Mardi Gras! Galveston Parade Schedule
Texas’ Largest Mardi Gras Celebration Comes With Parades, Family Gras and More!

[January 10, 2013] - The 102nd celebration of Mardi Gras! Galveston will take place February 1-12, 2013 with 24 parades, several of which are new. The majority of parades will be held in Galveston's downtown Mardi Gras entertainment district while others will travel along the beachfront on Seawall Boulevard.

Friday, February 1, 2013

Party Gras! Parade, 5 p.m. (Entertainment District)
Join us for a Dixieland jazz band walking procession. To kick-off a parade in their honor, Jim and Dancie Ware will be parading from M&M Restaurant to The Tremont House with friends, family, supporters and Mardi Gras revelers in true Mardi Gras! Galveston style.

George P. Mitchell Mardi Gras Parade, 7 p.m. (Entertainment District)
The 102nd celebration of Mardi Gras! Galveston will kick off with a parade to salute 2013 George P. Mitchell Mardi Gras Award recipients Jim and Dancie Ware. The parade will begin at The Tremont House and travel down the Strand with the Budweiser Clydesdales, bands and festive floats. (View in Calendar)

Funky Uptown Umbrella Brigade, 8:30 p.m. (Entertainment District)
Join the 3rd annual Funky Uptown Umbrella Brigade as Mardi Gras revelers aim for the world record largest umbrella dance. All participants with decorated umbrellas will receive free admission into Mardi Gras! Galveston on Feb. 1, 2013. The parade will begin at 20th and Strand streets and will continue through the entertainment district. (View in Calendar)

Krewe da' Yaga's Cafe Parade, 10 p.m. (Entertainment District)
The Krewe da' Yaga's Cafe parade will round off the first night of Mardi Gras! Galveston with a line of floats and entertainment organized by the Yaga's Cafe family. The parade will begin at 20th Street and Harborside Drive and continue through the entertainment district. (View in Calendar)

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Jolly Jester Jaunt 5K Run for Fun, 11 a.m. (Entertainment District)
Join the 102nd celebration of Mardi Gras! Galveston by galloping through the historic downtown (with an optional stick pony). The first 500 gallopers will be given jester hats and a jester-themed run shirt. (View in Calendar)

Mystic Krewe of Aquarius Mardi Gras Kickoff Parade, 12 p.m. (Seawall)
This grand parade will include more than 80 units, including 20 marching bands. The colorful pageantry of the popular parade will spotlight 160 costumed krewe members and the regal Aquarius royal court. The parade will begin at Seawall Blvd. and 14th Street and travel along the Seawall to 59th Street. (View in Calendar)

Zaniest Golf Cart Parade, 1 p.m. (Entertainment District)
Why stop with a world record-breaking umbrella parade when you can have the Zaniest Golf Cart Parade? This parade is another great chance for friends and family to get together and participate in the zany spirit of Mardi Gras! Galveston. All parade participants will receive free entry into the entertainment district on Feb. 2, 2013. The parade will begin at 20th and Strand streets and continue through the entertainment district. (View in Calendar)

iHeartRadio Rocks The Block Parade, 3 p.m. (Entertainment District)
Tune into this rockin' parade as the Clear Channel iHEARTRADIO Krewe cruises down the Strand. The parade will begin at 20th Street and Harborside Drive and continue through the entertainment district. (View in Calendar)

Art Car Parade, 4 p.m. (Entertainment District)
The streets of Galveston will be transformed into a whimsical pallet as the art cars return to Mardi Gras! Galveston. The parade will feature fun, wacky, Art Cars cruising down the Strand. This parade is sure to inspire the artist in us all. The parade will begin at 20th Street and Harborside Drive and continue through the entertainment district. (View in Calendar)

Krewe of Gambrinus "Lights Up the Night" Parade, 6 p.m. (Seawall)
King Gambrinus will throw a grand parade with bead throwing and a fireworks display. The parade runs along Seawall Blvd. from 23rd Street to Central City Blvd. (View in Calendar)

Build Your Own Krewe Parade, 9:30 p.m. (Entertainment District)
We make it easy for you to BUILD YOUR OWN KREWE and ride in a Mardi Gras parade complete with float, beads, driver, balcony party and entry into Mardi Gras! Galveston. Contact info@yagaspresents.com for details. (View in Calendar)

Sunday, February 3, 2013 (Family Gras!)

On February 3, the Entertainment District will be free to the public for a FAMILY GRAS celebration sponsored by Moody National Bank. Donations will be taken at the gate to benefit the Sunshine Kids and Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Sunshine Kids Parade, 1 p.m. (Entertainment District)
The Sunshine Kids Parade will kickoff "Family Gras" at Mardi Gras! Galveston. The parade will be a tribute to children affected by cancer. Gate proceeds from Sunday will benefit The Sunshine Kids non-profit organization, which works to provide positive group activities and emotional support for young cancer patients. The parade will begin at 20th Street and Harborside Drive and continue through the entertainment district. (View in Calendar)

