Juneteenth Celebrations. You’ll find Juneteenth celebrations in Galveston, the birthplace of Juneteenth, and nearby Beaumont and Port Arthur. Check with the Convention & Visitors Bureau for details on planned events. Activities begin June 14 and continue through June in some instances.  

First Thursday at AMSET in Beaumont. Enjoy free admission and refreshments at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. The museum collection includes Texas Fine Art, Texas Folk Art, Regional/Southeast Texas Folk Art, Early American Folk Art, Mexican Folk Art, Early American Art (before 1970), European Art, and more. (Jefferson County)

Thursdays at The Bryan Museum in Galveston. Every Thursday in Galveston, locals flock to The Bryan Museum for this weekly concert from 4 to 7 pm featuring local talent and a curated selection of wines. Plus, the Museum is open to the public until 7 pm. The museum is a recommended stop in the Texas History Trip Plan. (Galveston County)  

Thursdays through July 27, Summer Concert Series at Menard Park in Galveston. La Izquierda hosts a free Save the Locals Summer Concert Series every Thursday from 6 to 9 pm in June and July in the historic Menard Park Bandshell. Bring your lawn chair and your kids to enjoy live music with a view of the Gulf of Mexico. (Galveston County) 

Saturdays through August 26, Yoga at Cattail Marsh in Beaumont. Experience the serenity of a quiet morning of yoga at Cattail Marsh Wetlands. These free Vinyasa yoga classes are held from 9:30 to 10:30 am. Bring your mat and enjoy this free class overlooking the Cattail Marsh Boardwalk. And, Cattail Marsh is a recommended stop in the Nature Trip Plan. (Jefferson County)  

Saturdays and Sundays thru Sept. 3, Bucket Brigade at East Beach. If you want to learn about the dynamic beach environment during your visit, Artist Boat offers beach tours with hands-on activities that shed light on Galveston’s turbid water, marine debris, Sargassum landings, and more. All ages are welcome. Tours begin at 11 am, 12 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm and last 45 minutes. (Galveston County) 

Now – 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, with some that have never been seen publicly. Bess was also known for designing camouflage during his time in the US Army Corps of Engineers. The museum is a recommended stop in the Texas History Trip Plan. (Matagorda County)

Now thru July 31, “Petals and Pastels” at the Matagorda County Museum. This temporary exhibit features floral and soft-colored treasures and are presented by the Matagorda County Museum Association. The museum is a recommended stop in the Texas History Trip Plan. (Matagorda County)

June 24, Fort Velasco Day at the Freeport Historical Museum in Freeport. Fort Velasco Day commemorates the 191st anniversary of the Battle of Fort Velasco, the first true military conflict of the Texas Revolution, with a living history event featuring reenactors from across Texas. Visitors will experience 1830s Texas life and conflict at the mouth of the Brazos River. (Brazoria County) 

June 25, “Velasco & Quintana: A Glimpse into 19th Century Texas” Exhibit Opening, Brazosport Museum of Natural Science in Clute. Make plans to celebrate the opening of this new archaeology exhibit featuring artifacts recovered from the 19th-century town sites of Velasco and Quintana. This unique exhibit will reside in the museum’s Raymond Walley Hall of Archaeology. (Brazoria County)

June 23 & 30, Concerts in the Park at Independence Park in Pearland. Enjoy a live band in the park from 7 to 9 pm. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and picnic baskets for this family-friendly event. (Brazoria County)

July 6, July 20, Aug 3, & Aug. 17, Cajun and Creole Acoustic Jam Session in Port Arthur. Music lovers will love this local jam session held on the first and third Thursday of the month in the American Legion Hall. Bring your instruments, dance, or just enjoy the live music during this free event from 6 to 8:30 pm (Jefferson County)

July 15, 10th Annual Albatross Old Smokey Throwdown in Galveston. Register early, pack your Old Smokey, and compete in this annual cookout hosted by The Albatross. Cooking teams compete in various categories in the summer heat for bragging rights. The cook-off is from 10 am to 6 pm on 21st Street. (Galveston County) 

July 20 & August 10, Jazz at the Lake at the Downtown Event Center in Beaumont. The City of Beaumont’s annual Jazz at the Lake returns for summer nights of live entertainment, cool jazz, and fun. The event is held indoors from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Event Centre. (Jefferson County)

July 27 – 29, Great Texas Mosquito Festival in Clute. This three-day family festival has been a Clute tradition for over 40 years. Festivities include a 5K run, cook-off, arts and crafts, a carnival, and live music. Some more unique activities include a Karaoke Show, Doubles Washing Pitching Tournament, and Doubles Cornhole Contest to add to the fun. (Brazoria County) 

This list of must-do events is just a sampling of things to do on the Upper Texas Coast. For more ideas, click Things to Do, search by category, and check the Trip Plans for suggested stops.  

