The Bishop’s Palace (a.k.a. Gresham House) is a contributing building in the East End District and a National Historic Landmark. Bishop’s Palace is recognized as one of America’s finest examples of Victorian exuberance and Gilded Age extravagance and is listed by the U.S. Department of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark. Bishop’s Palace is located at 1402 Broadway at Ave. J.
Available Daily (11am-5pm): Bishop’s Palace Audio Tours – Powered by Acoustiguide, this Audio Tour allows visitors to see historical images not seen by previous tours on a handheld high-resolution screen. Tickets are $6-$11.
December 14th (5pm, 6:30pm), December 15th (4pm), December 21st (5pm, 6:30pm), December 22nd (4pm): Christmas Tours of Bishop’s Palace – Step into the 1892 Bishop’s Palace for this special tour highlighting the National Historic Landmark’s holiday decorations! Featuring six Christmas trees, live greenery, Poinsettias and more, this tour will let you learn about the house and Victorian holiday traditions. Complimentary champagne will be served and photography is allowed. Tickets are $30. These tours sell out fast.
November 29th-December 25th: Miracle Pop-up Bar at DTO (DAQUIRI TIME OUT) – “Miracle” is a Christmas-themed pop-up bar that serves specialty holiday cocktails from locations around the world. With kitschy holiday décor and professionally developed cocktails, Miracle is sure to get even the grouchiest grinch in the holiday spirit. DTO is located at 2701 Market St. in Downtown Galveston.
The Polar Express™ Train Ride is a theatrical re-creation of the classic children’s story on board a real train. Set to the soundtrack of the motion picture, passengers will relive the magic of the classic story as they are whisked away on the Polar Express for a magical one-hour trip to meet Santa.
Passengers are served hot chocolate and a treat by dancing chefs, enjoy a reading of the book by Chris Van Allsburg, and receive the first gift of Christmas (a silver sleigh bell) after Santa boards the train to greet families. Attendants lead passengers in caroling and fun holiday activities on the return trip to Galveston’s historic depot.
The Polar Express™ Train Ride in Galveston consists of six separate cars pulled by vintage locomotives from the Galveston Railroad Museum’s collection. On board, you will be seated in either Coach or First Class according to your ticket purchase. Every guest will experience the same excitement and wonder of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride.
November 15th-17th, 22nd-24th, 27th, & 29th-30th and & December 1st, 6th-8th, 13th-15th, 20th-22nd, 23rd, and 26th-29th.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday rides will be at 5pm, 6:45pm, and 8:30pm. Sunday matinee are 3:15pm Tickets prices are $27-$75. The Polar Express™ is almost completely sold out.
Tickets are available by calling (320)244-0213 or (409)765-5700 or at galvestonrrmuseum.org/polar-express.
- December: Cheer on the Pier with Santas on Saturdays – Get photos, enjoy Christmas activities, and watch holiday movies.
- December Holiday Movies (shown at dusk)
- December 7th: “Smallfoot”
- December 14th: “Polar Express”
- December 21st: “The Grinch”
Pleasure Pier is open November 28th Thanksgiving Day 1-8pm, December 25th Christmas Day, and December 31st for New Year’s Eve Party on the Pier.
Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier, located at 2501 Seawall Blvd., features family-oriented attractions including rides, midway games, food venues, and retail shops. All events and rides are weather permitting. For more info, tickets, and a full list of events go to pleasurepier.com.
Tickets are available for Walk-On only (no rides), Single Rides, All Day Ride Passes, and Weekend Pass for three parks at tickets.pleasurepier.com.
November 24th-December 31st (6-10pm): Downtown Lasers & Lights – Galveston’s historic downtown district will host Downtown Lasers & Lights featuring new laser shows, a magical display of lights and other holiday-themed attractions in Saengerfest Park and beyond. Highlights at Saengerfest Park include a 30-feet-tall Christmas tree and a giant snow globe for visitors to enjoy on weekends. In addition, lights will be hung on The Strand from 20th to 25th streets as well as along 23rd and Postoffice Streets. The 36-block district will sparkle with lasers and lights while visitors enjoy boutique shopping, dining, antiques, art galleries and more. New this year, four-hour holiday laser shows synchronized to music will be projected on the American National Insurance Company Building on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through December 22nd. While in the area, visitors can tackle some of their holiday shopping at the district’s many gift shops, boutiques, art galleries, and antique shops set among beautiful Victorian architecture. This is free to attend.
