Not-to-Miss Spring Events on the Upper Texas Coast
Spring on the Upper Texas Coast is a popular time to explore parks and enjoy spring-themed events. To make your tour planning easier, below is a list of not-to-miss spring events and activities on the Upper Texas Coast, highlighting Jefferson, Galveston, Brazoria, and Matagorda Counties. We encourage you to check for current dates and details. Grab the kids, pack the car and explore the Upper Texas Coast this spring.
Most Fridays, Classic Movie Nights at Jefferson Theatre in Beaumont. What started as a way to showcase a historic theater is now a regular event both locals and visitors love. Classic Movie Nights are most Fridays when families gather to watch their favorite classic movies inside the beautiful Jefferson Theatre in downtown Beaumont. (Jefferson County)
March 2 – 12, Beaumont Restaurant Week in Beaumont. From Tex-Mex to sushi and everything in between, Beaumont Restaurant Week invites you to explore eating out in 50+ restaurants offering special fixed menus priced at $10, $20, and $30. Savor the cuisine that Beaumont residents enjoy during this week-long culinary celebration. (Jefferson County)
March 11, St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Surfside Beach. This parade is one of the long-standing traditions in Surfside. Festivities include a colorful parade, a costume contest, and a reenactment of the Battle of Velasco. Don’t forget to wear your green. All proceeds benefit the Surfside Beach Police/EMS and Volunteer Fire Departments. (Brazoria County)
March 13 – 17, Spring Camps with Artist Boat in Galveston. Art meets science in Artist Boat’s 2023 Spring Break Eco-Art Camp sessions for kids 5-10. Campers experience science and art enrichment with the creation of eco-art. Each camper creates high-quality art projects illustrating what they learned in camp. A second ECO-Camp is tailored for kids ages 11-15 and offers an opportunity to explore the wetlands through canoeing and nature walks. They’ll also learn to fish with a seine, cast netting, and crabbing. Both day camps are from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. (Galveston County)
March 14-17, Spring into Action at The Center for the Arts and Sciences in Clute. From Shakespeare to puppets, to “The Accidental Astronauts” planetarium show, watercolor card painting, and ending with St. Patrick’s Day fun, you’ll find plenty to keep the kids entertained during Spring Break at the Center for the Arts and Sciences in Clute. (Brazoria County)
March 18, Spring Market Day & Food Truck Festival in Freeport. This seasonal Freeport event is held in downtown Freeport and features local vendors offering hand-made items and popular area food trucks from 10 am to 4 pm. (Brazoria County)
March 18, Spring Astronomy Day at the BASF Planetarium at The Center for the Arts and Sciences in Clute. Enjoy safe solar viewing, mini Planetarium shows, and astronomy-related demonstrations from noon to 3 pm. Plus, this event is free and open to the public. (Brazoria County)
March 21 & 29, Coastal Creations at Matagorda Bay Nature Park. Create a coastal-themed painting instructed by our amateur park resident artists during an afternoon visit to the park. The class is from 2 to 3:30 pm. You’ll love the view and the solitude of Matagorda Bay Nature Park. The cost is $25 with all materials provided. (Matagorda County)
March 24 – 26, Matagorda Bay Birdfest in Palacios. Choose from fourteen bird tours, enjoy the Saturday Palacios Parade of Birds, raptor display, and various speakers during the Birdfest weekend. Did you know Matagorda County leads the nation in the number of bird species counted in the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count for 20 of the last 25 years? Put this on your calendar. (Matagorda County)
April 1, Jimmy Simmons Jazz Festival at the Jefferson Theatre in Beaumont. Calling all jazz lovers, Lamar University is hosting its 4th Annual Jimmy Simmons Jazz Festival Saturday, April 1. Special guests for the event will be 17-time Grammy-nominated Yellowjackets, featuring music from their most recent release. (Jefferson County)
April 1, Cajun Heritage Fest in Port Arthur. Cajun Fest is Port Arthur, Texas’ twist on celebrating Cajun music, dancing, and flavors drawn from their Louisiana neighbors. This is a day of making new friends and catching up with old ones. (Jefferson County).
