Let the good times roll

Follow the beads to these Mardi Gras beats, bashes, and balcony parties in Galveston

Toss beads and people watch at the dazzling and decadent parades.

Photo courtesy of Mardi Gras Galveston

It's that time of year when tourists descend upon Galveston — no, not for spring break yet — but to go crazy during the two weekends that make up Mardi Gras Galveston. While some gatherings are private, there will be plenty of events where bead-bearing folk can respectfully get their party on.

If you'd rather forego the Mardi Gras crowds in New Orleans this year but still want to take part in parties and parades, point your car toward the popular Texas beach town. In a few hours, the good times will be rolling.

The parades
Expect myriad Mardi Gras parades, mostly going down in the Strand District. The weekend of February 22-24, there will be the George P. Mitchell Mardi Gras Award Parade (7 pm February 22), the 8th Annual Zaniest Golf Cart Parade (1 pm February 23), the Krewe D'iHeartMedia Art Car Parade (3 pm February 23) and the Fiesta Gras Parade (1 pm February 24).

The following weekend, there's the Danny Weber Memorial Fire Truck Parade (7 pm March 1), the Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler Parade (3:30 pm March 2), and the Krewe d'Esprit Rosaire Parade (11 am March 2) on Seawall Boulevard.

The entertainment
This weekend's Main Stage headliners are Texas country artist Pat Green (6 pm February 23) and Baton Rouge funk band Zaemon (10 pm February 23). Coming from Roma, Texas, Norteno band Duelo (2:30 pm February 24) will handle the music for Fiesta Gras.

Next weekend, Lone Star country stars Jason Cassidy (10:30 pm March 1) and Drew Womack (8:30 pm, March 1) will headline a "Salute to Texas" show.

And, for the EDM-loving kids, there's also Electric Mardi Gras, where DJs will be keeping things loud on the Electric Stage at the intersection of 21st and Mechanic. The two big draws this year are Phoenix's Grey the Mute (9 pm February 23) and Austin's Buck Rodgers (11 pm February 23).

The balcony parties
Savvy locals know that half the fun is observing the events from the numerous balcony parties that'll also be going down. The Mardi Gras! Headquarters Balcony Party will be happening all through Mardi Gras at the Dargan & Tobyn Building. A Mardi Gras Mask-Making Party (5:30 pm February 21) will kick things off at the Galveston Arts Center.

The King's Court Balcony Party will be on both weekends at Trolley Station, while the Queen's Court Balcony Party will also be happening at the Trumpets Building. And fans of '80s junk might want to check out the 2019 Krewe of Thalasar '80s Mardi Gras Ball (5 pm February 22) at the Trumpets Building.

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For more information on Mardi Gras Galveston parties, visit the official site.

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Ramping up

Vonlane relaunches luxury bus service between Dallas and Oklahoma City

Photo courtesy of Vonlane

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Luxury bus company Vonlane is crossing the Red River once again, bringing back its route between Dallas and Oklahoma City. Bookings open Tuesday, June 23 with service beginning on Tuesday, September 8, according to a release.

The Dallas-based motor coach service had introduced service to Oklahoma City as its first destination outside of Texas in 2019. Despite the route's popularity, Vonlane halted the service during COVID shut-downs in early 2020 and waited all these years to bring it back.

“The Dallas-Oklahoma City route has always meant a lot to our passengers, and they never stopped asking for it,” said Alex Danza, Founder and CEO of Vonlane, in a statement. “When demand changed, we made the difficult decision to pause service. Today, the market is telling us it’s time to return. Bringing back Oklahoma City is a great way to celebrate 12 years of growth while staying focused on what our riders want most.”

Dallas and Oklahoma City will be connected by multiple daily departures seven days a week. The schedule will be:

Sunday-Friday: Dallas to/from Oklahoma City at 10:15 am and 2:15 pm
Saturday: Oklahoma City to Dallas at 9 am and Dallas to Oklahoma City at 1 pm.

The 200-mile journey lasts about three hours (always depending on traffic).

The Dallas departure and arrival location is the DoubleTree by Hilton Dallas Love Field, 3300 W. Mockingbird Ln. The Oklahoma departure and arrival location is the Omni Oklahoma City Hotel, 100 Oklahoma City Blvd.

The fare is $129 one-way. Fares are flat rate with no taxes, baggage, or change fees, the company says.

Vonlane buses have 22 first-class leather seats, ample workspace, complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi, and an onboard attendant offering premium cabin service with snacks and non-alcoholic beverages included. Alcohol is available for purchase. Tickets can be booked at www.vonlane.com and via the Vonlane app, available for Apple and Android devices.

Vonlane was founded in 2014 and offers more than over 600 departures weekly across 11 cities. Routes operate in Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, Houston, Plano, San Antonio, The Woodlands, and Oklahoma City; between Atlanta, Georgia, and Nashville, Tennessee; and between Nashville and Memphis.

Steve Keenan, general manager of Omni Oklahoma City Hotel, says the city is ready to welcome guests who ride across the Red River on the Vonlane.

“Vonlane’s return to the Dallas-Oklahoma City corridor gives travelers a comfortable, reliable way to move between our two cities,” he says. “We’re excited to welcome more visitors to Oklahoma City in a way that makes the trip part of the experience.”

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