Blue October and millions of beads at Mardi Gras! Galveston
Texas bands Blue October, Bowling for Soup and norteño act Los Herederos de Nuevo Leon headline Mardi Gras! Galveston’s 109th celebration.
The festivities started Friday and run through Feb. 25 throughout Galveston and include more than 25 concerts, 23 parades, 20 balcony parties and several balls. More than 3 million beads are expected to be thrown throughout the events.
Houston rock band Blue October performs at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 15. A new album, “This Is What I Live For,” is due this year. Wichita Falls-via-Denton pop-punk outfit
When: Through Feb. 25
Where: Downtown Galveston, Mardi Gras Entertainment District Tickets: $22 general admission and up; mardigrasgalveston.com
Bowling for Soup performs at 10:30 p.m. Feb. 21. On Feb. 16, Norteño band Los Herederos de Nuevo Leon headlines the Fiesta Gras celebration, now in its fourth year, alongside Bidi Bidi Banda, a Selena tribute act from Austin.
All concerts are at Saengerfest Park on the Corona Stage in downtown Galveston.
Electric Mardi Gras features a spate of EDM DJs, including DJ Squared and DJ t3, throughout the weekend at 21st and Mechanic streets. Glow sticks not included.
The ever-reliable Bun B will serve as grand marshal for the inaugural Bumpin’ Bus Parade, 5:30 p.m. Feb. 22, featuring more than 20 party buses proceeding through downtown Galveston.
A spate of parades will spread joy and beads throughout the city. Among them are the Mystic Krewe of Aquarius, Krewe Gambrinus and Knights of Momus Grand Night Parade. The Zaniest Golf Cart Parade also returns for a ninth year.
joey.guerra@chron.com twitter.com/joeyguerra