April 8, Space Center Cruisers Spring Car Show in Walter Hall Park in League City. This car show benefits youth scholarships and the Texas Lions Camp for Children. The show is from 7 am to 4 pm (Galveston County)
April 13 – 16, Tall Ship Galveston at Pier 21. The 2023 Tall Ships® Galveston festival offers tours of participating ships, special events, sail-away excursions, music, food, and fun in a family-friendly setting. Galveston Island is one of three ports for the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Gulf Coast 2023 Series, which features a fleet of ships traveling across the Gulf of Mexico as they visit other participating cities. (Galveston County)
April 20, May 11, and June 21, Sundown Concert Series in Beaumont. This free outdoor summer concert series is a free live music escape you and your kids will enjoy. Families are encouraged to picnic around the lake, enjoy the playground, visit the resident ducks and enjoy live music as the sun sets. (Jefferson County)
April 20-23, FeatherFest Birding & Nature Photography Festival. Whether you’re a serious or casual bird-watcher, nature photographer, or someone who wants some exercise, fresh air, and a touch of sunshine, purchase tickets to FeatherFest. FeatherFest is four fun-filled days of incredible birding and nature photography field trips throughout the area, including Anuhuac, Beaumont, High Island, League City, Pearland, Seabrook, and more. (Galveston County)
April 21 – June 24, Coming Home: Paintings by Forrest Bess at the City by the Sea Museum in Palacios. Born in Bay City, Forrest Bess’ paintings are exhibited throughout the country, including at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Art Institute of Chicago, and numerous others. These “Coming Home” paintings are on loan to the Museum from private collections from Matagorda County, with some never seen publicly. Bess is also known for designing camouflage during his time US Army Corps of Engineers. (Matagorda County)
April 22, Rally on the River in Bay City. Stop by our annual Rally on the River at Riverside Park and enjoy games, crafts, activities, and food trucks from 10 am to 2 pm. Plus, there’s a river paddle and river clean-up at 9 am. And the park offers campsite rentals. (Matagorda County)
April 29, The Grand Kids Festival in Galveston. The Annual Grand Kids Festival celebrates children, families, and folk art in Galveston’s historic downtown Cultural Arts District. Presented by The Grand 1894 Opera House, this family event offers live entertainment, street performances, Missoula Children’s Theatre performance, and various children’s activities. This year’s theme is “Texas Western.” Admission is free. (Galveston County)
April 30, VIVA! Beaumont Hispanic Heritage Festival in Downtown Beaumont. The festival highlights local artisans, restaurants, groups, attractions, and more, shining a light on the Hispanic culture of Beaumont during this FREE event. Enjoy food vendors, entertainment, activities, and games. (Jefferson County)
April 29-30, Migration Celebration at the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters Campus. Activities include a Birds of Prey show, air rifle target shooting, bow and arrow target shooting, butterfly encounters, fishing, a touch tank, kayaking, and more. The Migration Celebration is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service event from the Texas Mid-coast National Wildlife Complex underwritten by the Friends of the Brazoria Wildlife Refuges. (Brazoria County)
April 28 & 29, Riverfest in Freeport. Come out for barbecue, live music, boat races, and more at this annual event at the Freeport Municipal Park. Plus, the kids will love the petting zoo, face painting, nightly fireworks, inflatables, and a crocodile experience. The festival is from 6 pm to midnight on Friday and from noon to midnight on Saturday and admission is free. (Brazoria County)
May 6-8 & May 13-14, Galveston Historic Homes Tour. Every May, the Galveston Historical Foundation offers public tours through privately owned homes and Galveston’s architectural history during its annual Galveston Historic Homes Tour. In addition to the tours, the GHF hosts numerous special events, allowing guests unique experiences in many tour homes and historic sites across the island. (Galveston County)
This list of must-do events is just a sampling of things to do in the Upper Texas Coast. For more ideas, click Things to Do and search by category.
Lone Star Coastal Alliance is committed to promoting nature and heritage tourism and outdoor recreation opportunities in Jefferson, Galveston, Brazoria, and Matagorda Counties.
