Mardi Gras 2012 Galveston

[ssb]

For anyone cruising out of Galveston during the period February 10-21

 

COME AND JOIN THE FUN

 

http://www.mardigrasgalveston.com/

[nlt46]

Oh my goodness. We are just by the grace of luck.. missing this. How crowded could it be!!!

 

Nancy

[ssb]

Oh my goodness. We are just by the grace of luck.. missing this. How crowded could it be!!!

 

Nancy

 

Everything is relative!

 

How crowded do you think it will be?

[ssb]

If you are interested?

Information on History of Mardi Gras-Galveston.

Incidently it is put on by non profit organizations of Krewes for charitable purposes!

 

http://www.mardigrasgalveston.com/general/history.asp

[rvsullivan]

Yep, being a local for almost my entire life, I know it's insane. A purely commercial operation that has been going on for about 26-27 years. I know it's attended by mostly tourists and any "local" knows to avoid the entire area for two weeks. Nothing like New Orleans Mardi Gras. It was restarted as a means to generate income for the Island and specifically for a hotel owner to fill his rooms. If I were going to deal with the hassles of traffic and hotel room availability, I would make the four hour drive to New Orleans.

[Galveston Cruiser]

Sorry to dispute your words RV, but we are "local" and our friends and us all attend Mardi Gras, walk the dog in the Krewe of Barkus and Meow and give the kids in the children's parade all the beads we have collected.

Us "locals" have Mardi Gras parties, decorate our homes and have a wonderful time.

Oh yes, and we "locals" inaugurated the parades last year with the Umbrella Brigade, got in the Guiness Book of World Records, and will do so this year.

Mardi Gras dates from the late 1800's in Galveston and was revived by George Mitchell to revitalize the city. One of many things he has done for Galveston.

Mardi Gras on the island is geared toward families, which I cannot say the same about New Orleans. (I lived there so not speaking of something unknown).

Everyone has a choice to attend or not. Same with any festival in any city anywhere. It is your perogative to not attend, but please don't speak for all the "locals".

[curlymason]

I leave on Mariner on Feb 12th and I'm quite a bit concerned about how the parades at 11 and 1 will affect traffic getting to the port. Any experiences with this??

 

I'm tempted to get there at 10am and just sit at Starbucks until time to board.

[Galveston Cruiser]

Use Harborside.

[ssb]

Yep, being a local for almost my entire life, I know it's insane. A purely commercial operation that has been going on for about 26-27 years. I know it's attended by mostly tourists and any "local" knows to avoid the entire area for two weeks. Nothing like New Orleans Mardi Gras. It was restarted as a means to generate income for the Island and specifically for a hotel owner to fill his rooms. If I were going to deal with the hassles of traffic and hotel room availability, I would make the four hour drive to New Orleans.

:rolleyes:

 

Tickets are not required for admission to Mardi Gras seawall activities.

Six parades are on seawall:

2 the first weekend

4 the second weekend

http://www.mardigrasgalveston.com/seawall/parades.asp

Tickets are only required to enter

the Uptown Entertainment District.

Admission to the Entertainment District is FREE

for children under 12 with parent or guardian.

Other fees may be required for special events of Krewes,

which are fund raising charitable non profit functions.

Hotels, vendors and private events may be for profit events and functions.

Yes !

In 1985, native Galvestonian George P. Mitchell and his wife, Cynthia, launched the revival of Mardi Gras in Galveston to promote Galveston and his businesses.

Some of the parades and charities benefited are:

Sunshine Kids,

Shriners Hospital for Kids,

Galveston Humane Society,

Women’s Crisis Center,

and on and on and on and on and on and many more.

==========================================================

Since 1932 the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has provided

approximately $283 million for scholarships, research, endowments, calf scramble participants, junior show exhibitors, School Art participants, and other educational and youth programs. Last Last year in 2011 HLS&R alone,

$17,175,831 was provided for these same programs.

Currently, more than 2,000 students are on show scholarships,

attending more than 100 different Texas colleges and universities.

The value of these scholarships is approximately $30 million.

The 2011 attendance of the show alone was 2,262,834.

I guess this HLS&R event would not have happened either,

if the founders of HLS&R would not have come together in 1932

to promote their breeds of cattle!

And because of the Mitchell’s,:)

Galveston now has a wonderful event

bringing people togther for fun,

and economic benefit to Galveston,

and for the charities of Galveston!

The charities in Greater Galveston County

are grateful for the benefits from Mardi Gras.:D

The programs in Greater Galveston County

are grateful for the benefits from HLS&R.:D

[ssb]

Oh my goodness. We are just by the grace of luck.. missing this. How crowded could it be!!!

 

Nancy

 

According to web site

Mardi Gras! Galveston now annually attracts as many as 250,000 revelers.

[nlt46]

According to web site

Mardi Gras! Galveston now annually attracts as many as 250,000 revelers.

 

Way to go Galveston, but I'm old and am glad that I will not be a part of these festivities.

