Published September 14, 2023

Feast & celebrate at the 14th annual Galveston Island Shrimp Festival by 365thingsinhouston

Written by Eli Torres

Feast & celebrate at the 14th annual Galveston Island Shrimp Festival by 365thingsinhouston header image.

The 2-day Shrimp Festival extravaganza returns to the streets of Downtown Galveston | Courtesy of Galveston Island Shrimp Festival

Raise your Gumbo Stroll tasting cup and toast to the arrival of fall at the 14th annual Galveston Island Shrimp Festival in downtown Galveston and along the Seawall on Friday, September 22 and Saturday, September 23, 2023.

The big event begins with the ages-21-and-up Friday Kick Off Party featuring a fried shrimp dinner, open bar, and live entertainment from Brandon McDermott Band.

Then, after the Shrimp Scamper 5K Fun Run up and down Seawall Boulevard, the main event takes over the Historic Strand District beginning at 10am on Saturday, featuring the the Shrimp Gumbo Cook-Off along with more festivities and attractions that include the Ron Hoover Boat Show, vendor exhibits, the Lil’ Shrimps Parade, live music, and more.

The festival’s signature offering, the Gumbo Stroll, lasts from noon to 4pm in the Historic Strand District, allowing tasting cup-holders to enjoy all the delicious and original shrimp gumbo concoctions competing in the cook-off.

Galveston Island Shrimp Festival Weekend Event Schedule

Friday Kick-off Party in Downtown Galveston | Friday, Friday, September 22 – Launch into September’s biggest festival weekend, complete with a fried shrimp dinner, an open bar, and live music at a party that always sells out. Age 21+. $75. 7:30pm to 10pm
Shrimp Scamper 5K Fun Run on Seawall Boulevard‘ | Saturday, September 23 – Begin your day with a 5k run along Seawall Boulevard, starting and ending at Beerfoot Brewery, and wrap up with tasty beers and bites before the big event. $57 to $67. 7:30am to noon.
Gumbo Stroll in Downtown Galveston | Saturday, September 23 | FREE – Explore charming downtown Galveston with shopping, tasting, drinks, and more. The merchants, vendors and shops open first, with the Gumbo Stroll tasting kicking off right at noon. No charge to browse the event; $15 for a gumbo tasting cup to sample the goods. $10am to 6pm.

Galveston Island Shrimp Festival in Downtown Galveston

Dates: Friday, September 22 & Saturday, September 23, 2023
Times: Event times vary; Saturday’s main tasting event runs from 10am to 6pm
Location: Event locations vary; Saturday’s main tasting festival event is around Saengerfest Park, 2302 The Strand, Galveston, TX 77550
Admission: Free admission on Saturday; tasting cups at $15. Order tasting cup tickets or learn more.

A $15 tasting cup is your ticket to flavor at the 14th annual Galveston Island Shrimp Festival Gumbo Stroll in the Historic Strand District on Saturday, September 22, 2023. | Photo courtesy of Visit Galveston

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Source: www.365thingsinhouston.com