Busy October season marks Galveston’s resurgence in fall tourism

Mackenzie Finklea, Public Relations Manager, Visit Galveston

Many of us locals agree that October is a favorite time of year in Galveston. The beaches are milder, less crowded, calmer, and bluer, and every weekend offers a unique reason to go out and play.

Even when I was not a resident, I sang Galveston’s praises for its fall season. As a repeat competitor of the bathing beauty competition, now Galveston Island Revue Weekend, my bio read, “Mackenzie’s favorite thing about Galveston is the blue water beach days of October. She believes it to be the island’s best kept secret.”

But those secret days are over because this year, Galveston is going viral for its gorgeous weather and fall happenings. TikTok was a-buzz last week over our blue water days, in much contrast to the opinions from Charles Barkley earlier this year. Every day, more and more people are discovering our little slice of paradise once touted in Southern Living as “the South’s best kept secret.”

I’m excited for more people to start appreciating Galveston as much as I do. My enthusiasm for the season keeps me energized during my annual fall media mission visits to Dallas. You can see for yourself by watching my latest in-studio interview here with Good Morning Texas.

During my trip, one travel writer for a popular UK-based outlet asked, “why Galveston instead of, say, Florida for those seeking a US beach destination?”  We locals know the answer. I like to say, “the beach, and and and!” Galveston has so much more to offer than the typical American beach destination.

It has the beach AND some of the best-preserved historic architecture in Texas, AND a huge variety of food offerings, AND luxury hotels, AND one-of-a-kind boutiques, AND the list could go on forever it seems. How lucky are we to live in such a small town with so much to offer?

My mom has said for years, “if you’re bored in Galveston, you’re doing it wrong.”

And truly, there is something to do every single weekend this October—more than one major event to choose from during each one in fact. Usually, October is a busy festival season for Galveston anyhow, but there are several new events this year, as if that wasn’t enough!

One new event I am particularly excited about is the Island Boo Fest, a Halloween celebration of Mardi Gras level proportions, which will be on October 26. Around the office, we have been referring to that Saturday as “the day of everything” because there will be so many events to choose from. Boo Fest boasts trick or treating, themed dining experiences, a huge parade, and after-hours events at a number of local late-night hot spots.

And this festival is not from out of town, it’s home-grown. Several local partners banded together to turn around this event in such a short time, one might even say as a response to the interrupted summer season. Many local businesses are fiercely promoting their fall seasonal offerings—I see it, and I am proud.

I see the advertising efforts of the Haunted Harbor Tours, the boosted spooky history tours of the Naval Museum, and the Halloween Spooktacular at The Bryan Museum. When I worked there many moons ago, the Halloween celebration was a simple, parking lot trunk-or-treat. Now, the museum offers a huge Halloween event on par with their Christmas traditions.

This innovation and spirit showcases the business community’s understanding of the importance of fall tourism.

Tourism is to thank for all of the luxuries we enjoy in Galveston. Our little population of 55,000 or so residents is not enough to support the myriad of opportunities, from restaurants and shops to events and more, but how lucky are we that we get to enjoy them every single day? So, cheers to continuing to support and promote local, and to preserving the truly awesome identity of our island paradise we call home.

Don’t miss out on the excitement and check out all the local event listings at visitgalveston.com.