Shriners Hospitals for Children-Galveston Parade, 3 p.m. (Entertainment District)
Patients, families and friends of Shriners Hospitals for Children will become a part of Mardi Gras! Galveston with this new parade led by the Budweiser Clydesdales along with high school marching bands, Shriners Clowns and Mini-Cars. Gate proceeds will benefit the Shriners Hospitals for Children. The parade will begin at 20th Street and Harborside Drive and continue through the entertainment district. (View in Calendar)

Friday, February 8, 2013

Danny Weber Memorial Fire Truck Parade, 7 p.m. (Entertainment District)
This parade is dedicated to Danny Webber Sr., who served 30 years in the Galveston Fire Department. Bring the family out as fire trucks from stations across the state parade down Strand with lights and sirens. The parade will begin at 20th Street and Harborside Drive and continue through the entertainment district. (View in Calendar)

Krewe Babalu 8th Annual "All Krewe Parade," 8 p.m. (Entertainment District)
This parade will include floats from krewes and business, civic and fraternal organizations throughout the region. The parade begins at 26th Street and Santa Fe Place and travels through the entertainment district. (View in Calendar)

Krewe of Maximilian Parade, 10 p.m. (Entertainment District)
Take a walk on the wild side and join Krewe of Maximilian as they roll into Galveston and down the Strand in this new parade. The parade will begin at 20th and Strand and continue to 25th Street, down Mechanic and exit the district at 21st Street. (View in Calendar)

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Krewe d'Esprit Rosaire Parade, 11 a.m. (Seawall)
This parade will feature high-stepping marching bands, bead throwing and even some food throwing. The parade will start at Kempner Park, travel down Seawall Blvd then end at Holy Rosary Catholic Church. (View in Calendar)

Z Krewe 19th Z Processional, 1 p.m. (Entertainment District)
The Z Processional will make its way through the historic streets of Galveston with bands, bead throwing and merriment. The parade will begin at 25th and Mechanic streets and travel through the entertainment district. (View in Calendar)

Houston Chronicle Neauxs Krewe Parade, 3 p.m. (Entertainment District)
Hot off the press! This Neauxs Krewe will be rolling down The Strand at 3 p.m. tossing more than newspapers. Houston Chronicle is the 6th largest newspaper in the United States and a proud sponsor of Mardi Gras! Galveston. The parade will begin at 20th Street and Harborside Drive and continue through the entertainment district. (View in Calendar)

Ford Parade Sponsored by Texas Ford Dealers, 4:30 p.m. (Entertainment District)
Talk about the best in Texas! The Ford Parade, brought to you by Texas Ford Dealers, will spark your desire for a brand new Ford Truck as they parade some of their best models down Strand! The parade will begin at 20th and Strand and continue to 25th Street, down Mechanic and exit the district at 21st Street. (View in Calendar)

Knights of Momus Grand Night Parade, 6:30 p.m. (Seawall & Entertainment District)
Mardi Gras! Galveston's largest parade will feature elaborate floats, marching bands, bead throwing and more. The parade starts along Seawall Blvd. and 19th Street and ends downtown. (View in Calendar)

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Krewe of Barkus & Meoux Parade, 1 p.m. (Seawall)
Costumed pets of all sizes, shapes and species join in the fun for this parade and costume contest. The parade begins at 28th Street and Seawall Blvd. and travels along the Seawall to 47th Street. (View in Calendar)

Mardi Gras Children's Parade, 2 p.m. (Seawall)
Firefighters Local 571 hosts a parade dedicated to the families and children of Galveston with decorated floats and costumed kids. The parade begins at 27th Street and Seawall Blvd. and travels along the Seawall to 47th Street. (View in Calendar)

Tuesday, February 12, 2013 (Fat Tuesday)

Krewe of Aquarius 18th Annual Fat Tuesday Parade, 6:30 p.m. (Entertainment District)
This parade will feature marching bands, dance teams and dozens of lighted floats from the Krewes of Aquarius, Gambrinus, Thalasar, Bacchus, Babalu, Boudreaux, DuLac and Z Krewe. This is the final show before the curtain is drawn on Mardi Gras 2013. The parade will begin at 25th and Postoffice streets and travel throughout the entertainment district. (View in Calendar)

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 colorful marching bands, and the infectious merriment that dominates the island for two full weeks. For more information on Mardi Gras! Galveston visit www.mardigrasgalveston.com.

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Media Resources
Media professionals seeking more information about Mardi Gras! Galveston may contact Leah Cast, public relations manager for the Galveston Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, at 409-797-5152 or lcast@galvestoncvb.com.

About Galveston Island...
Galveston Island is a historic beach town located on the Gulf of Mexico just 50 miles from Houston. The island is best known as a vacation destination, offering 32 miles of beaches, a variety of family attractions, Texas’ premier cruise port and one of the largest and well-preserved concentrations of Victorian architecture in the country. For more information on Galveston Island visit www.galveston.com or call 1-888-GAL-ISLE.

About Galveston.com & Company...
Galveston.com & Company, Inc. is a destination marketing corporation based in Galveston, Texas. The company specializes in destination portals, as well as online lodging, cruise, parking, and transportation reservations; and event ticketing via its proprietary DestinationNext module.

For more information, contact Galveston.com & Company at via phone (409)763-8676 or email at websites@galveston.com.

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