How To Have A Fantastic Thanksgiving on Galveston Island

This Thanksgiving, families looking for a unique holiday experience will head to Galveston Island for buffets, dinners, events and more!

Gather the family this Thanksgiving and head to Galveston Island! Lounge at a beach house, dine at the island's best buffets and dinners, visit historical sites or take in the Gulf Coast’s largest holiday festivals - all held amongst plentiful palm trees and the beautiful Gulf Coast winter weather.

Thanksgiving Dinners & Buffets

Here in Galveston, there is a cornucopia of choices to make this holiday extra special – and tasty. Here are some options to consider to help make your Thanksgiving meal even more delicious

Thanksgiving

Come brunch with your family, friends, and loved ones this Thanksgiving at Grand Galvez. Don't worry about the cooking or dishes and focus more on spending time with the ones you are thankful for.

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Thanksgiving

With Champagne, live music, and a decadent feast, surround yourself with loved ones at The San Luis Resort for a holiday to remember.

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Thanksgiving

Let Moody Gardens do the cooking while you enjoy Thanksgiving at one of their three buffets! Spend quality time with your out-of-town guests and leave the prep and cleaning to them.

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Thanksgiving Weekend Festivities in Galveston
Thanksgiving Weekend

On Friday, Nov. 25, the Grand Galvez is reviving its annual Galveston Holiday Lighting Celebration to bring in the holiday season with an appearance from Santa Claus and the lighting of the hotel’s 35-foot Christmas tree. The event takes place on the grand palm tree-lined front lawn of the hotel.

Following the tree lighting, enjoy the Galveston Ballet performance of a melody of variations from "The Nutcracker" and the Galveston Symphony Brass Ensemble performing holiday classics.

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Thanksgiving Weekend

Santa will be a special guest at downtown Galveston’s tree lighting ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 6 p.m. Galveston’s police and fire departments will provide a special escort for the man in red.

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Lighted Holiday Golf Cart Parade

Join us on November 26, 2022, for a fun-filled holiday celebration. Kick the evening off by riding in our Lighted Holiday Golf Cart Parade. Decorate your golf cart in holiday cheer & lights to help guide Santa through the streets of Downtown Galveston as he makes his way to Saengerfest Park to light the Official City of Galveston Christmas Tree.

Click the image above for more details about the Lighted Holiday Golf Cart Parade.

Galveston ArtWalk and More

Continue the celebration by joining Downtown Galveston galleries and merchants for the last ArtWalk event of 2022. While you stroll through the shops, make sure to grab a map of the annual Christmas Tree Decorating Contest. The contest enables shoppers to admire an array of decorated trees and to vote on their favorites.

Thanksgiving in Downtown Galveston

The aforementioned Downtown Holiday Tree Lighting coincides with Galveston Art Center’s ArtWalk on Saturday, Nov 26. During ArtWalk, shops, boutiques and galleries remain open later into the evening and feature live entertainment at several venues throughout the downtown district.

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Thanksgiving in Downtown Galveston
Christmas Tree Decorating Contest

In addition to enhanced holiday decorations in Downtown Galveston, many shops, galleries and boutiques will participate in the annual Galveston Holiday Tree Decorating Contest. This unique competition - beginning on Nov 26 - lets shoppers admire the creatively decorated trees and gives them the opportunity to vote on their favorite entries. They also make for great holiday photo ops!

The Gatlin Brothers - Country & Christmas at The Grand 1894 Opera House

Larry, Steve & Rudy: The Gatlin Brothers - Grammy® award-winners who have dazzled audiences for more than six decades - are hitting The Grand 1894 Opera House stage on November 26.

Click the image above for more details about 'The Gatlin Brothers - Country & Christmas' show.

The Gatlin Brothers have accrued a lifetime of noteworthy achievements in their storybook career, including a Grammy® for Best Country Song (“Broken Lady”), three ACM awards for Single of the Year (“All The Gold In California”), Album of the Year (Straight Ahead) and Male Vocalist of the Year, along with five nominations for CMA Vocal Group of the Year, Single, Album. The brothers have accumulated seven #1 singles, 33 Top 40 records; more than 20 studio albums and five BMI “Million-Air” Awards.

Click here for show details, tickets and more

More Holiday Experiences
Holiday Experiences

During Moody Gardens' Holiday in the Gardens (Nov 19 to Jan 7), visitors can stroll through Festival of Lights, a mile-long trail of illuminated holiday displays, music, festive food and more. In 2022, ICE LAND is BACK this year with a "Caribbean Christmas" theme! Other attractions include an Arctic Ice Slide, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4D experience, Holiday 3D films, train rides and pictures with Santa.

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Holiday Experiences

With the holidays quickly approaching, the Galveston Railroad Museum is celebrating the return of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride! Popular dates and times are expected to fill quickly, but seats are now available for departures beginning Nov 11 and continuing through Dec 23.

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Visit Galveston

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