Mardi Gras in Galveston is a tradition that goes back to 1867 when a masked ball celebrating the holiday was first held in the city. By 1871, it became a citywide carnival, and it grew over the years to eventually become what is now: a two-week-long festival featuring an abundance of celebrations, concerts and colorful parades. Galveston’s event is now the third-largest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States, just behind New Orleans and St. Louis. More than 250,000 visitors come to the island every year during the two weeks preceding Lent.
Lining streets with joy
Some parade attendees dress in clown costumes to walk along the route.
A special highlight of Galveston’s Mardi Gras is the Shriners Children’s and Sunshine Kids Parade, which is held on the last Sunday afternoon of the celebration. The parade route follows the shape of a huge rectangle, which wraps around several city blocks in the downtown area of Galveston. The central part of the route is on The Strand, Galveston’s main street and center of commerce.
During the parade, patients and staff from Shriners Children’s Texas ride on floats and throw out beads and goodies to the crowds of families lining the streets. Tiny cars, minibikes, motorcycles, go-carts and old fire engines are driven by Shriners fraternity members who come from across Texas to join the fun. Some dress in funny clown costumes and walk along the route, while others ride on elaborate floats decorated in colorful Mardi Gras themes. Shriners Children’s mascot, Fezzy, usually makes an appearance, too.
Building community through tradition
The parade is a great way for Shriners, patients, families and staff to come together for a fun and exciting celebration each year. For patients, it’s a special time to get out into the community. The kids are the center of attention while they ride the festive floats and are the true stars of the parade. For Shriners, it’s a great bonding time for the fraternity when their fellow members from across the state come together for a common purpose. After the parade, you’ll find many at a huge cookout held a few blocks away at El Mina Shriners, the local Shriners chapter in Galveston.
Angel Martinez, RN a nurse at Shriners Children’s Texas, has helped coordinate the parade participation for patients, staff and Shriners for many years.
“This is a special day for our patients and for the Shriners,” Martinez said. “It’s fantastic that Shriners Children’s Texas plays a central part in one of the biggest events in Galveston, and it’s great to see so many Shriners come to participate. Every year, it keeps getting bigger and better!”
The 2025 Galveston Mardi Gras Shriners Children’s and Sunshine Kids Parade will take place on Sunday, March 2, at noon.
