Must-Attend Fall Festivals & Events on Galveston Island

The fall season brings what many consider the best weather of the year on Galveston Island, and many outdoor events and festivals come as an added perk.

From September to November, the island’s calendar will be filled with festivals and events that are sure to entertain!

pictured: Lone Star Rally

Upcoming Fall Events
Fall Events

Date(s): October 11-13, 2024

The Ghost Coast Festival is a family friendly event that will be held at the League Kempner Mansion October 11th – 13th, 2024 and will include Celebrity guests, a vendor market, panels, speakers, paranormal investigations, ghost tours, psychic readings, kids activities, entertainment and much more!

October 11th – Pub Crawl on Galveston’s Haunted Historic Strand
October 12th
– Ghost Coast Festival at the League Kempner Mansion
October 13th
– Ghost Tours & Cemetery Tours & Haunted Mansion Tours

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Fall Events

Date(s): Oct 12-13, 2024

Two full days of Opa! and YaSou!, the event features authentic food prepared on-site, Greek wines, Greek beer, a live band, dancing, children's activities (including a petting zoo), gifts, and tours of the Church.

Souvenirs and merchandise from Greece are hand-selected for the Galveston Greek Festival. Icons, jewelry, Greek Christmas ornaments, paintings, dolls from Greece, Stefana (wedding crowns in boxes) and much more make for unique gift-giving. Grocery items like olive oil, olives, pasta, and other imported canned goods will be available too. Since supplies are limited, don’t hesitate to make your purchase right away!

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Fall Events

Date: Oct 17, 2024

The Harvest Moon Regatta is an annual sailboat race offshore from Galveston, Texas to Port Aransas, Texas. Set up some chairs along the Seawall to see dozens of sailboats race along our coastline.

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Fall Events

Date(s): October 19-20, 2024

Art lovers can be sated too when they attend ARToberFEST. This juried fine art festival features various artists, food, and live music on Postoffice Street amid Galveston’s Victorian architecture, art galleries, and shops.

If you can’t make it to the island to participate, you can enjoy the festival virtually too. ARToberFEST is presented by The Grand 1894 Opera House and proceeds from the festival benefit its education and community outreach programs.

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Fall Events

Date(s): Oct 25-26, 2024

It's not October without an Oktoberfest! Island Oktoberfest will “oompah” back in Galveston, celebrating German heritage with a full weekend of food, and drinks – expect to see a lot of beer steins -- live performances, games and special activities. The festival will take place at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Galveston and will feature an expanded entertainment lineup. Admission to Oktoberfest is free and attendees are encouraged to dress in traditional German costumes.

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Fall Events

Date(s): Oct 26, 2024

She's come a long way in her 147 years! The Official Tall Ship of Texas, the 1877 ELISSA annual birthday party, returns to our Galveston Historic Seaport. Your ticket includes complimentary craft beer courtesy of Saint Arnold Brewing, food, custom birthday cake, live music from Houston's Buxton, and a shipload more from us at #GalvestonHistory. To sweeten the celebration, one lucky attendee will win a spot to sail onboard ELISSA in April 2025!

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Fall Events

Date(s): October 31 - November 3, 2024

With juried bike shows, truck, jeep & classic car shows and free concerts on two stages, this year’s Lone Star Rally will be jam-packed with entertainment for all ages, day and night, all weekend long.

This year’s rally will once again present more than 40 free musical performances in genres from classic rock and adult contemporary to rockin’ country on two sound stages – the main stage at Saengerfest Park downtown, and a second at Beach Central Park in front of the Hotel Galvez. Houston area day-trippers are encouraged to come out and enjoy all the free, non-stop entertainment.

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Haunted Happenings
Haunted Happenings

Date(s): Oct 26, 2024

Get ready for a spook-tacular Halloween experience like no other on Galveston Island! On October 26th, Galveston Island will transform into a haven of spooky fun for all ages with the Island Boo Fest. From trick-or-treating to a mystical parade, this free event is packed with activities that promise to entertain the entire family. Whether you're a fan of costumed parades, food and drink pairings, or unique market finds, Boo Fest has something for everyone!

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Haunted Happenings

Date(s): Oct 26, 2024

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council #151 will be hosting a Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Fall Fiesta on Saturday, October 26, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM near the Old County Courthouse at 722 21st Street. This family-friendly event is a celebration of life and death and will feature traditional dishes, the creation of altars to remember the dead.

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Haunted Happenings

Date: October 27, 2024

Halloween Spooktacular will have decorated candy stations for trick-or-treating around the Museum grounds. In addition, there will be a scavenger hunt, spooky stories in the gazebo, fall crafts, outdoor games, ghost hunt in the garden, a walking costume parade, and special photo spaces.

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Haunted Happenings

Date: Every Saturday, September 14th – October 26th

This fall, Spooky Galveston and the Galveston Naval Museum are teaming up to bring an unforgettable and spine-chilling experience to Galveston with the Haunted Tales Tour. Every Saturday from September 14th through October 26th, visitors will embark on a thrilling journey through the haunted corridors of two historic naval vessels, blending maritime history with eerie tales of ghostly encounters.

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Haunted Happenings

Discover the spooky side of Galveston with guided ghost tours that explore the island's haunted history. From eerie mansions to chilling cemeteries, you'll hear spine-tingling tales of paranormal activity and learn about the island's rich past filled with mysteries and legends. Whether you're a believer or a skeptic, these tours offer a thrilling experience you won’t forget!

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Past Events
Fall Events

Date(s): September 21-22, 2024

Galveston Sandcastle Festival is a music, food and family festival hosted on East Beach in Galveston, TX, centered around the AIA Houston Sandcastle Competition.

Expect a fun, family friendly atmosphere and an amazing Sandcastle competition showcasing local music, food, art and small businesses from Galveston and the Houston area.

The AIA Sandcastle competition takes place on Saturday, Sept 21st, and the fest goes through Sunday, Sept 22nd with a Sunday Brunch, live music, and activities for the whole fam.

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Fall Events

Date(s): September 21, 2024

Join us in celebrating Texian Navy Day 2024 with a spectacular boat parade at Pier 21! The event honors Texas' proud maritime history and the role of the Texian Navy in defending our coast from 1835 to the present day. The boat parade will feature a contest for the best-decorated boat, making this a fun and exciting event for both participants and spectators alike.

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Fall Events

Date(s): September 28, 2024

The Galveston Island Shrimp Festival is one of the top events to kick off the Galveston Island festival season. Held downtown at Saengerfest Park, the event is a seafood lover’s paradise. Yaga’s Entertainment Inc. puts on this festival that will bring foodies a little taste of heaven.

Featuring some of the best shrimp gumbo the Gulf Coast has to offer, this festival also features a seafood cook-off, gumbo tasting, L’il Shrimps Parade, live music, a children’s area and a Strand merchant walkabout.

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Visit Galveston

Visit Galveston is the official destination marketing organization for Galveston Island, Texas.