Artist Boat’s World Ocean Day Festival

Saturday, June 7, 2025 – 11:00 AM – 4:30 PM

R.A. Apffel Beach Park, East Beach – Galveston, Texas

In partnership with the Galveston Park Board of Trustees.

FREE EVENT with park entry ($15 per car).

Join Artist Boat and our partners on East Beach to celebrate World Ocean Day by discovering and learning through hands-on activities, presentations, exhibits, entertainment, and Eco-Art workshops!

Live Entertainment includes the Galveston Ukulele Society, the Pleasant Adventures of Pirate Pete, Polynesian Storytelling, and a special presentation of Women in Coastal.

Eco-Art Workshops for this year’s festival include Masters of Adaptation Art, Ocean Rhythms Drum Circle, Totally Turtles Acrylic Painting Workshop, and Bucket Brigade tours. No registration required. Learn more at www.artistboat.org/world-ocean-day-festival/. Registration is required due to limited seating.

Events and workshops include:

NOAA and National Marine Sanctuary Deep Sea Adventure Tent

June 7, 2025 – 11:00 am – 4:30 pm

R.A. Apffel Beach Park, East Beach – Galveston, Texas

In Partnership with the NOAA and National Marine Sanctuary foundation

FREE ACTIVITY with Park Entry.

Visit the NOAA and National Marine Sanctuary Foundation tent to learn how experts are restoring the deep coral habitats injured by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. See footage of colorful corals and mysterious creatures found a mile below the surface, hear about how high-tech underwater robots and specialized divers help scientists work at these depths, ask questions, and try a hands-on activity to learn more about deep Gulf ecosystems! No registration require.

Beautify the Bucket Art Contest

June 7, 2025 – 11:00 AM – 4:30 PM

R.A. Apffel Beach Park, East Beach – Galveston, Texas

In partnership with the Galveston Park Board of Trustees.

FREE EVENT with park entry.

The Beautify the Bucket Art Contest is in full swing with 130 blue trash barrels adopted by artists, schools, and other organizations. Contest entries will be on display at Artist Boat’s World Ocean Day Festival on East Beach, next to the main tent. Awards for the contest will be announce at 4:00 pm. The beautified buckets will then be dispersed across Galveston Island beaches and events. Email executive.assistant@artistboat.org to become a judge. Learn more at www.artistboat.org/world-ocean-day-festival/.

Book Now for Workshops

Masters of Adaptation Art Workshop

Hosted by Brandon Ballangée, Artist and Biologist

June 7, 2025 –11:00 am, 12:30 pm, 2:30 pm

R.A. Apffel Beach Park, East Beach – Galveston, Texas

This is a FREE workshop.

Join Brandon Ballangée, artist and biologist, on the beach to learn art techniques for capturing marine life on paper.

You will be introduced to preserved specimens of marine life and given the opportunity to learn about these masters of adaptation found in the Gulf waters. Capture your specimen through the creation of a one-of-a-kind art piece. Space is limited to 25 participants.

Totally Turtles Acrylic Painting

With Artist Boat Eco-Art Educators

June 7, 2025 – 11:00 am, 12:15 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:45 pm

R.A. Apffel Beach Park, East Beach – Galveston, Texas

This is a FREE workshop.

Learn acrylic painting techniques with an Artist Boat artist. You will explore basic acrylic painting techniques as you create a portrait your favorite coastal turtle species native to the land and waters of the Gulf Coast. Space is limited to 30 participants.

Women in Coastal Science

With Sandra Metoyer, Environmental Institute of Houston

June 8, 2025 – 3:00 pm

R.A. Apffel Beach Park, East Beach – Galveston, Texas

In Partnership with Visit Galveston

FREE ACTIVITY with park entry.

Join Visit Galveston on the main stage, as Artist Boat hosts the Women in Coastal Science live stream. Sandra Metoyer, Executive Director of the Environmental Institute of Houston, will be interviewed by Karla Klay, Executive Director of Artist Boat. Learn more about Sandra and her role within coastal science community.

Island Rhythm Drum Circle

With Ilya Janos Kolozs

June 7, 2025 – 12:15 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:45 pm

R.A. Apffel Beach Park, East Beach – Galveston, Texas

This is a FREE workshop. Join in on a drum circle on the beach, as leader and host Ilya Janos Kolozs guides you through creating rhythms using various percussion instruments.  You will get an opportunity to learn specific rhythms to play on provided drums and other percussion instruments, while enjoying the day with your toes in the sand. Space is limited to 30 participants.

Beach Brigade Interactive Beach Tours

With Artist Boat Eco-Art Educators

June 7, 2025 – 11:00 am, 12:15 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:45 pm

R.A. Apffel Beach Park, East Beach – Galveston, Texas

In Partnership with the Galveston Park Board of Trustees

This is a FREE workshop.

Explore the creatures and features that make Galveston beaches unique with Artist Boat’s Bucket Brigade, an interpretive Beach tour. Learn all about what makes our coast unique with hands-on activities and topics like turbid water, marine debris, Sargassum landings, and more! Fun for all ages. Space is limited to 15 participants.

Crude Life Portable Museum Adventure

Join Brandon Ballangée, artist and biologist, as he takes you into the waters of Galveston Bay to seine for marine life. Learn about the live specimens, then browse through a 1st century chest filled with preserved specimens. Afterward, you will capture what you’ve learned through art.

Friday, June 6, 2025 – 9:00 am, 6:00 pm

Artist Boat Coastal Heritage Preserve – Galveston, Texas

Registration required due to 25 participant capacity.

FREE WORKSHOPS. Reserve your spot now!

Sentinels of the Port Produced by Galveston Unscripted

Thursday, June 5, 2025 – 6:30 pm – 1:01 Minutes

Wortham Auditorium, Rosenberg Library – Galveston, Texas

In partnership with Rosenberg Library.

FREE EVENT.

“Sentinels of the Port” is a locally produced and popular documentary describing the expertise and dedication of Galveston’s Pilot Boat Captains. Learn about these dedicated men and women that risk their lives, rain or shine, to guide commercial vessels and cruise ships through the Galveston ship channels safely. Registration is required due to 100 seat capacity. Learn more at www.artistboat.org/world-ocean-day-festival/.

The Crude Life Portable Museum Adventure

Hosted by Brandon Ballangée, Artist and Biologist

Friday, June 6, 2025 – 9:00 am, 6:00 pm

Artist Boat Coastal Heritage Preserve – Galveston, Texas

FREE WORKSHOPS.

Join Brandon Ballangée, artist and biologist, as he takes you into the waters of Galveston Bay to seine for marine life. Learn about the live specimens, then browse through a 1st century chest filled with preserved specimens. Afterward, you will capture what you’ve learned through art.

Registration required due to 25 participant capacity. Learn more and register online at www.artistboat.org/world-ocean-day-festival/