PARK
BOARD UPDATE OCTOBER 2011
Food, Art and Ghosts to Haunt Galveston Island’s Fall Calendar
Oktoberfest, ARToberFEST, Historic Ghost Tours and More to Draw Visitors this October
Food, art and ghosts will haunt Galveston Island’s calendar this October as visitors take advantage of what many consider the island’s best weather of the year. With cool Gulf breezes and an average high temperature of 80 degrees, October will be filled with outdoor festivals and activities to entertain and spook as the island brings in the fall season.
The island will host three major festivals in October, including the 14th annual ARToberFEST to be held Oct. 15-16. This juried fine art festival will feature more than 125 artists, food and live music on Postoffice and 22nd streets amid the historic charm of downtown Galveston’s architecture, art galleries and shops. Admission is $5 for adults with proceeds benefitting the AIDS Coalition of Coastal Texas and the Galveston Island Humane Society.
Also next month, the Island Oktoberfest will “oompah” back to Galveston’s First Evangelical Lutheran Church for its 30th year. With German food, drinks and music, this event Oct. 21-22 will celebrate German heritage with a full weekend of live performances, games, an auction, raffle and other activities. Admission to Oktoberfest is free and attendees are encouraged to dress in traditional German costumes.
German culture won’t be the only heritage being celebrated on Galveston Island next month. The 28th annual Galveston Island Greek Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 29 at Greek Orthodox Church with Greek food, drinks, entertainment, children’s activities and church tours. Admission to the festival is $4.
It wouldn’t be October without stories of ghosts and Galveston’s ghostly history makes it one of the top destinations in the country for “haunted” travel. The place of the deadliest storm in U.S. history, Galveston is filled with opportunities to be spooked, including a new haunted house attraction schedule to open this month. Haunted Mayfield Manor, which is housed in a downtown building that served as a morgue after the 1900 Storm, will be open daily during October.
Also, the 100-year-old Hotel Galvez – said to be haunted by a ghost bride – will offer its popular “Dinner with the Ghosts” Tour every Thursday in October plus Halloween. The 6 p.m. dinner tour is $35 per person and includes a three-course meal held after an hour-long tour in which the guide walks participants through the ghostly past of the historic hotel while using special tools to conduct paranormal investigation. For information, call (409)-765-7721. Tours are also available on Sundays with ghost tour hotel packages.
Galveston Historical Foundation Ghost Tours will begin in late October, and will include: “The House at Night Tour” of Bishop’s Palace; “Spirits of the Past” Cemetery Tour of Old City Cemetery; “Are We Haunted?” Tour of Ashton Villa; and Haunted Harbor Tours on Galveston’s harbor. The historical foundation manages many of the island’s well-preserved historical sites and Victorian mansions.
On Oct. 30, Moody Gardens will join the fun with its annual Ghostly Gardens event for kids, which will include free trick-or-treating, creepy crafts, a costume contest and more from 2-4 p.m. For details, call (800)-582-4673.
While many folks will enjoy Galveston’s outdoor festivities next month, The Grand 1894 Opera House is bring just as much excitement indoors for special performances, including The Midtown Men – a jump-to-your feet show featuring musical hits from the 1960’s. Other October performances include Deer Camp, The Musical; the internationally acclaimed fiddle performers Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy; and the Asian-American professional dance company Nai-ni Chen Dance.
Keeping wallets in mind, the island will host several free events in October. The monthly Movie Night on The Strand Oct. 1 will feature a free 7:30 p.m. showing of the psychological thriller The Birds on the outdoor big screen in downtown Galveston’s Saengerfest Park at 23rd and Strand streets.
The following weekend, Music Night on the Strand will be held from 5-8 p.m. Oct. 8 with a free downtown concert from classic rock band The Convertibles. Also Oct. 8, the Galveston Arts Center’s Artwalk will be held from 6-9 p.m. showcasing the island’s numerous downtown art galleries. On Oct. 15, Market on the Strand will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Saengerfest Park.
For information on these events and more happening on Galveston Island in October, visit www.galveston.com.
