I was asked recently what a first-time Mardi Gras reveler in Galveston needs to know. I thought about it and this is a good question. Mardi Gras Galveston is not like other Mardi Gras celebrations. It is its own special kind of celebration and it is a good one. So here is my best advice for first-timers.
- Go to Mardi Gras. The majority of the entertainment happens downtown on The Strand, which for the two weekends of Mardi Gras becomes the Uptown Entertainment District. If it is your first time, you simply must walk among the crowds, soaking up the entire atmosphere of Mardi Gras. Beg for beads from the folks on the balconies. Watch a parade. Dance to a band. Dance with your friends. Let loose. Have fun. There are bands and parades Friday night, all day Saturday and Sunday. Admission to the district is $15 each day, except Sunday.
- Watch a parade. Along with balcony parties, parade watching is the big activity of Mardi Gras. Galveston has more than two dozen parades over the course of the 12 days. There is a parade for every taste. There are big parades with big floats. Little parades with no floats. Parades of fancy people with fancy umbrellas. Parades of golf carts. Of zany people. Of art cars. There are even parades just for kids and pets. They are on the Seawall and in the Uptown Entertainment District and routes in between. The only parades that will cost you anything to watch are those within the entertainment district, and that’s included in the price of admission. Seawall parades and others throughout town are free.
- Go to a party. Surely you know someone having a Mardi Gras party. Everyone has Mardi Gras parties in Galveston it seems, especially those people who live near parade routes. So if you get an invite, go.
- Indulge on a balcony. It used to be the balcony parties for exclusive gatherings that were either quite expensive or more often than not, invitation only. But that has changed. There are still a few of the invitation-only krewe parties to be found, but there are numerous parties open to anyone willing to buy a ticket. And some are as low as $35-$50 a person. That usually includes a cash bar, entertainment in the party, and sometimes light food depending on the party. You’ll likely need to bring your own throws (beads, goodies of any kind), but it is worth the money to see Mardi Gras from the balcony. Although I warn you, once you venture skyward to the balcony, you won’t want to go back down among the crowds. It’s a different perspective of Mardi Gras in the balcony and one you shouldn’t miss if you have the opportunity.
- Ride a float. If you have the opportunity to ride a float, take it. There is even an opportunity to build your own krewe and ride in a parade. If you have a golf cart, decorate it and join the parade. Fancify an umbrella and be part of the world-record setting Funky Uptown Umbrella Brigade. Being in the parade is an amazing experience that tops even a spot along a balcony railing.
- Most importantly, get out, get involved and have fun. Mardi Gras Galveston is all about getting the crowd in on the fun. There are member-only krewe events, but there are plenty of krewe parties open the public as well. And if this is your first time, get out, enjoy, take notes and gather your own group of friends to create your own krewe for next year. Mardi Gras survives and grows because of the large community of volunteers and krewe members who help keep the Mardi Gras spirit alive year-round.
- Finally, no first-timer Mardi Gras tip sheet would be complete without the mandatory rules of Mardi Gras: It’s a party, treat it like a party and not a competition. Do not push, shove or otherwise fight over plastic beads. Period. Don’t be a stick in the mud and get out in the crowd and let loose. You don’t have to show skin (in fact, that’s highly discouraged) to get in on the action. Just leave a few inhibitions behind and dance like nobody’s watching as they say. (But do remember people are watching, and typically recording with camera phones, so be mindful that what you do could end up on YouTube….) If you drink do so in moderation or have a designated driver. Nothing puts a damper on your Mardi Gras festivities like a drunk driving ticket, or worse, accident injuring someone.
So leave your worries and stress at home; there is no place for that at Mardi Gras. Download a full schedule and let yourself get funky and have some fun.
Laissez les bon temps rouler!
Comments
Powered by Facebook Comments
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.