A note regarding COVID-19
Upcoming Events in Port Aransas
Rockport-fulton
Market Days
Dec. 20-22, Jan. 17-19, Feb. 14-16
Rockport Festival Grounds at Rockport Harbor, 100 Seabreeze Drive
At this pet-friendly market, enjoy live music throughout the weekend, over 100 vendors, over a dozen food trucks and food vendors, and seating under the shade.
Rockport
Smithsonian Museum on Main Street: “Crossroads”
Jan. 25-March 9
Aransas County Community Center, Rockport Cultural Arts District
“Crossroads” is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and state humanities councils nationwide that seeks to create opportunities for underserved rural communities across the country to reflect on their history, culture, and people by showcasing their cultural heritage assets. Other cities taking part in Texas are Bandera, Brenham, Buffalo Gap, Clifton, San Augustine, and San Elizario.
Billy Hassell Exhibition
Jan. 31-March 30
Rockport Center for the Arts, 204 S. Austin St.
See oil paintings and works on paper by Texas-based artist Billy Hassell.
Eric DePan Exhibition
Feb. 3-April 6
Rockport Center for the Arts, 204 S. Austin St.
Houston artist Eric DePan displays his glass works at this exhibition. An artist reception takes place on March 8.
Performing Arts Series at the ROCC
Feb. 7-May 9
Randall Ewing Kemper Hall at The ROCC, 106 S. Austin St.
The Performing Arts Series at the Rockport Conference Center offers a variety of musical artists and genres each month. This season’s lineup features Texas Trio (Feb. 7), Doc Watkins (March 14), Luke Bulla (April 11), and Bruce Robison (May 9). All shows include VIP and general admission seating, available online through the Rockport Center for the Arts website, with ticket prices and availability varying by performance.
Port Aransas
Chocolate Crawl and Shop Around
Feb. 13
Various locations
Spend an evening shopping for last-minute Valentine’s Day gifts at local boutiques while enjoying chocolate treats at all participating places. The Shop Around continues through the weekend with fun deals and specials throughout town.
Rockport
LaMardi Gras
Feb. 14-15
Lamar Volunteer Fire Department, 302 Bois D’Arc Lamar Peninsula
At this annual festival, visitors can enjoy food, live entertainment, a parade, and other festivities on the Lamar Peninsula. The event benefits the Lamar Volunteer Fire Department.
Port Aransas
Whooping Crane Festival
Feb. 20-23
Various locations
Each year since 1996, the Whooping Crane Festival has celebrated the annual return of the cranes to their wintering habitat at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. The Texas Coastal Bend is the only place where you can see the world’s last naturally occurring population of Whooping Cranes. The event has renowned speakers, birding trips, boating trips, nature tours, photography workshops, and a trade show.
Port Arthur
Rotary Taste of Gumbo & More
Feb. 22
Central Mall , 3100 FM 365
Taste the best gumbos created by local restaurants and groups and cooked up in the Cajun Capital of Texas. This event also features live entertainment from the Rollin Bones Band and a silent auction to raise funds for charity.
Aransas Pass
Saltwater Mardi Gras Festival
March 1
Downtown, 235-353 S. Commercial St.
A family-friendly Mardi Gras offers a variety of activities. Attendees can browse local vendor booths, enjoy live zydeco music, savor cuisine from food trucks, explore the kids’ area, and participate in the gumbo cookoff competition.
La Porte
First Fridays
March 1-May 2
Five Points Plaza, 100 S. Broadway St.
Experience the magic of Main Street every first Friday of the month from March to May. The historic district transforms into a vibrant hub of activity with live music, shopping, art walks, car shows, and rotating fun each month.
Port Aransas
Margarita Madness
March 1-31
Various locations
For the month of March, visitors can enjoy margaritas from restaurants all over Port Aransas. Try a classic or find a funky new favorite, each participating restaurant has put its own unique twist on the typical margarita.
La Porte
Main Street Trade Days
March 2-May 4
Main Street, 100 S. Broadway St.
Main Street Trade Days is a monthly event held on the first Saturday of every month. This outdoor market features a wide array of vendors selling antiques, collectibles, repurposed furniture, and handcrafted goods.
Freeport
“Dinosaur George Returns”
March 7-8
Freeport Historical Museum, 311 E. Park Ave.
Dinosaur George returns to the museum with his traveling museum of real artifacts and over 150 exhibit pieces of prehistoric life.
