25th Anniversary Houston Art Car Parade

Saturday, May 12, 2012, 1 pm
Allen Parkway, Waugh Drive to Bagby
Houston, Texas
Route map: http://g.co/maps/kmq8y

The Art Car Parade is free and you may view the parade from any place on Allen Parkway. You are invited to view the cars and meet the artists as the cars line up at Taft and Allen Parkway, beginning at 9am.

The Orange Show Monument

Saturdays and Sundays
Noon – 5pm
Admission: $1.00 per person

The Orange Show is a multi-level folk art tribute to the orange. The 3000 square foot outdoor exhibit was built by the late Jefferson Davis McKissack from 1956 to 1979.

There is an oasis, wishing well, pond, stage, museum and gift shop. The Orange Show is made up for standard building materials and “found” materials such as tiles, gears, tiles, wheels, mannequins, tractor parts and statues.

This location is considered one of the most important folk art environments in the United States. Check out the website (http://www.orangeshow.org/orange-show-monument/) for visitor information and for programs other than the Art Car Parade.

RV Parks in Area

Space Center RV Park (Good Sam discount)
301 Gulf Freeway South
League City, TX 77573
Toll Free: (888) 846-3478
Local: (281) 554-8800

Marina Bay RV Resort (Good Sam discount)
925 Marina Bay Drive
FM 2094
Kemah, Texas 77565
(281) 334-9944

Kemah RV Resort (Good Sam & TACO discount)
675 Miles Road
Bacliff, Texas 77518
(281)559-2362

Lake Shore RV Park
1191 South Main Street
Houston, Texas

We have been traveling around Houston lately. We are staying at an RV park on the outskirts. We went exploring and we found an outdoor shop like a rustic lodge. They had a fishing pond, several rocky streams stocked with trout, a room-size aquarium and stuffed animals on the walls.

We looked around for a tent for camping for our sons. They want to go RVing with us and our trailer is not big enough, and mother is not patient enough, to have them in the travel trailer with us. We looked around and had decided on one tent, when I remembered that I had visited a site online that had good prices on a Texsport Cool Canyon Tent.

When went home, I went online and found the Texsport Cool Canyon Tent for less than $100. This camping tent is fire-resistant and measures 8 feet x 10 feet by 5.3 feet (height). The tent has a silver polyurethane coated rain fly, polyurethane-coated walls made of taffeta and a front rain fly. The tent is secure and easy to set up. It has a rip-stop polyethylene floor, speed clips that secure the tent to the frame, and no see-um mesh door (with storm flaps) and windows.

Now, I have no excuse. The boys will be going on our next trip. I will let y’all know how it turns out.

Southeast Texas Mardi Gras

Port Arthur, Texas
February 16-19, 2010

Southeast Texas is close to Louisiana and we do not stand on ceremony.  So, get ready for Mardi Gras:  music, carnival, food and drink, crafts, beads, masks, face paint and parades (golf cart, ATV, motorcycle, munchkin and krewe).

Main Stage Concert Schedule

Thursday, February 16th
6 pm Longneck Road
8 pm Joel Martin Project

Friday, February 17th
7 pm  Geno Delafose and French Rockin Boogie
10 pm Kevin Fowler

Saturday, February 18th
3 pm Jive Gene
5 pm Leroy Thomas & the Zydeco Roadrunners
8 pm Champagne Room
10 pm Stoney Larue

Sunday, February 19th
3 pm Ryan Foret & Foret Tradition
6 pm Wayne Toups & Zydecajun

Parade Schedule

Thursday – February 16, 2012
445 pm Courir du Mardi Gras Parade
Starts at Rosehill, travels down Lakeshore Drive ending at festival grounds

Friday – February 17, 2012
7 pm Valero Krewe of Krewes Parade
Starts at Rosehill/Seawall, travels down Procter Street ending at Houston Ave.

7 pm Golf Cart & ATV Parade
Starts at Rosehill/Seawall, travels down Procter Street ending at Houston Ave.
Registration required, call 721-8717 or mardigras.portarthur.com. Must be 18 years or older.

