GALVESTON, Texas (October 8, 2012) – This November, Galveston will be your passport to holiday magic with a special lineup of events to help you celebrate the season, including a new downtown lighting festival Lasers, Lights & Magic in the Park, and the opening of Festival of Lights at Moody Gardens. But, before you get in the holiday spirit, the island will host the largest four-day biker rally in the country with the Lone Star Motorcycle Rally.
With such a busy month ahead, here is a breakdown of the exciting Galveston happenings you’ve got to get on 
your calendar:
Lone Star Motorcycle Rally
The first weekend of November visitors to Galveston have a chance to experience the largest four-day biker rally in the country as the Lone Star Motorcycle Rally makes its way to the island Nov. 1–4. More than 500,000 motorcyclists will gather among hundreds of vendors in a celebration of the finest machines known to man. The rally will include several bike shows, live concerts and a variety of celebrity appearances, including from Charlie Hunnam (“Jax”) from the hit TV show Sons of Anarchy. For details, visit www.lonestarrally.com.
Galveston’s Passport to Holiday Magic (New!)
Galveston is the “Winter Wonder Island” of Texas and this year the island will offer visitors a new experience with its Passport to Holiday Magic – a two-month celebration of more than 1,000 magical holiday events. During the holiday season, visitors to Galveston will be able to access a free downloadable passport to easily keep track of the island’s many holiday festivities. When someone visits five or more participating events and attractions with their passport Nov. 10 – Jan. 1, they will be eligible to enter weekly give-a-way drawings, including chances to win a Disney Magic cruise for four. The passport is available at www.galveston.com/holidaymagic.
Here are just a few of the events included on the Passport to Holiday Magic promotion this month:
- Lasers, Lights & Magic in the Park (New!) – Galveston’s historic downtown will sparkle with fun Nov. 24 – Dec. 31 as Saengerfest Park is transformed into a holiday spectacle for the new event Lasers, Lights and Magic in the Park. Visitors to downtown will be able to enjoy a 15-minute holiday themed laser light show at 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. daily during the holiday season. On Saturdays and Sundays, Santa on The Strand will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. offering photos in Santa’s Workshop. To add to the magic, visitors will be able to send text messages to make it snow in tropical Galveston! All activities are free and open to the public.
- Festival of Lights Opening Ceremony – The 11th annual Festival of Lights at Moody Gardens will lighten up the season on Nov. 10 when Santa Claus is set to parachute into Galveston as the highlight of the opening ceremony. The kickoff ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. with live performances. Santa is set to arrive by 6 p.m. to flip the switch to turn on Moody Gardens’ mile-long trail of more than a million lights. Festival of Lights will continue throughout the holiday season Thursdays through Saturdays from Nov. 16 to Dec. 8 before opening nightly Dec. 13 until Jan. 5. For details, visit www.moodygardens.org.
- Holiday Half Marathon (New!) – On Nov. 18, Outloud! Productions will present the 1st annual Holiday Half Marathon in Galveston. The race will feature a two-loop course through Moody Gardens & Scholes International Airport with post-race music, food and awards. For more information, visit www.halfmarathonmoodygardens.com.
- Home for the Holidays Gift Market – Kick off your holiday shopping over Thanksgiving weekend at the Home for the Holidays Gift Market. Taking place Nov. 23-25 at the Moody Gardens Convention Center, the gift market will feature more than 150 of the region’s most unique gift vendors offering distinctive home décor, candles, craft foods, accessories and more. For more information, visit http://homefortheholidaysgiftmarket.com
- Hotel Galvez Holiday Lighting Celebration – Performances from The Nutcracker and Christmas carols will entertain guests Nov. 23 at the City of Galveston’s Annual Holiday Lighting Celebration at Hotel Galvez & Spa. This free family event begins at 6 p.m. with the arrival of Santa Claus by horse-drawn carriage, followed by the lighting of the hotel’s 35-foot Christmas tree on the front lawn. As part of the evening, Hotel Galvez will accept monetary donations for the Salvation Army to help those in need. For more information, visit www.mitchellhistoricproperties.com.
- East End Victorian Christmas Homes Tour – With one of the largest, well-preserved collections of Victorian architecture in the country, Galveston offers the charm of a traditional Christmas with the benefit of island weather. This year, visitors can experience that charm on the 23rd annual East End Victorian Christmas Homes Tour. The tour Nov. 30 will feature restored Victorian homes all found in Galveston’s historic East End district. For more information, call 409-765-1894.
“Great Taste of the Gulf” Epicurean Evening
The Galveston Restaurant Association and Galveston.com & Company “Great Taste of the Gulf” Epicurean Evening will return for its 41st year Nov. 15 to celebrate Gulf Coast cuisine. Taking place at the Moody Gardens Convention Center, more than 2,000 expected guests will have the opportunity to sample some of the Gulf Coast’s finest cuisine and beverages provided by more than 100 of Galveston County’s top restaurateurs, hoteliers and dedicated suppliers. Festivities will also include a silent auction featuring a variety of unique items. For details, visit http://epicureanevening.com.
Liza Minnelli at The Grand 1894 Opera House
On Nov. 10, superstar performer Liza Minnelli will grace the stage of The Grand 1894 Opera House for a one-night performance at 8 p.m. Backed by a 6-piece band, Liza will take you on a high-energy guided tour of her life and those legendary show-stopping hits. Other shows playing at The Grand this November include the musical A Chorus Line and Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia’s Guess How Much I Love You and My Little Storybook. For details, visit www.thegrand.com.
Veteran’s Day Salute at Seawolf Park
On Nov. 11, join the Galveston Marine Corps League for its annual Veteran’s Day Salute at Seawolf Park. The ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. and include speakers from all branches of the military as well as a memorial reef placement. Attendees will receive free parking and admittance into the American Undersea Warfare Center at Seawolf Park – home of the USS Stewart destroyer escort and USS Cavalla submarine. For details, call 409-797-5114.
Artwalk and Market on the Strand
This November, don’t miss free events in downtown Galveston. On Nov. 17, Market on the Strand will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Saengerfest Park featuring a showcase from local artisans, handcrafters and growers. The next weekend, downtown Galveston’s commercial art galleries and non-profit art spaces will open their doors to the public for an evening of free art viewing and entertainment at Artwalk from 6 to 9 p.m. For details, visit www.galveston.com.
Galveston Island State Park Beach Walks
The Friends of Galveston Island State Park (GISP) are offering beach walks every Saturday at 10:00 am Nov. 3 through Nov. 24. At these events, you can get a close-up look at the many critters, plants and birds that inhabit the sand, surf and seaweed. Tour activities include hands-on seining, digging and beachcombing under the guidance of volunteers from Galveston Bay Area Master Naturalists and Friends of GISP. For details, visit www.galveston.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.
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