The Bishop’s Palace (a.k.a. Gresham House) is a contributing building in the East End District and a National Historic Landmark. Bishop’s Palace is recognized as one of America’s finest examples of Victorian exuberance and Gilded Age extravagance and is listed by the U.S. Department of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark. Bishop’s Palace is located at 1402 Broadway at Ave. J.
Available Daily (11am-5pm): Bishop’s Palace Audio Tours – Powered by Acoustiguide, this Audio Tour allows visitors to see historical images not seen by previous tours on a handheld high-resolution screen. Tickets are $6-$11.
December 14th (5pm, 6:30pm), December 15th (4pm), December 21st (5pm, 6:30pm), December 22nd (4pm): Christmas Tours of Bishop’s Palace – Step into the 1892 Bishop’s Palace for this special tour highlighting the National Historic Landmark’s holiday decorations! Featuring six Christmas trees, live greenery, Poinsettias and more, this tour will let you learn about the house and Victorian holiday traditions. Complimentary champagne will be served and photography is allowed. Tickets are $30. These tours sell out fast.
December 13th (7-10pm): Christmas Murder Mystery at Schaefer Haus – Creative Learning Society is pleased to invite you to a Christmas Murder Mystery to celebrate the most wonderful time of year with a fun Christmas-themed murder mystery. All of our guests will have the choice of playing a character or a detective in the mystery. They will provide costumes and props and all of the fun. The event will include a delicious array of appetizers and dessert platters with the mystery and you are welcome to bring your own beer and wine to enjoy. Tickets are $60 per person. Make a whole weekend out of the event and book a room at The Schaefer Haus. Contact them at schaeferhausgalveston.com. If you have questions please call Beth with Creative Learning Society at (713)876-2585. Schaefer Haus is located at 1711 Postoffice St., Galveston.
Join a fun and totally cool tour with Galveston Ghost Tours! Several different tours are available:
Walking Historic Galveston Ghost Tour
This walking tour has been conducted since 2009, and no gravestone has been left unturned to bring Haunted Galveston’s history to you. Meet on the corner of Sealy Ave. and 23rd St.
Ghost Bus Tour – Seawall Departure
This is a 10-mile, approximately 60-minute tour of Galveston! You’ll hear from ghost eyewitnesses in their own words. Galveston is well known for its haunted history, and as you visit the Island, you’ll hear stories of hauntings and paranormal activity at locations nearly everywhere you go. For times, costs and such contact: info@GalvestonExperience.com, call (409)741-340, or go to galvestonexperience.com.
More in-depth stories can be heard on the Galveston Ghost Podcast at GalvestonGhostPodcast.com. The Galveston Ghost podcast brings you firsthand interviews in the words of the ghost eyewitnesses. Be sure to subscribe so you are notified when each new episode is released.
Schedules are available at galvestonexperience.com/calendar/.
Performing individually or together in various combinations from duo to complex five-piano arrangements, The 5 Browns are delivering on their dream to wake up classical music by introducing it to their audiences. Their fresh energy and dynamic character add to the color and tonal spectrum of their sound from the classics to holiday favorites. One family, five pianos and 50 fingers add up to the biggest classical music sensation in years! These young musicians are legends in the making! This project is sponsored in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts and Texas Commission on the Arts. Tickets are $25-$75.
The Polar Express™ Train Ride is a theatrical re-creation of the classic children’s story on board a real train. Set to the soundtrack of the motion picture, passengers will relive the magic of the classic story as they are whisked away on the Polar Express for a magical one-hour trip to meet Santa.
Passengers are served hot chocolate and a treat by dancing chefs, enjoy a reading of the book by Chris Van Allsburg, and receive the first gift of Christmas (a silver sleigh bell) after Santa boards the train to greet families. Attendants lead passengers in caroling and fun holiday activities on the return trip to Galveston’s historic depot.
The Polar Express™ Train Ride in Galveston consists of six separate cars pulled by vintage locomotives from the Galveston Railroad Museum’s collection. On board, you will be seated in either Coach or First Class according to your ticket purchase. Every guest will experience the same excitement and wonder of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride.
November 15th-17th, 22nd-24th, 27th, & 29th-30th and & December 1st, 6th-8th, 13th-15th, 20th-22nd, 23rd, and 26th-29th.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday rides will be at 5pm, 6:45pm, and 8:30pm. Sunday matinee are 3:15pm Tickets prices are $27-$75. The Polar Express™ is almost completely sold out.
Tickets are available by calling (320)244-0213 or (409)765-5700 or at galvestonrrmuseum.org/polar-express.