 

Nancy

[ssb]

Way to go Galveston, but I'm old and am glad that I will not be a part of these festivities.

 

Nancy

 

Thanks for your reasoning comment!

Its fun participating in a lot of the family oriented events.

It is a good people watching event also,

observing folks of all ages enjoying the events

and watching a lot of the old folks reverting back to their childhood

enthusiasms.

It’s can similar to attending the circus, carnival with rides,

or a rodeo with children and grandchildren!

Knowing you are a cruiser and most cruisers are adventurist

and open minded, I thought you would not be so sarcastic!:rolleyes:

 

Im old too in age, but not mind!

Trying to smell the roses!

That why I love cruising!

 

A good attitude is the difference between ordeal and adventure!

Everyone to their own though!!!!!!

Enjoy your next cruise!

Hope you participate in

RCCL Make a Wish Program

if you are cruising RCCL!

[nlt46]

and open minded, I thought you would not be so sarcastic!

Im old too in age, but not mind! "

 

 

Well, I wasn't trying to be sarcastic. I was just saying that it would not be my cup of tea, but for whoever liked that... way to go for them. Goodness!!

 

Nancy

[Andrea72]

Knowing you are a cruiser and most cruisers are adventurist

and open minded, I thought you would not be so sarcastic!:rolleyes:

 

Im old too in age, but not mind!

Trying to smell the roses!

That why I love cruising!

 

Wow, you take your Mardis Gras seriously, which is great for you....no sarcasm intended. What I love about cruising is that there is something for everyone and each can do their own thing. Personally, my brother heads to Mardis Gras every year in New Orleans, and he loves it. I avoid it like the plague. But, as I've been to most continents in the world, I'd say that I am pretty adventurous. Oh, and I do love roses! I'll be stopping to smell a few today. Thanks for the suggestion....sarcasm intended :D

[ssb]

Oh my goodness. We are just by the grace of luck.. missing this. How crowded could it be!!!

 

Nancy

 

This is the post I was responding to!

[Andrea72]

This is the post I was responding to!

 

Understood, but that is the problem with email/posts; they don't always translate well. She wasn't being sarcastic; she was sincere. We are traveling with two small children who do not handle this type of crowd well. Controlled chaos is the name of the game with those two kids, and while I'm sure many families will enjoy the Mardis Gras celebration, for ours it is a bit too much.

 

So, I hope that the event goes well, and that much joy is had by the people in and around the festivities. For us, we are lucky to miss it. My two would be like over-anxious cats ready to take off around that many people. It wouldn't be pretty.

 

Laissez le bon temps rouler ;)

[IslandToIsland]

This is something we would like to check out after debarking the Magic on Feb. 12. Anyone know of a place where we can store luggage until our 1:30pm shuttle from Galveston Limo?

[ssb]

FREE

All Family except Momus Downtown Night 18th

ON SEAWALL

Saturday February 11, 2012

12:00 Parade - Mystic Krewe of Aquarious - Big

6:00 Parade - Krewe of Gambrinus – Big and Fireworks of Gulf

In Downtown Entertainment District –

Sunday February 12, 2012

Family Gras Day

Free Entry into Entertainment District –

Old Town – On Strand St. – Next to Harborside and Terminals

Gates Open at 11:00

Two parades:

1:00 Sunshine Kids Parade

4:00 Shriners for Childrens Parades

On SEAWALL

Saturday February 18, 2012

11:00 Parade of Krewe of Espirit Rosiare

Free - on SEAWALL and up 31st

6:30 till Parade Krewe of Momus (LARGEST)

Free - on SEAWALL and on 25th street up to downtown

and entry fee in Downtown Entertainment District –

ON SEAWALL

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2012

12:15 Barkus and Meoux Parade free

www.galvestonhumane.org/article.php?eID=61

2:00 Firefighters Children’s Parade free

www.childrensparade.org

Downtown

Tuesday February 21, 2012

Fat Tuesday Parade - Big 6:30

===============================================

You can attend viewing parties and throw beads for a fee

in Downtown Entertainment District –

http://www.mardigrasgalveston.com/uptown/Parties.asp

You can ride in some floats and throw beads in some parades for a fee

on Seawall and Downtown Entertainment District

http://www.mardigrasgalveston.com/krewes/events.asp

http://www.mardigrasgalveston.com/krewes/

http://www.mardigrasgalveston.com/

[ssb]

This is something we would like to check out after debarking the Magic on Feb. 12. Anyone know of a place where we can store luggage until our 1:30pm shuttle from Galveston Limo?

 

12th Childrens Day and free

but probably late for you opens at 11:00 but parade later

 

Maybe check Tremont Hotel and pay a fee to hotel?

2 blocks from Carnival terminal and you can easy walk depending on luggage

 

There is paved walkway opening in fence at 25th and Harborside

2 blocks up 25th and left 1 block to hotel

http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/GLSTH/mapanddirections/main.wnt?param=1

 

 

 

http://www.mardigrasgalveston.com/

 

 

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