Mardi Gras parades: Not just for Galveston anymore

The floats are getting their last minute decorations, the beads are being prepared to be tossed and Mardi Gras revelers are resting up for two weeks of pre-Lenten celebrations. But the preparations aren’t in Galveston alone. More and more each year, the mainland and Bolivar Peninsula’s Mardi Gras celebrations have taken hold.

Kemah, Crystal Beach and Texas City each are hosting events leading up to Fat Tuesday.

Krewe De Peninsula

The oldest Mardi Gras celebration off Galveston Island in the county belongs to the folks of the Bolivar Lighthouse Krewe.

The peninsula’s Mardi Gras festivities started Saturday with the Mardi Gras ball at the Coconuts restaurant where King Robbie Byus and Queen Anne Willis presided over the party.

The big event comes in two weeks when the krewe will host its 21st annual Mardi Gras parade Feb. 18. The Heroes and Villains-themed parade will start in the Avocet Subdivision and then head north on state Highway 87 starting at 11:30 a.m.

For information, go to lighthousekrewe.com or call Willis at 409-684-3345.

Beads On The Water

It was a decade ago that a band of Mardi Gras lovers in the north county decided to put their own twist on the celebrations made popular on the island but bring them to the water off the shores of Kemah.

The parting band of pirates dubbed themselves the Krewe Du Lac.

The festivities get going with a Krewes into Kemah kickoff party at Bakkhus Taverna in the Lighthouse District on Friday that will feature live music, best beads and best Mardi Gras mask contest.

On Saturday, those who survived the night before can take an early morning run in the Galloway Gallop Fun Run, which features certified 10K and 5K races and a kids dash. The run starts at 8 a.m.

This year, Kemah’s official krewe’s theme is Tropical Pirates and includes a land parade Saturday that will start at Fifth and Bradford streets, wind past the Kemah Boardwalk and end along Ninth Street near Galveston Bay.

The parade starts at 11 a.m. with the ever-popular line up get together starting at 10 a.m.

After the parade, the Mardi Pardi takes place at T-Bone Tom’s Backyard and that night it’s the Masquerade Ball at Zone 54 starting at 9 p.m.

The fun continues Sunday with the Crazy Alan’s Mardi Gras Party with live music starting at 2 p.m.

On Feb. 18, Kemah’s oldest Mardi Gras tradition, the Yachty Gras Grand Night Boat Parade takes place in the Clear Creek Channel near the Kemah Boardwalk.

Boat owners are encouraged to form their own krewes, give their boats some Mardi Gras flare and set sail for a night of revelry.

For information on Krewe Du Lac go to krewedulac.org or call Annabelle Ruch at 832-771-7661. For information on Yachty Gras go to yachtygras.com or call Dr. Maurine Howard at 713-882-4040.

Rotary Mardi Gras

The Rotary Club of Texas City got into the Mardi Gras act last year with its first Mardi Gras on the Mainland Gala that proved a huge hit.

The dinner, dance and auction helps the club raise funds for its community projects including scholarships for Texas City High School students and free books to help kindergarten students learn to read.

This year’s gala will be Saturday at the Charles T. Doyle Convention Center and features music from two bands and a Cajun-style dinner fixed up by Benno Deltz.

Tickets are $75 per person and can be purchased at the Texas City-La Marque Chamber of Commerce or at the Texas First Bank branch in Texas City.