The Texas Twist On Fat Tuesday:A State-Wide Guide to Texas Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras is Tuesday, February 17th and Texans are ready!

Mardi Gras Texas Style

Unlike Louisiana where Mari Gras parades begin in January, Texans have been celebrating since the beginning of the month. Mardi Gras in Texas can be broken up into four specific vibes: The “Island” Style (Galveston), The “Cowboy” Carnival (Bandera), Floating Parades (San Antonio), Louisiana “Lite” (Southeast Texas) and "Suburban Flair"( Kyle).

The Island Epicenter: Galveston

The crown jewel of Texas celebrations is Mardi Gras! Galveston. As the third-largest Mardi Gras event in the United States, it draws over 400,000 visitors annually. For 2026, the festivities span from February 6 through Fat Tuesday, February 17. Most of the Mardi Gras party happens in Downtown Galveston within the Mardi Gras Entertainment District, covering the area from 20th to 25th Streets between Harborside Drive and Mechanic Street. The celebration reaches its climax Tuesday evening at 6:30p with the Mystic Krewe of Aquarius parade.

Cowboy Carnival: Bandera, Texas

Bandera celebrates Mardi Gras with Cowboy Mardi Gras 2026. This three-day Mardi Gras celebration blends Cajun vibes with classic cowboy culture, featuring live music, dancing, and a one-of-a-kind parade experience in the Cowboy Capital of the World.

The River City: San Antonio

San Antonio offers one of the most unique parades of the Mardi Gras season: the Mardi Gras River Parade. It is truly genius. Instead of a street parade, krewes decorate river barges that drift along the San Antonio River Walk. This family-friendly celebration is bolstered by month-long events at theme parks like Six Flags Fiesta Texas hosts daily mini-parades withLouisiana-inspired cuisine through mid-March.

The Cajun Connection: Beaumont

Beaumont might as well be in Louisiana, so you can attend the town’s festivities and feel you are actually in the Pelican State. Beaumont hosts Mardi Gras Southeast Texas which is a three-day festival that focuses on the "roots" of the holiday. The Doggett Ford Park event feature massive crawfish boils and plenty of Zydeco and swamp pop music. The Valero Krewe of Aurora parade rolled this past Saturday.

Suburban Flair: Kyle

For those near the Texas capital, the Mardi Gras fun shifts to the suburbs on Fat Tuesday. The city of Kyle holds "Mardi Gras at La Verde Park," complete with mask-making stations and a "micro-parade" for local children.

Texas Parades on Mardi Gras Day 2026

Galveston-Mystic Krewe of Aquarius - 6:30 PM

Kyle- Mardi Gras at La Verde Park - 6:00 PM