How does Galveston’s Mardi Gras compare to New Orleans?    

As most of us know, Mardi Gras on the Strand took place during the last two weekends of February. For those of you who attended, you saw the extravagant festival full of music, beads, and spectacular food.

At the same time, Mardi Gras was taking place on the busy and beautiful streets of New Orleans. Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Mardi Gras in Galveston both offer incredible experiences, reflecting the cultural backgrounds of each city while celebrating the same party spirit.

New Orleans Mardi Gras is globally renowned for its grandeur, with massive parades, elaborate floats, and a rich history that dates back to the 16th century, with its first parades occurring in 1857, according to the official Mardi Gras New Orleans website. And, of course, my personal favorite part: king cake.

The streets of the French Quarter and Canal Street are packed with people all month long, as the entire city pulses with music, dance, and elaborate costumes. People line the balconies on the streets and throw beads, bouncy balls, and may even dump milk on you if you're on the unlucky side of the street that day.

According to Rosenberg Library, the Galveston, Texas, Mardi Gras has been celebrated almost every year since 1867 with the emergence of two rival krewes by 1871, Knights of Momus and Knights of Myth. The celebrations still continue to this day despite high costs thanks to a revival in the 1980’s thanks to George and Cynthia Mitchell.

While it too features fun parades, colorful beads, and costumes, the festivities are much smaller in scale, mostly confined to Strand Street apart from a couple of parades that run along the seawall before making their way to the Strand. 

Galveston’s Mardi Gras is characterized by its coastal charm, with the Gulf of Mexico serving as a backdrop for many of the celebrations. The city's parade floats, while still colorful, tend to be less extravagant than those in New Orleans, and the atmosphere is more relaxed.

Additionally, Galveston’s Mardi Gras includes a strong focus on live music, with genres like country, jazz, mariachi, and rock resonating through the streets.

While both cities share a love for partying, New Orleans’ Mardi Gras stands as the iconic month-long celebration, with locals given time off from school and even work. Galveston offers a more accessible, community-oriented take on the celebration.

I attended Mardi Gras at both locations this year, and while I love Galveston, New Orleans definitely takes the king cake this time for it’s sheer dedication to celebrating and partying.