Galveston Historical Foundation invites you to enjoy historic downtown Galveston for the 2026 Strand Summer Series! These movie and music nights are located in The Strand’s principal parks and feature free-to-the-public concerts and movies from April through September.
MUSIC NIGHTS AT SAENGERFEST PARK
Music nights start at 7 p.m. in Saengerfest Park, 2302 Strand.
Performances are FREE to the public with on-site beer and wine, select vendors, and a reserved VIP area with reserved seating, complimentary drinks, meet and greets, and more.
Click HERE for the show for tickets for VIP experiences!
- April 11th – Thunderado & Friends – Led by Hunter Perrin and Paul Beebe, they draw on their collaborations with John Fogerty, Billy Gibbons, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Archie Bell and Roy Head to bring a tasty combo of American music with a Texas accent.
- May 30th – Patrice Pike Band – Patrice Pike’s music defies easy genre labels, blending rock, R&B, soul, jazz, and global influences into what listeners experience less as a style and more as a deeply human, emotionally resonant journey rooted in hope. Her powerful voice, thoughtful lyrics, and multi-instrumental performances confront difficult subjects—poverty, gun violence, and loss—while always offering compassion, resilience, and connection. A veteran performer, Pike has toured with artists including Blues Traveler, Sarah McLachlan, the Allman Brothers, Dave Matthews, John Fogerty, and Sinéad O’Connor. Originally from Dallas, she moved to Austin in 1992 and rose to prominence as the frontwoman of the influential jam band Sister Seven, whose album This the Trip earned Billboard recognition. Since then, she has continued evolving through collaborations with longtime guitarist Wayne Sutton, their project Pike and Sutton (including the 2020 release Heart Is a Compass), and most recently with Hunter Hendrickson and John Bush, formerly of Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians, with new music slated for release in 2024.
- July 11th – Aaron Lee Tasjan – Aaron Lee Tasjan is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter known for his sharp wit, genre-blurring sound, and fearless authenticity, blending glam rock, folk, country, and pop into songs that are as emotionally incisive as they are catchy. A skilled guitarist and dynamic performer, Tasjan pairs clever, conversational lyrics with anthemic melodies that explore identity, love, vulnerability, and modern life with humor and heart. He has released several critically acclaimed albums, including Karma for Cheap, Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!, and Elephants, earning praise for both his songwriting craft and his bold artistic voice. Equally respected as a collaborator and sideman, Tasjan has worked with artists such as Kacey Musgraves and toured extensively, building a reputation as a compelling live act whose music challenges expectations while remaining deeply accessible.
- August 8th – The Derailers – The Derailers are a high-energy country band known for their irresistible blend of honky-tonk, rockabilly, and roots-driven twang, channeling the spirit of classic country while delivering a fresh, road-tested sound. Formed in Texas and shaped by deep influences from Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, and the Bakersfield tradition, the band gained national attention with a string of acclaimed albums and charting singles in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including Reverb Deluxe and Here Come the Derailers. Celebrated for tight harmonies, infectious rhythms, and electrifying live shows, The Derailers have toured extensively and earned a loyal following by staying true to country music’s dancehall roots while keeping it loud, fun, and unapologetically authentic.
- September 12th – Old 97’s – Old 97’s are a pioneering alt-country band whose smart, literate songwriting and high-octane live shows helped define the genre’s rise in the 1990s. Formed in Dallas, the band—led by charismatic frontman Rhett Miller—blends rootsy country, punk energy, and power-pop melodies into songs that balance wit, romance, and emotional candor. Breakthrough albums like Too Far to Care and Fight Songs established their reputation for sharp storytelling and melodic punch, while later releases continued to evolve their sound without losing urgency or heart. Renowned for their relentless touring and electric stage presence, Old 97’s remain one of the most enduring and influential bands to emerge from the American roots-rock movement.
MOVIE NIGHTS AT HENDLEY GREEN
Movie nights start at dusk in Hendley Green, 2028 Strand.
Movies are FREE to the public, with on-site beer and wine and select vendors.
- April 4th – Field of Dreams – Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella is inspired by a voice he can’t ignore to pursue a dream he can hardly believe. Supported by his wife, Ray begins the quest by turning his ordinary cornfield into a place where dreams can come true.
- May 16th – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – A brash, cocky high school senior, tired of skipping school to spend a boring day at home, is determined to enjoy an epic day roaring around his favorite Chicago sites, enlisting his best friend and girlfriend to join him on the adventure.
- June 20th – Hidden Figures – Hidden Figures is a biographical drama that tells the true story of three brilliant African-American women—Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson—working at NASA as “human computers” during the 1960s Space Race. Despite facing intense racism and sexism, they play a crucial role in calculating the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit.
- July 18th – Pirates of the Caribbean – Capt. Jack Sparrow arrives at Port Royal in the Caribbean without a ship or crew. His timing is inopportune, however, because later that evening the town is besieged by a pirate ship. The pirates kidnap the governor’s daughter, Elizabeth, who’s in possession of a valuable coin that is linked to a curse that has transformed the pirates into the undead. A gallant blacksmith in love with Elizabeth allies with Sparrow in pursuit of the pirates.
- August 1st – The Princess Bride – A fairy tale adventure about a beautiful young woman and her one true love. He must find her after a long separation and save her. They must battle the evils of the mythical kingdom of Florin to be reunited with each other. Based on the William Goldman novel “The Princess Bride” which earned its own loyal audience.
- September 5th – The Empire Strikes Back – The adventure continues in this Star Wars sequel. Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Chewbacca face attack by the Imperial forces and its AT-AT walkers on the ice planet Hoth. While Han and Leia escape in the Millennium Falcon, Luke travels to Dagobah in search of Yoda. Only with the Jedi master’s help will Luke survive when the dark side of the Force beckons him into the ultimate duel with Darth Vader.
ABOUT GALVESTON HISTORICAL FOUNDATION
Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) was formed as the Galveston Historical Society in 1871 and merged with a new organization formed in 1954 as a non-profit entity devoted to historic preservation and history in Galveston County. Over the last seventy years, GHF has expanded its mission to encompass community redevelopment, historic preservation advocacy, maritime preservation, museum development, and heritage tourism. GHF embraces a broader vision of history and architecture that encompasses advancements in environmental and natural sciences and their intersection with historic buildings and coastal life, and continues to lead on local, state, and national levels with research-driven programs that build awareness of preservation’s role in cultural identity and stewardship across generations.
