East Texas Entertainment

BY FAITH HARPER
fharper@tylerpaper.com

Beads, costumes, colors and fun — the season of Mardi Gras is here. This weekend is the second weekend of fun and entertainment in Galveston. The city hosts the third largest celebration in the country following behind New Orleans and Mobile, Ala., said Leah Cast, public relations manager of the Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Ms. Cast said the city is hosting its 102nd Mardi Gras celebration, complete with parades, parties, dancing, music, beads and of course spirits. She said the city hosts two weekends of events with the second weekend generally drawing the largest crowd.

The final weekend of fun before lent will begin tomorrow with country music star Lee Brice kicking off with a headline performance in the Uptown Entertainment District, according to a news release from the visitors bureau. The chart-topping, “Hard to Love” singer will take the stage at 9 p.m. in Saengerfest Park with parades taking place before and after the performance.

The fun starts Saturday with the Krewe d'Esprit Rosaire hosting its annual Battle of the Bands at 9 a.m. at Kempner Park with the Krewe's Seawall parade leaving from the park at 11 a.m., according to the release. Several parades will take place during the day with the largest parade of Mardi Gras! Galveston — the Knights of Momus Grand Night Parade — kicking off at 6:30 p.m.

Sunday will be a day for the family with the Krewe of Barkus & Meoux pet parade and Mardi Gras Children's Parade on the Seawall, according to the release.

A full listing of scheduled parades, routs and general information is available at www.mardigrasgalveston.com.

FRIDAY
7 p.m.: Danny Weber Memorial Fire Truck Parade (Entertainment District)
8 p.m.: Krewe Babalu 8th Annual “All Krewe Parade” (Entertainment District)
10 p.m.: Krewe of Maximilian Parade (Entertainment District)

SATURDAY
9 a.m.: Krewe d'Esprit Rosaire Battle of the Bands (Kempner Park)
11 a.m.: Krewe d'Esprit Rosaire Parade (Seawall)
1 p.m.: Z Krewe 19th Z Processional (Entertainment District)
3 p.m.: Houston Chronicle Neauxs Krewe Parade (Entertainment District)
4:30 p.m.: Ford Parade Sponsored by Texas Ford Dealers (Entertainment District)
6:30 p.m.: Knights of Momus Grand Night Parade (Seawall & Entertainment District)

SUNDAY
1 p.m.: Krewe of Barkus & Meoux Parade (Seawall)
2 p.m. : Mardi Gras Children's Parade (Seawall)
4 p.m.: Cruise Krewe Parade (Entertainment District)

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