Nighttime scene of a pier with a lit amusement park ride and fireworks illuminating the sky and reflecting on the water.

Everybody loves a parade


By Forest Riggs

Dust off your red, white and blue and get ready to celebrate Independence Day, Galveston style! With a hot summer in full swing, Galveston is preparing for its annual 4th of July parade and spectacular fireworks display over the Gulf of Mexico. Over the years, the annual celebration has grown in size and popularity, making it a summer “must do†on many people’s list.

Every year, the Galveston Marine Corp League organizes and coordinates the colorful, patriotic parade along the Seawall. The parade route stretches from 59th Street to 25th Street, offering a few miles of beautiful beaches, Gulf breezes and endless places to gather and watch the eclectic, red, white and blue parade participants. They range from festooned color guards, military equipment, marching bands, patriotic floats, Boy Scout troops and art cars to city and county dignitaries riding the route and waving to the crowds. There are clowns, baton twirlers, fire trucks and all sorts of vehicles decorated in patriotic colors. Along the route, street vendors offer a variety of kitsch and souvenirs that delight the young and old attendees. Perhaps best of all are the beads and trinkets being tossed and thrown from parade entries. Everyone loves to reach for the beads and to build a heavy collection around their necks. Through the years, the Mardi Gras component of tossing and collecting beads has spread over into just about any reason for a parade on Galveston Island. If there is one thing for certain, it is that Galvestonians love to celebrate share the good times with visitors.

This year the parade starts at 7:30 p.m. and slowly wind its way down the Seawall stopping and disbanding once it reaches 25th Street. Along the route are several great places get cool libations (of the adult genre) and watch the parade. Rumors Beach Bar (3102 Seawall Boulevard) is an excellent place to start your 4th of July celebrating with Todd Slaughter and staff serving up great drinks along with music and of course, their famous shows.

The Float and The Poop Deck are also great places to cool down, have a drink and enjoy the event.

When the parade is over, don’t leave! Stick around and get ready to view a fantastic fireworks show originating from the 37th Street granite pier. That’s just down from Rumors; their deck is the best spot to see it all!

Each year the pyrotechnic display gets more and more beautiful. For a little over 20 minutes, colorful explosions fill the night sky and create beautiful reflections on the Gulf waters below. The backdrop of the Pleasure Pier, with its lights and the wildly colored Ferris wheel with gyrating electrical lighting, makes for some fantastic photos to share with family and friends.

After enduring all the stress of politics, Hurricane Harvey and the Santa Fe shooting, you owe it to yourself to get out and celebrate the 4th of July, especially this year. With its 32 miles of beaches, Galveston Island is a great place to catch the holiday spirit, maybe some beads, and always, a good time.

Galveston Pride scores big

It is Pride month and the Galveston Pride, celebrated June 8 through 10, was a huge success. The party and vendors on East Beach made the event fantastic and well attended. Not even the intense heat could stop the LGBTQ community from having a gay old time.

The street dance on 23rd Street was packed and overflowing. Kudos to the staff at 23rd Street Station Piano Bar for keeping the drinks flowing; no one had to wait long for their beverage. It is fair to say that everyone had a great time — gays, straights and everyone in between.

The big bangs continue

Lastly, since everyone likes fireworks and can never seems to get enough, the Galveston Park Board has started its “Stay and Play†campaign. Every Sunday evening at dark, fireworks fly from the 37th Street pier. Island hotel rooms are cheaper from Sunday through Thursday, so why not stay over and enjoy the Island a day or two more!

Forest Riggs, a resident of Galveston, is no stranger to the adventures of life. A former educator and business owner, he enjoys Island life and all that comes with it. He says he is a “raconteur with a Quixotic, gypsy spirit.†He has written for several newspapers and magazines as well as other writing pursuits, including a novel and collection of short stories.

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