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Things to Do in Galveston for the Holidays

There’s just something about the holiday season that puts us all in a festive mood. For the month of December, our busy lives slow down just a bit to let us celebrate with family and friends. And for many of us, that involves a fun getaway with the ones we love.

If you’re planning to be in Galveston over the Christmas season, you’ll find plenty of ways to get into the holiday spirit. Galveston offers dozens of fun activities to fill up your December calendar.

Keep reading for some fun ideas for celebrating the holidays in Galveston, Texas:

Enjoy Breakfast With Santa at Rainforest Cafe, Dec. 22 from 8-10 am.

Families with kids won’t want to miss this opportunity to meet the jolly old elf in person. This event includes:

A full breakfast buffet with a ham carving station, waffles and omelets made to order, and much more

Festive games and activities

A raffle with prizes

Goodie bags

A special discount in the retail store

Tickets start at $13.98; free for children ages three and under.

Take in a show at The Grand 1894 Opera House.

Proclaimed “The Official Opera House of Texas” by the Texas Legislature in 1993, The Grand is a historic venue where you can enjoy the arts in style. Don’t miss its Christmas lineup, including the popular Nutcracker Afternoon Tea, a live version of A Charlie Brown Christmas, and the powerful musical All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914.

Stroll through the stunning Downtown Lanterns and Lights, now through Jan. 1.

Sometimes all you need to experience the magic of Christmas are your loved ones and a chilly walk through a winter wonderland. Downtown Lanterns and Lights provides the ambiance sure to speak to your soul. The lighting and decor encompass all main streets of the Galveston Strand, including an interactive holiday frame and a giant snow globe in Saengerfest Park.

All aboard the Santa Train at Galveston’s Railroad Museum, Dec. 25 from 10am to 2pm.

Young and old alike will fall in love with this Galveston Christmas tradition. Gather in the Depot to await Santa’s arrival and take pictures before boarding the Harborside Express. Admission is free for children 12 and under; train rides are $5 for ages 3 and up. Be sure to stick around afterward for some wonderful museum exhibits, such as Restaurants on Rails, Santa Fe War Bonnets, and Garden of Steam.

Experience the magic of the holidays at Moody Gardens, now through Jan. 6.

Moody Gardens is a major draw for Galveston tourism, and for good reason. This educational conservation destination features eight holiday attractions that are sure to take your breath away, including:

Arctic Slide

Festival of Lights, an annual tradition

Holiday 3D Films

Ice Land, featuring stunning ice sculptures

Ice Skating

Photos with Santa

Rudolph 4D

Train Rides

Check everyone off your list and spend a memorable day perusing the historic Downtown shops.

Within the 36 blocks of Galveston’s historic Downtown District, you’ll find no shortage of memorable gifts to suit all tastes. Take your time and stroll down the quaint streets and browse all manner of boutiques, antique emporiums, art galleries, and specialty shops.

Book a relaxing beach house through Sand `N Sea Properties.

With all of the holiday hustle and bustle, you deserve a peaceful place to enjoy some much-needed downtime. Sand `N Sea’s beach house rentals are among the best in Galveston, with something to suit all tastes and budgets. Browse vacation homes online, or call 409.797.5500 for reservations.

Make a journey to Galveston Island part of your annual holiday traditions. You and your family will treasure the warmth and beauty of Galveston during the Christmas season. With so many exciting events to choose from, the Island is truly a wonderfully festive place to visit.

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Turtles About Town - Galveston, Texas

Turtles About Town

Galveston Island, a Texas Gulf Coast destination for millions of folks each year, is about to get a lot more whimsical.  Meet Turtles About Town (TAT), a local effort to bring more attention to the Kemp's Ridley sea turtle.  The result is that dozens of one-of-a-kind sea turtle statues - each sponsored by local businesses and painted with a unique theme - will soon be appearing all over the island.

About the Program

Turtles About Town is the brainchild of Clay Cup Studios and the Turtle Island Restoration Network. Clay Cup is Galveston’s premiere interactive art studio and painting party destination, while the TIRN  is an organization working tirelessly to provide aid for the ocean and its inhabitants.

Organizations who sponsor a turtle work with local artists to create a statue unique to their specific vision. These bespoke turtles will proudly stand at their respective locations and bring awareness to the plight of the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle, a critically endangered species. Galveston locals — as well as visitors to the area — will have the opportunity to learn how they can help and protect sea turtles. In addition, each turtle serves as both a Galveston tourism landmark and a beacon to local business.

Looking to the Future

As more local organizations commission statues, Turtles About Town will grow to a large-scale tourist attraction. Possibilities include scavenger hunts, tours, and maps geared to help visitors locate all of the statues. Local schools are working to implement lesson plans and field trips for Galveston-area students. In addition, plans are already in place for a traveling sea turtle statue named Ridley, who will sport a different theme each year and bounce from business to business.

Why Turtles About Town?

Key aspects of this project include:

Further beautification of historic Galveston Island

Spotlight on sea turtle conservation, particularly the Kemp’s Ridley species — Texas’ state sea turtle

Education for individuals, families, tourist groups, and students

Positive exposure for local artists

Boost for local tourism, businesses, and organizations

What’s Next?

Galveston area businesses like Sand `N Sea Properties are proud to support the Turtles About Town project. Local artist Ellie Peters, whose style features storytelling artwork and a flair for the fantastic, is creating Sand `N Sea’s turtle.

Raising awareness for the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle is essential to its survival in these uncertain times. Projects like Turtles About Town are key for publicity and local support. The program is off to a great start with several more sea turtle statues in the works and local events like The Art of Saving Sea Turtles, a gala celebrating sea turtle conservationists and artists alike. You can help by visiting Galveston’s turtle statues and sharing on your social media platform.

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This is too good not to share! Love Galveston, Texas and all it’s pet-friendly aspects. Now to just figure out how to get me and my pup in that Sand `N Sea beach house. 🤔🐾🏠

[malcolmwilks-blog]

This is too good not to share! Love Galveston, Texas and all it’s pet-friendly aspects. Now to just figure out how to get me and my pup in that Sand `N Sea beach house. 🤔🐾🏠

[malcolmwilks-blog]

Galveston Island Texas The Beach 2008 P5274107 by mrchriscornwell, on Flickr

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Pleasure Pier, Galveston, Texas, USA