For many, this 4th of July weekend means enjoying a long weekend. A great way to spend those hard-earned hours is to head to Galveston Island for fun at the beach including a parade, fireworks, sandcastle lessons, an old-fashioned band concert and more.
Plan to arrive on the island Wednesday, July 3 and treat yourself to a dose of Americana at the Galveston Beach Band concert. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. and features a diverse mix of show tunes, big band numbers and jazz. A special children’s parade takes place during the show. Part of a summer series of free music, the concert will take place at the Eugenia and George Sealy Pavilion, across from the Rosenberg Library, 900 24th Street.
On the 4th, island visitors can enjoy the annual Independence Day parade featuring a procession of floats, decorated military vehicles and performers. The parade will kick off at 6 p.m. on Seawall Boulevard starting at 22nd Street and continue west to 45th Street. After the parade, the island will host a 20-minute fireworks show at 9:15 p.m. near 37th Street and Seawall Boulevard. The fireworks show is sponsored by the City of Galveston and the Galveston Park Board of Trustees. Synchronized music will be available during the fireworks display. Download the Pyrocast app and enter code 8JUV to listen.
The fun continues on Saturday. Head to East Beach and learn to create architectural gems – crafted from sand – during free sandcastle lessons at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
On Saturday evening, enjoy a free concert at Saengerfest Park in historic downtown Galveston during the Summer Strand Series hosted by the Galveston Historical Foundation. Two Tons of Steel will provide the music that begins at 6:30 p.m.
Or, head to Moody Gardens’ Palm and take in Beats on the Beach, a family-friendly event that gives guests the opportunity to get up and dance to the beats of a D.J. They can also relax at the white-sand beach or lounge in the lazy river. Beats on the Beach takes place from 5:30-9:30 p.m. with fireworks lighting up the sky over Offatts Bayou at 9 p.m.
Visitors to Galveston’s beaches will have new ways to help keep them clean for all to enjoy. At several locations, they will find Up2U free trash bags to collect their waste and Beach Toy Borrow boxes to recycle used beach toys. Additionally, the Leave No Trace ordinance will be enforced during the spring and summer seasons. The Leave No Trace ordinance mandates that visitors do not leave belongings on the beach overnight -- like coolers, chairs, and tents -- to protect wildlife and prevent items from being washed into the ocean. See how you can help here.
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, including several National Historic Landmarks. Galveston Island is the birthplace of Juneteenth and home to popular amusements such as Moody Gardens and Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark, as well as a variety of museums and recreational activities from surfing to birding. For more information on Galveston Island go to www.visitgalveston.com or call 1-888-GAL-ISLE.
