Galveston is back! (Houston, Victoria, Moody: homes, gardens, money)

[bamba_boy]

I spent a wonderful weekend in Galveston about 3 weeks ago when invited back to my time share for a grand re-opening and was extremely happy about how far restoration of the old downtown (Strand Area) and other parts of the island had come. I had visited about a month earlier, maybe one month after the hurricane, and was just sick about the extensive damage. I saw that they were still going to attempt Dickens on the Strand and was extremely skeptical that they could pull it off just 3 months after the hurricane hit.

Well, I am very glad that I was flat wrong. The festival started up today and it was a huge success (and is still ongoing for tommorrow into the next weekend).

link to Houston Chronicle Review: Crowds flock to Galveston for Dickens on the Strand | Front page | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle
"Crowds flock to Galveston Island for Holiday Festival"

I hope to make it next weekend and hope you do to! Here is a genuine chance to help the prowd people of the island help themselves and help the city rebuild by spending some of your holiday entertainment money on a great cause and have a blast as well! Make sure to where your Victorian-era costume gear.

[Topaz]

That's wonderful! I'm happy to hear it. Are there any other "shouldn't miss" holiday events happening in Galveston this year?

[texas7]

Moody Gardens always has their Festival of Lights - wouldn't hurt to go to their Web site or call them to see if it is still on for this year.

[seastar311]

This is good news! My family had an excellent reunion there some years ago. We were all sad about the recent destruction.

[catfancier]

Moody Gardens festival of lights IS on...I saw a local TV segment on it. They did say they don't have as many lights as usual, but they're on.

Haven't been myself...just reporting the news <g>.

[bamba_boy]

I haven't heard an official announcement but I'm sure if they are able to make a success of Dickens in early December they should be able to have Mardis Gras in late Feb-early March. It's been a huge even, just short of Nawlins'-sized event in previous years.

[desertsun41]

I wouldn't call it a complete success yet. There are still piles of trash along all the curbs that the city does not seem to be collecting. All off the beaten path from tourist areas are in real bad shape. On the one end where the fishermen go there are massive mountians of materials of homes and any other debiis you can imagine. There are still sunken boats in some areas though any navigable waterways have been cleared.

Im not complaining, there is a long way to go. Things are looking real good. If nothing else, all the gawkers going to look at the damage are spending while they are there. That alone is good.

[ssgmun5000]

Great to hear that Galveston is doing alot better. I may go take the fiance to festivals of lights. I proposed to her at Moody Gardens a week before the hurricane hit.