & dancers bringing the hype. 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. The all-Krewe parade features marching bands, dance teams, and an all-out celebration for the final hours of Mardi Gras Galveston 2025. The parade begins at 28th Street and Market Street downtown, then heads south down 28th Street, then turns right down Postoffice Street, continuing toward the Strand historic district. Galveston’s historic downtown entertainment district will put you in the center of classic Mardi Gras revelry complete with big crowds and plenty of beads. Nearly all parades go through downtown, where you can enjoy the view from the street or from above at a balcony party. Mardi Gras! Galveston returns Feb. 21 through March 4, bringing two weekends of parades, concerts and celebrations to the island. Floats, marching bands and bead-throwing will fill the streets 9:00 p.m. – Mardi Gras! Galveston Parade led by CityCast Houston Podcast Hosts; 10:30 p.m. – Cameron Sacky Band live on the Corona Extra Stage; Saturday, March 1 – Grand Parade Day! The Mardi Gras Galveston Parade starts late at night. The route will encircle the city’s entertainment district and serve as the final event during the first day of celebration. Saturday, Feb. 22 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. Stemming from a desire for locals and their pets to have a way to be involved in the Mardi Gras! Galveston festivities, The Galveston Island Humane Society created the Krewe of Barkus and Meoux Parade in 1998, and this crowd-pleasing event has been going strong ever since! Pets and their humans are encouraged to wear their Mardi Gras finest. A costume contest is planned prior to the start of the parade from 12:15—1:00. Winners will be announced, and ribbons awarded prior to the start of the parade. 3:00pm- Mardi Gras! Firefighters Children’s Parade Check-In Location: Pier 21, 100 21 st St. Galveston, TX 77550; Cart Numbers: Best decorated judging numbers can be viewed at the following link. Locate your carts corresponding number, print in large font, and clearly display on cart to participate. Thank you for registering for the Jeep Parade! Saturday, Feb. 22, @ 3:00pm. Please read the following information carefully for parade details. For any further questions, contact Sarah Burgess at sarahburgess10@outlook.com or call 409-770-0999. 7:00 p.m. George P. Mitchell Mardi Gras Award Honoree Parade Following the George P. Mitchell Mardi Gras Award Presentation, this is the first parade to Kick Off Mardi Gras Galveston 2025! This parade is packed with marching bands, dancing squads & tons of energy. Axecade Mardi Gras Galveston 2025 Balcony Party Join us at Axecade, where we have the best balcony on The Strand to catch all the action. Watch the parades, enjoy the live bands, and savor delicious food and drinks while throwing beads into the crowd. Discover 2025 events in Galveston! Explore festivals, activities, and year-round fun. Experience top happenings, annual traditions, and unique adventures. Bands, military groups, and “zany revelers” from other clubs are all part of the Z Krewe’s Z Parade. 2:30 p.m. Galveston Mardi Gras Parade. During the more than week-long celebrations, this will be the third parade. 4 p.m. Keith Parade, Ben E. This parade is sponsored by Ben E Keith Co. Foodservice Distributors. Discover 2025 events in Galveston! Explore festivals, activities, and year-round fun. Experience top happenings, annual traditions, and unique adventures. Over the years, fans from all around Texas have traveled to Mardi Gras! Galveston to claim a spot in the Funky Uptown Umbrella Brigade. This lively, bedazzled parade continues to gain momentum and an even bigger turn-out is predicted for 2022. Want to join in the fun? Register your group to participate in the parade, here.
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