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5 Mardi Gras celebrations around Texas that let the good times roll

Galveston is touted as hosting the third longest-running Mardi Gras celebration in the country.

Mardi Gras! Galveston

All eyes are on New Orleans when it comes to Mardi Gras, and rightly so. The Crescent City is known for its elaborate parades and masquerade balls in the weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday (which falls on February 13 this year). But Texas has its share of Mardi Gras events, too, with themes ranging from coastal to cowboy. (Mardi Gras bull riding is a thing in Bandera.) Here are five Mardi Gras celebrations worth visiting, near and far, across the Lone Star State – from an first-ever pub crawl to a two-week party that’s more than a century old.

Dallas-Fort Worth

Mardi Gras Near Southside in Fort Worth
Fort Worth has never had a Fat Tuesday "scene," but a collective in the historic Near Southside district is trying to change that. The group Mardi Gras Near Southside encourages revelers to "imbibe their way through Mardi Gras soirees." Their goal, they say, is "to bring Mardi Gras and New Orleans culture, joy, and education to the neighborhood, and do it in our own Fort Worthy way." They're doing just that with the inaugural South Main Mardi Gras Pub Crawl, happening 4-8 pm Saturday, February 10.

It is a self-guided crawl. The first stop is Tarantula Tiki Lounge (117 S. Main St.) at 4 pm, followed by stops at Southside Cellar (125 S. Main St.), Soma Winery (201 S. Main St.), then Hop Fusion Ale Works (200 E. Broadway Ave.). Finish with a dance party finale at The Holly (305 W. Daggett Ave. #101) at 8 pm.

All bars will feature Mardi Gras themed specials, and dressing up is encouraged. Participation is free.

Krewe of Barkus Mardi Gras Parade in McKinney
Unlike many Mardi Gras events, which are adults-only, McKinney's Krewe of Barkus Parade is for the whole family - including dogs. The 22nd annual parade, taking place Sunday, February 4 in Historic Downtown McKinney, brings out crowds to see pups strut their stuff.

Spectators can expect themed floats, costume contests, and lots of beads. This year’s theme is “Barkus Salutes the Lone Star State,” which means boots, cowboy hats, and Texan décor is encouraged. The registration fee is $5 per dog or float and entries may be submitted until Saturday.

The event will run from 12:30-4 pm with a parade start time of 2 pm. If staying overnight, consider the nearby historic Grand Hotel, built in 1885 and home to the upscale Rick’s Chophouse.

Gulf coast

Mardi Gras Galveston
This year marks the 113th celebration of Mardi Gras! Galveston, but some say the tradition dates back as far as 1867, about 10 years after the first Mardi Gras parade took place in New Orleans. From February 2-13, the entire island will come to life with beads, costumes, floats, and fun. There are more than 20 parades over two weeks here, many just as lively and elaborate as any in the Crescent City.

Parades range from the Umbrella Brigade, Jeep Parades, and the Firefighter Children’s Parade to the Krewe of Momus Grand Night Parade on February 10. All parades take place in the The Strand historic district. Tickets are required for entry into the parade route area, with exceptions on February 11, and Fat Tuesday, February 13. Balcony tickets are also an option, with just a few left for February 2-3.

Mardi Gras in Galveston also draws big-name musical acts, including the Gin Blossoms (February 3), Duelo (February 4), and the Eli Young Band (February 9). Mardi Gras tickets include access to concert viewing.

Numerous Galveston restaurants, bars, and hotels will also participate in the Mardi Gras action with live music and food and drink specials – one of the newest of which is Hotel Lucine. Other options include the recently renovated Grand Galvez, the sprawling San Luis Resort, and many more that are offering shuttle rides and free Mardi Gras tickets as part of hotel packages.

Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas in Beaumont
As the “Cajun Capital of Texas,” Beaumont takes Mardi Gras very seriously. The 33rd annual family-friendly festival features nine parades February 8-11, ranging from a motorcycle showcase to grand promenades with enormous New Orleans-inspired floats. More than 100,000 attendees are expected over the four-day fete. All parades start at Beaumont’s Civic Center and viewing spots are first-come, first-serve.

