Galveston Island to Host Beachfront Parade, Fireworks for July 4th Weekend

Media Contact: Caitlin Carnes
Senior Public Relations Manager, Visit Galveston
Office: 409-797-5121
Email: ccarnes@visitgalveston.com

GALVESTON ISLAND, Texas (June 30, 2025) – For many, this 4th of July weekend means enjoying a long weekend.

A great way to spend those hard-earned hours is to head to Galveston Island for fun at the beach including a parade, fireworks, sandcastle lessons, an old-fashioned band concert and more.

Plan to arrive on the island Thursday, July 3 and treat yourself to a dose of Americana at the Galveston Beach Band concert. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. and features a diverse mix of show tunes, big band numbers and jazz. A special children’s parade takes place during the show. Part of a summer series of free music, the concert will take place at the Eugenia and George Sealy Pavilion, across from the Rosenberg Library, 900 24th St.

For more live music, saunter over to the Hotel Lucine, 1002 Seawall Blvd. On the rooftop bar, you can grab a cocktail, cool ocean breezes and intimate entertainment on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Thursday is also Yappy Hour – a chance to hang out with your friends and their furry friends.

On the 4th, island visitors can enjoy the annual Independence Day parade featuring a procession of floats, decorated military vehicles and performers. The parade will kick off at 6 p.m. on Seawall Boulevard starting at 22nd Street and continue west to 45th Street. After the parade, the island will host a 20-minute fireworks show at 9:15 p.m. near 37th Street and Seawall Boulevard. The fireworks show is sponsored by the City of Galveston and the Galveston Park Board of Trustees.

The fun continues on Saturday. Head to East Beach and learn to create architectural gems – crafted from sand – during free sandcastle lessons at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

After building castles, head to Moody Gardens’ Palm Beach and take in Beats on the Beach, a family-friendly event that gives guests the opportunity to get up and dance to live music – July 5 features Bama Breeze. You can also opt to relax at the white sand beach or lounge in the lazy river. Beats on the Beach takes place from 5:30-9:30 p.m. with fireworks lighting up the sky over Offatts Bayou at 9 p.m.

Help Support a Cleaner Beach in Galveston
Visitors to Galveston’s beaches can help keep them clean for all to enjoy. At several locations, you will find Up2U free trash bags to pack out what you don’t want to leave behind, plus Beach Toy Borrow boxes to recycle used beach toys. Additionally, the Leave No Trace ordinance will be enforced during the spring and summer seasons. The Leave No Trace ordinance mandates that visitors do not leave belongings on the beach overnight -- like coolers, chairs, and tents -- to protect wildlife and prevent items from being washed into the ocean.

Stay Safe at the Beach
Beach safety is of utmost importance to Galveston’s Beach Patrol. Here are some tips to keep your trip to the beach fun and safe. Avoid rip currents, stay away from rock jetties and piers, swim near a lifeguard, never swim alone, do not dive in the water headfirst and take sun and heat precautions.

In addition, obey warning signs and flags. A green flag at the beach indicates low hazard conditions, meaning it's generally safe to swim and participate in water activities. However, it's still important to be aware of your surroundings and exercise caution, as the ocean can be unpredictable even on calm days. Red indicates high hazard. Rough conditions such as strong surf and currents are present. All swimmers are discouraged from entering the water. A yellow flag indicates medium hazard. Weak swimmers are discouraged from entering the water. A purple flag means marine pests, such as jellyfish or stingrays are present in the water.

4th of July Parking Information
There is paid parking along the seawall. Simply download the PayByPhone app or pay at a nearby kiosk. The rate is $2 per hour and paid parking is enforced from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Pleasure Pier parking lot between 25th and 26th streets on the seawall also offers paid parking. If you park in a local neighborhood, be sure to observe signs and local restrictions.

About Galveston Island
Galveston Island, Texas is a resilient historic beach town located 50 miles south of Houston. The birthplace of Juneteenth and home to the second largest immigration port into the U.S. in the 1880s, today Galveston Island is a major tourism destination for Texas and beyond. Galveston offers miles of beaches, top-tier museums, family attractions, plus special events and festivals. Galveston’s port is the fourth busiest for cruise passengers in North America and the island eagerly welcomes more than eight million visitors each year. To plan your Galveston Island experience, go to www.visitgalveston.com.

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