Mardi Gras Galveston ends with Fat Tuesday flair

Mardi Gras Galveston wrapped up Tuesday night as the final floats rolled down the Strand and thousands gathered to celebrate Fat Tuesday in unusually warm weather.

Crowds lined downtown streets as marching bands played, beads flew through the air and revelers marked the close of weeks of parades, parties and long-standing island traditions. Organizers said temperatures that climbed into the 80s earlier in the celebration helped draw strong attendance despite a brief storm during the run.

“We went from 80 degrees to a little storm in between, but thankfully, the revelry goes on at Mardi Gras Galveston,” said Roshelle Salinas, spokesperson for the event.

Fat Tuesday traditionally brings a surge of local support, Salinas said, as Galveston residents join visitors from across Texas and beyond to close out the season. She described the final night as the moment when the island community rallies around businesses and parade crews who help stage the annual spectacle.

“This is when the island comes out to really support the businesses, to support the crews and to give praise to this tradition every year,” Salinas said.

Mardi Gras in Galveston is one of the largest celebrations of its kind in Texas, drawing visitors for weeks of concerts, themed parades, and family-friendly events centered along the Strand Historic District and surrounding areas. The festival generates significant economic activity for local restaurants, bars and shops during what is typically a slow winter tourism season.

By Tuesday evening, spectators packed sidewalks and balconies for a final glimpse of decorated floats making their last pass through downtown. Krewe members tossed beads and trinkets into the crowd as music echoed off historic brick buildings.

While the event attracts out-of-town tourists, organizers say Fat Tuesday carries a distinct hometown feel. Longtime residents often treat the closing night as both a celebration and a farewell before Lent begins and the city returns to its regular pace.

For a few final hours on Tuesday, locals and visitors celebrated side by side under clear skies before crews began dismantling stages, removing barricades, and sweeping streets.

By Wednesday morning, the Strand will look markedly different—quieter and cleared—as Galveston transitions from festival mode back to everyday island life after another Mardi Gras season.

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