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Everything is bigger in Texas. So if you are looking to spend the Fourth of July with a great big celebration, then look no further than one of the top summer travel destinations in Texas: Galveston!
Just an hour from Houston, Galveston is a great place to visit all summer. But Galveston particularly comes to alive around Independence Day. Galveston Island has some great Fourth of July celebrations and events in 2023. And given that it is the Fourth, we found it fitting to find four of the best!
1. Fireworks over the Gulf
What is a 4th of July celebration without the fireworks? Well, Galveston makes sure there are fireworks – and not just any fireworks.
First of all, you’ll have the gorgeous Gulf of Mexico in the backdrop while you watch the fireworks. And you can listen to the fireworks with music by using the free PYROCAST app from Apple or Google Play Store. After you install the app, you can enter the 4-digit show code, which is 8JUV.
It is a 20-minute show that begins at 9:15 PM on the beach near 37th Street and Seawall Boulevard. And right before it is the parade!
2. Fourth of July Parade
Fourth of July Parades are great no matter where in America you are. But there sure is something great about going to a Fourth of July Parade where you can see a boardwalk and beach in the background, right?
And that’s what you get with the Fourth of July Parade in Galveston Island. It takes place at night, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, since as I said before, it precedes the fireworks. The Parade Route is Seawall from 22nd Street to 45th Street. The parade is full of floats, decorated vehicles, and performers. You can find more information about the parade here.
3. Beats on the Beach & Fireworks at Palm Beach
Now the next few take place in the days leading up to the Fourth of July. And on Saturday, July 1st, you can head to Galveston’s only white sand beach, Palm Beach. They are hosting a Beats on the Beach event from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. A DJ will be there playing great family-friendly music. You can dance to the music or relax along the Lazy River. You can also head to Shoreline Grill which is open and serving food and cocktails from the bar. And then of course there are fireworks to enjoy!
4. Sand Sculpture Showdown
I don’t know if you have any plans at all for your Galveston Fourth of July vacation, but I wouldn’t be surprised at all if at some point, you and your family want to head to the beach. If you’re there on July 1st and July 2nd, then make sure you head to East Beach sometime between 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Then you’ll get to watch three master sand sculpture artists compete to make the best sand sculpture. After the event, you’ll even get to vote for your best!
And if after seeing this you want to improve your sandcastle game, then take advantage of the free sandcastle-building lessons offered during the Sand Sculpture Showdown. They take place at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM. You can find them by the water’s edge, straight down from the East Beach Pavilion.
Other Activities for the Fourth of July
Now, you may have noticed that for the Fourth of July, I only listed activities that happen at night. But what about earlier in the day?
Well, luckily there are a lot of fun things you can do in Galveston during the day. For example, you can go to the beach.
Another fun place to head is Galveston Island’s Historic Pleasure Pier. They have lots of great restaurants and stores you’ll family enjoy. And then of course there are the fun rides! They have a lot of great rides that range in thrill level from the carousel to roller coasters. And they’ve got great midway games, too. This of course would be fun on Fourth of July or on any during your trip. And if you’re there on June 30th or before you can save money there with this coupon.
Another fun place to spend time with your family in Galveston is Schlitterbahn. This waterpark is one of the premier attractions on Galveston Island. It’s got tons of water slides, water coasters, kids’ play areas, lazy rivers, swim-up bars, and more. It is a great place to spend time with your family while staying cool. And that’s important because it can get quite hot in Texas around the Fourth of July. And like the Historic Pleasure Pier, Schlitterbahn is great on the Fourth of July or anytime during your trip. You can find coupons for Schlitterbahn here.
Galveston Hotels
Still don’t have a hotel for the Fourth of July holiday? Well, don’t worry; there are still hotels available – and some even at discounted rates if you look here.