March is a big month for festivals in Texas, with over 100 celebrations happening across the state. These events take place in big cities and small towns. They celebrate many things, like local history, music, food, art, and culture. No matter where you are in Texas during March, you’re likely to find a festival nearby.
Mardi Gras in Galveston is one of the most popular festivals in the state. Mardi Gras means “Fat Tuesday” in French. It is a day of feasting and fun. It is the day before some Christians observe a time of quiet reflection known as Lent. The date of Mardi Gras changes each year, falling between February 3 and March 9. This year, it is on March 4. Galveston’s Mardi Gras festival runs for two weeks leading up to Mardi Gras Day.
Galveston’s Mardi Gras tradition started in the late 1800s. Back then, families and groups of friends had masked balls. The first official citywide celebration was in 1871. Clubs called Krewes held night parades followed by fancy balls. By 1873, tourists were coming to Galveston to join the fun.
Galveston stopped its official Mardi Gras celebrations during World War II. The tradition didn’t start again for almost 40 years. Finally, the city brought Mardi Gras back in 1985.
Today the celebration includes lots of family-friendly events. There are concerts, parties, a fun run, and more than 20 parades. Most of the events take place in Galveston’s downtown area and along the beachfront. If you decide to visit Galveston for Mardi Gras, you’ll be one of 250,000 visitors to join the party!
What Do You Think? How would you celebrate Mardi Gras in Galveston?
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