GALVESTON — Thousands of revelers draped in purple, gold and green beads lined Galveston’s seawall Saturday for the beginning of Mardi Gras.
This year’s pre-Lent bacchanalia also is the 25th anniversary of its post-World War II revival. The Mystic Krewe of Aquarius’ 25th anniversary parade, which had musician, writer and former Texas gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman as its grand marshal, kicked off the two-week party with decorative floats and marching bands from Galveston and Houston high schools. New Orleans, rock ’n’ roll, China, voodoo, roller derby, beauty pageants, the Lions Club and Texas were among the many themes the floats celebrated.
Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau spokeswoman RoShelle Gaskins said 75,000 were expected for the first week of Mardi Gras.
Jean Baker, a former journalist from Amarillo who recently moved to Houston and described herself as “older than God,” was attending her first Mardi Gras in Galveston.
“I’m excited to be here,” she said.
This was the 15th Mardi Gras for 50-year-old Jack Gee, a Mardi Gras bead vendor, who said he drives down to Galveston every year from his home in Fort Worth to sell beads to Mardi Gras revelers.
And the sunny, 60-degree weather was good for business.
“It rained the first Saturday last year,” Gee said. “I’ve have had more customers here today than the last 10 years.”
Thelma Calapan and Alyce Kyle, both 76 and retired nurses who worked at the University of Texas Medical Branch, were at the opening of Mardi Gras to promote their charity work with the Lions Club.
“We’re here because we want to let everybody know about our free camp for disabled children in Kerrville and our work with the blind, Kyle said.
Robert Shumake, 55, who calls himself “Flagman” because he has carried an American flag to Mardi Gras the last nine years, was watching the parade with his grand children.
“It’s not as big as New Orleans’ but it’s a good time,” he said. “But I love living in Galveston.”
The crowds got bigger even as the sun set for the Krewe of Gambrinus parade Saturday night.
With float riders dressed as the Budweiser Clydesdales, Spuds McKenzie, the Budweiser frogs and even a group of mostly men dressed as Del Papa girls, the riders were costumed to fit the theme honoring the Del Papa family, owners of the county’s Budweiser distributor.
As he reviewed the various floats and costumes before the start of the procession, Lawrence Del Papa, the patriarch of the family, said he was grateful for the Krewe of Gambrinus’ salute to the company, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
The parade gave way to the Gambrinus Brew Ha Ha party as well as the Knights of Momus Ball before today’s light schedule, which will include the Special People’s Ball.
Then it’s six days of rest before the final and biggest weekend of the frivolity.