Other festivities include a free kids zone, a carnival with more than 30 rides and attractions, Cajun food vendors, and nightly concerts on the main stage. This year’s headliners include the Marshall Tucker Band and rapper Chingy. Concert admission ranges from $10-$25 depending on the day, and kids 11 and under are free.

There’s also a jazz brunch on February 10, catered by Beaumont’s Rao’s Bakery, that comes with a mimosa and bloody Mary bar for $35 per person.

Hill Country

Cowboy Mardi Gras in Bandera
Touted as “the biggest party this side of the Pecos,” the 19th annual celebration combines New Orleans vibes with cowboy life. The three-day event runs February 1-3, with live music taking place nightly at the 11^th Street Cowboy Bar. Nine bands include headliners Thomas Michael Riley, Leroy Thomas and the Zydeco Roadrunners, and Two Tons of Steel. Concert admission ranges from $15 - $35 for general admission daily, or $75 for a three-day pass.

Saturday is the main day for family-friendly festivities, including an art show and gumbo cook-off on the courthouse lawn, a Mardi Gras parade, and Cowboy Mardi Gras Bull Riding at Mansfield Park. Rodeo tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for kids 6-17. Stay at an authentic dude ranch at Rancho Cortez or let Bandera’s A Place to Stay Reservations help find a nearby guesthouse or cabin.

mardi gras galveston holidays

Airline News

American Airlines launches new gate program to foil early boarders

Photo courtesy of American Airlines

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Fort Worth-based American Airlines has launched a new system to catch passengers who try to sneak ahead in line.

According to a release, the airline is deploying a program in which technology is used to deter passengers who try to board before their official boarding group has been called.

Passengers who try to board early will not only hear a beep when they scan their boarding pass, but a tattletale message will pop up on the scanner, alerting the American Airlines employee of the passenger's correct group.

The airline trialed this modern technology over the past month at Albuquerque International Sunport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and Tucson International Airport. It will now be deployed at more than 100 airports across the U.S.

If a customer boards before their assigned group is called, the new software will not accept the boarding pass and instead makes an audible sound to alert the gate agent and customer that the group has not yet been called. In these instances, the American team member will invite the customer to rejoin the line when their boarding group is called.

According to a story in the NY Post, airline employees have a name for these people: “gate lice."

A statement from American Airlines says that those passengers who are paying for early access should get their just desserts. People who are paying extra are mad when others get the same benefits.

"The new technology is designed to ensure customers receive the benefits of priority boarding with ease," it says.

Surely a factor is the way American Airlines' current boarding system has become an exercise in the haves vs. the have-nots, with nine levels of boarding groups, from elite status members and credit card holders all the way down to the Basic Economy nobodies. It's gotten worse since the pandemic, with extra charges applied to every element of flying, including a charge if you want to choose your own seat.

As an explanation of why people might do it, the NY Post cites a theory that travelers try to get ahead "out of a tendency of conformity and a sense of competition."

Public shaming is a powerful motivator, and Larry David fans would surely agree that line-cutters should always be called out — but in this case, there is an actual valid reason for trying to get a jump in line, and that can be summed up in two words: overhead bins.

Too many travelers place their luggage in overhead bins that are not located over their seats. Who has not seen the guy breezily stash his suitcase in whatever bin is closest? And this is an inequity that is not addressed by flight attendants, who admittedly have enough on their hands.

But the fact remains that if you get on the plane when your boarding group boards, the odds are slimmer that your designated overhead bin is going to have room for your suitcase.

If the airline is not going to enforce the overhead bin situation, then it's hardly fair to blame gate lice for worrying about where their suitcase is going to end up — or worse, whether they'll face the horror of having to get their bag checked at the last minute because some other passenger stole their overhead space.

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