Rockport
Rising Eyes of Texas Exhibition
March 7-April 20
Rockport Center for the Arts, 204 S. Austin St.
Every year, Rockport Center for the Arts hosts a statewide, juried exhibition for undergraduate and graduate students emerging in the visual arts. Meet the artists at a reception on March 8.
Freeport
Spring Break Open House
March 10-14
Discovery Center at the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, 2022 CR 227
Friends of Brazoria Refuges, local volunteers, and Texas Master Naturalists set up environmental and wildlife educational activity stations, live animal exhibits, and other fun activities for the family. In addition, the Big Slough Recreation Area boasts a 7-mile auto tour loop and two short walking trails.
Portland
Windfest
March 27-30
Portland Community Complex, 2000 Billy G. Webb Drive
The annual family-fun festival held in the coastal town of Portland has a parade, cookoffs, the Dachshund Dash, doggie costume contest, a carnival, a cornhole tournament, entertainment, food, a beer garden, and shopping.
Rockport
Sarah Hull Exhibition
April 4-June 1
Rockport Center for the Arts, 204 S. Austin St.
This exhibition features oil paintings by Tampa, Florida, artist Sarah Hull. Meet the artist at a reception taking place on April 12.
Port Arthur
Cajun Heritage Fest
April 5
Robert A. “Bob” Bowers Civic Center, 3401 Cultural Center Drive
Port Arthur is the official Cajun Capital of Texas. Enjoy live Cajun music, spicy food, vendors, and dancing the night away.
Rockport
Ryoichi Suzuki Exhibition
April 8-June 8
Rockport Center for the Arts, 204 S. Austin St.
Marble work by artist Ryoichi Suzuki of North Logan, Utah, is on display. An artist reception takes place on April 12.
Freeport
“The Birthplace of Selena: El Nacimiento de Selena”
April 19
Freeport Historical Museum, 311 E. Park Ave.
Selena Quintanilla lived in Lake Jackson, but she was born at the Freeport Community Hospital. Learn more about Freeport in the 1970s, and the historic hospital that many Brazosport residents call their birthplace.
Port Aransas
Texas SandFest
April 25-27
Port Aransas Beach, Between beach mile markers 9 and 13.
See amazing feats of sand art and architecture as master sculptors from all over the world come to Port Aransas to make pure magic from the sand. This is the largest master sand-sculpting competition in the United States.
Rockport
David Everett Exhibition
April 25-June 15
Rockport Center for the Arts, 204 S. Austin St.
Rockport’s David Everett shows his wood sculptures at this exhibition, with an artist reception hosted on May 10.
La Porte
Sylvan Beach Festival
April 26
Sylvan Beach Park, 636 N. Bayshore Drive
The Sylvan Beach Festival is one of the longest-running traditions along the Texas Gulf Coast, currently in its 69th year. A full day of family-friendly entertainment takes place beginning with the Sylvan Beach Day Parade. After the parade, make your way to the park for carnival rides, food vendors, live music, inflatables, and arts and crafts vendors. As the sun goes down, hear music well into the night.
Rockport
Festival of Wine and Food
April 26-27
Texas Maritime Museum, 1202 Navigation Circle
Indulge with the perfect blend of wine, music, and festivities at the 28th annual festival, hosted at the Texas Maritime Museum grounds and featuring more than 75 wines, live music, and local cuisine.
Rockport-fulton
Book Festival
April 26-27
Fulton Convention Center Paws and Taws, 402 N. Fulton Beach Road
The festival brings together authors and readers to celebrate books and reading at this free, family-friendly event.
Port Aransas
Spring Kite Fly
May 10-11
Fly It! Port A, 405 W. Ave. G
Fly It Port A hosts this open kite fly on the beach. BYOK (Bring Your Own Kite) and help decorate the sky or simply come watch the show. Flyers start setting up around 10 a.m. near beach marker 13 and fly all day weather permitting. There may even be night kites.
Rockport
Babes on the Bay
May 16-17
Fulton Convention Center, 402 N. Fulton Beach Road
This is the largest one-day female angler fishing tournament in the country. Women from all over Texas and across the country come together for a fun-filled weekend with live bands, vendor booths, and educational outreach.
Freeport
Shark Exhibit
May 24-Aug. 13
Freeport Historical Museum, 311 E. Park Ave.
At this exhibition, visitors can stand inside enormous shark jaws, see life-size models of different sharks, and learn about Freeport’s historic fishing industry.