Saturday – February 18, 2012
1 pm Krewes Royalty March (inside festival grounds)
Starts at Atlanta Ave, travels down Procter Street ending at Austin Ave.

530 pm Motorcycle Showcase Parade
Starts at Rosehill/Seawall, travels down Procter Street ending at Houston Ave.
Registration required, call 721-8717 or mardigras.portarthur.com. Must be 18 years or older.

6 pm Total Krewe of Aurora Grand Parade
Starts at Rosehill/Seawall, travels down Procter Street ending at Houston Ave.

Sunday – February 19, 2012
2 pm Munchkin Parade (inside festival grounds)
Starts at Atlanta Ave. travels down Procter Street ending at Austin Ave.

4 pm Richard Industrial Group Motor Parade
Starts at Rosehill/Seawall, travels down Procter Street ending at Houston Ave.
(registration is required 409-721-8717 or mardigras.portarthur.com.

 RV Parks in Area:

Port Arthur RV – brand new with many amenities.Here is a link to several others.

Other Texas Mardi Gras Celebrations

Mardi Gras! Galveston 2012

February 10–21, 2012 (one weekend left)

Galveston is rebuilt and recovered from Hurricane Ike.  It is time to party! Enjoy elaborate parades, headliner performances, family events, feasting and other festivities that come with celebrating Mardi Gras, island style.  Over two weekends there are 5 masked balls, 19 balcony parties, 24 parades and 26 parades. Headliner is Hot Chelle Rae, with appearances by Electric Touch, Josh Abbot Band, Nakia and Fred Andrews and Honeybrowne.  This is the biggest Mardi Gras celebration in Texas (250,000+ attendees). Go to this one if you live nearby; Galveston has been putting on Mardi Gras for 100+ years. Visit the website for more information.

RV Parks on Galveston Island:

Galveston Island State Park – damaged by Hurricane Ike.  It has been rebuilt, but many trees were lost.

Krewe of Hebe 20th Annual Mardi Gras–Upriver

Jefferson, Texas
February 17-19, 2009
Theme:  Festivals Around the World

Friday, February 17, 2012
Main Stage
630 – 1030 pm – music by Dazed, an exciting new band.

7 pm – Doo Dah Parade – Dress in your craziest Mardi Gras costume and join in the parade. Revelers begin at Lion’s Park, weave their way though downtown to the Main Stage for the Alley Dance. Doo Dah Theme:  “Light Up the Night” – For more info contact:  Betsy or Becca / 903-238-1145

Saturday, February 18, 2012
Music All Day on Main Stage
11 am – 2 pm – Jeff Taylor Band is a 19-piece contemporary and classic variety music experience that includes two female vocalists and the famous “Horns From Hell,” with signature trumpeter Jeff Taylor.

3 – 6 pm Jo-el Sonnier or “King of Cajun,” as he is known to his many fans.  King of Cajun is a Grammy-nominated artist and songwriter who mixes French and American lyrics. His energy is contagious as he demonstrates his spirited accordion abilities.  Bring your dancing shoes.

7 – 10 pm Me & My Monkey – Beatles Tribute Band is a must-see attraction.

145 pm – Motorcycle parade
2 pm – Grand Parade
430 -5 pm – Awards Ceremony (Main Stage)

Sunday, February 20, 2012
Main Stage Music
12-4 pm -The Night Hawk Band comes from Hope, Ark and plays a variety of gospel, Cajun and progressive country.  Try to stump them with a song.

2 pm – Children’s Parade
Children’s Activities at the gazebo at Otstott Park
Children’s Costume Contest, Ugly Dog Contest, Pet Look Alike and Best Pet Costume Contest
More info on children’s activities, contact Roger Opiela  e-mail:  luckybtwo@att.net   phone:  903-742-9800

Going on all day:

• live music
• children’s carnival
• arts & crafts
• food and drink

There are several nearby campgrounds and  RV parks.  For more information, see Corps of Engineer parks on Lake O’ the Pines. Here are independent writeups of the various parks on the lake.