This list of must-do events is just a sampling of things to do on the Upper Texas Coast. For more ideas, click Things to Do, search by category, and check the Trip Plans for suggested stops.  

About Lone Star Coastal Alliance

The Lone Star Coastal Alliance is a 501(c)3 created to preserve and promote the upper Texas Gulf Coast region in a manner that enhances coastal resilience while fostering economic development focused on conservation and tourism, elevating the unique natural, cultural, and historical assets of the region and benefitting quality of life within the communities. 

The post <strong>Not-to-Miss Summer Events on the Upper Texas Coast</strong> appeared first on Explore Lone Star Coastal.

Jan. 14, Drillers Reunion: Spindletop Anniversary in Beaumont. To celebrate the discovery of oil at Spindletop, reenactors commemorate the day the Lucas Gusher exploded (Jan. 10, 1901), shooting oil hundreds of feet into the air. The event features live reenactments, music, food, and blacksmithing and printing demonstrations and is held at the Spindletop-Gladys Boomtown Museum. (Jefferson County)

Feb. 16 – 18, Beaumont Mardi Gras. Beaumont considers itself the Cajun Capital of Texas and takes Mardi Gras seriously. Picture parades, concerts, a carnival, and more over four days. Concerts are held on the Great Lawn of the Event Center downtown. Options include a single-day or four-day pass to a gated entertainment area. The carnival is outside the gate, and parades are both in and outside the festival area. (Jefferson County)

Jan. 20-21, Yaga’s Chili Quest and Beer Fest in Galveston. January calls for chili and beer. This downtown festival starts with a 5K run on the beachfront, followed by chili tasting galore, with more than 40 teams competing for bragging rights. Make sure to purchase your tasting ticket and beer-tasting tickets early. (Galveston County)

Feb. 10-21, Mardi Gras! Galveston. Did you know Galveston hosts the third-largest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States? Parades, processions, balcony parties, and elegant balls span over two weekends and end on Fat Tuesday. Concerts take place in the gated entertainment district located in Galveston’s historic downtown. Parades take place on both the beachfront and downtown district. (Galveston County) 

Jan. 28, Surfside Food & Art Festival. Surfside’s Food & Art Festival is a juried art festival featuring 22 art vendors. You’ll also enjoy live music, a chili cookoff with 15 competing teams, beer-tasting, and more. The festival takes place at Stahlman Park from 11 am to 5 pm. (Brazoria County)

Feb. 18, Mardi Gras Festival on Main Street Freeport. Freeport is hosting its second annual Mardi Gras festival on its Main Street, featuring a parade, gumbo cookoff, a King Cake eating contest, and live music. The festival is from 12 to 5 pm and is hosted by Freeport Main Street in partnership with the Freeport Economic Development Corporation and the Freeport Historical Museum. All-you-can-eat gumbo wristbands are $10. (Brazoria County)

Feb 11 – March 4, Matagorda County Fair at the Matagorda County Fairgrounds in Bay City. This county fair offers everything you’d expect. Fairgoers enjoy a rodeo, stock shows, a carnival, a petting zoo, a barbecue cookoff, youth rodeo clown contests, and much more. See the website for a detailed schedule. Tip: Purchase tickets early for the Bri Bagwell and Roger Creager Concert on Feb. 25. (Matagorda County).  

Jan. 28, 7th Annual Wild Game and Wine Camofest in Bay City. Did you know an artist and Bay City native named Forest Clemenger Bess designed camouflage? Camofest celebrates Bay City as the “Gateway to the Great Outdoors,” offering live music, wine from local wineries, wild game tasting, and food inspired by Texas wines. Festivities are from noon to 6 pm in historic Downtown Bay City. (Matagorda 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.

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