Galveston is gearing up for its 114th annual Mardi Gras celebration, with festivities beginning Friday and running through Fat Tuesday on March 4. More than 350,000 visitors are expected to attend the island’s vibrant parades, concerts, and events, making it one of the biggest Mardi Gras celebrations in the nation.
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Galveston's annual Mardi Gras celebration starts this weekend. About 350,000 people are expected to come for two weeks of parades, live music, and other fun events running up to Fat Tuesday on March 4. This is the 114th year of Mardi Gras in Galveston, Texas. It is one of the biggest and most-anticipated events in the country.
There will be a 5K run, more than 20 parades, and other themed events in the city. Visit Galveston's Mary Beth Bassett says that Mardi Gras is very good for the island's economy because it brings lots of happy people to hotels, bars, and other businesses.
Galveston is changing the rules about parking to accommodate all the tourists. From 5 a.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Sunday, you can park overnight on Seawall Boulevard as long as you get there first. However, restrictions will remain until Thursday, and fines will go up to $250 to discourage early parking.
Since there are events going on, parking will cost $2 an hour from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. The Galveston Police Department tells people that the sidewalk along the Seawall must stay clear for pedestrians and that illegal items, like chairs or cones, cannot be used to reserve parking spots.
With many cops around and a focus on safety, officials tell people who come to the celebration to be responsible. The Mardi Gras Galveston website allows you to find out more and buy tickets for special events.
