Jan. - Dec. 2011 — Sea Turtles Tours, NMFS Sea Turtle Research Facility, 5000 Ave. U. Come see as many as 600 threatened and endangered sea turtles at the NOAA/ Fisheries Sea Turtle facility. Nowhere else in the U.S. can you see this many rare Kemps Ridley and Loggerhead sea turtles. Let our experienced guides teach you about the threats to sea turtles, facts about their biology, behavior and programs, past and present, to protect and preserve these wonderful creatures from extinction. Tours are held every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Admission is free. For info call (409) 766-3670.

Ongoing — Dolphin Watching, Galveston Harbour Tours, Pier 22. Board the Seagull II for dolphin watching in Galveston's historic harbor and enjoy a special excursion dedicated solely to observing dolphins at play. Learn about the dolphin's habitat and characteristics, and see them up close as they train their calves to feed, engage in aerial acrobatics, and glide effortlessly through the water. Available every Saturday throughout the year 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Cost is $12 adults/seniors; $10 children (12 and under) reservations are required. Groups of 30 or more may book special weekday or weekend excursions. 409-765-1700.

Ongoing — Enjoy popular self-guided tours at The Grand 1894 Opera House in Galveston, where visitors can tour a working 115-year-old performing arts theatre, named the "official Opera House of the State of Texas". Self-guided tours will be available for $2 per person on Monday-Saturday from 9am-5pm. The Grand 1894 Opera House is located at 2020 Postoffice Street in Galveston's historic downtown Entertainment District. For information about upcoming performances, to schedule a guided tour and for more information, contact The Grand's box office at 409.765.1894, 800.821./1894 or visit www.thegrand.com

Ongoing — Island of Romance, Twilight Horse-drawn Carriage Tours, The Mermaid and the Dolphin Inn, 1103 33RD Street. Relax and enjoy the charm and romance of a horse-drawn carriage tour down to the historic streets of Galveston. Daily, evenings. Reservations required. Hour-long tours $75/couple, $100/4 adults. 409-762-1561.

Ongoing — Sunday Tea & Tour. Circa 1866 Texas Governor's Summer Mansion, now The Mermaid & The Dolphin Boutique Inn & Spa Resort, and Circa 1860 Charles Adam's House, now Rose Mansion, offer Sunday Tea & Tour. Explore the mid-19th century mansions and enjoy tea in the elegant ballrooms. Sundays, 2:00 PM. Tea & Tour Reservations Required. Admission $20.00 (409)762-1561, (409)763-1577.

March thru October 2011- Don't miss Music Night on the Strand, every second Saturday of the month. The event occurs at Saengerfest Park, 23rd & Strand, 5pm - 8pm. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and pals, and enjoy a fine evening of live music under the stars. Presented by the Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau and Mitchell Historic Properties.

March thru October 2011 – Movie Night on The Strand at 7 pm., Grab your chairs, blankets, & pillows, and head downtown for a FREE family-friendly event under the stars. Held the 1st Saturday of each month.

April 7 – 10, 2011- 9th Annual Galveston FeatherFest, www.galvestonfeatherfest.com/

May 7 and 14 - Galveston Historical Foundation will present the 37th annual Galveston Historic Homes Tour Saturdays, May 7 and 14, and Sundays, May 8 and 15, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This year's Coastal Style tour includes 9 houses featuring a variety of styles from an 1871 Gulf Coast Cottage to a traditional Craftsman Bungalow built in 1924. As visitors tour the homes they will hear about Galveston's unique and eclectic architecture styles and the influential and everyday citizens that built the houses that still stand today.

May 13-15 – STOMP is explosive, provocative, sophisticated, sexy, utterly unique and appeals to audiences of all ages. STOMP. See what all the noise is about. Fri. 8 pm, Sat. 3 pm & 8 pm and Sun. 3 pm. For information about this and other performances scheduled, contact The Grand's box office at 409.765.1894 or 800.821.1894.

May 21 – from 10 am – 4 pm at Saengerfest Park, 2300 Strand Market on the Strand is a free monthly event held the third Saturday of each month at Saengerfest Park. The Market is sponsored and organized by the Historic Downtown Strand Seaport Partnership, a non-profit organization, and an all Volunteer Committee. The Market offers a variety of hand-crafted items by local artisans. Relax a bit as you stroll down The Strand, and visit with our vendors about their items and their individual craft. Browse and shop items ranging from whimsical aprons to photographs of historic Galveston, bath salts, jewelry, plants, and much more.

June 4 - AIA SandCastle Competition will celebrate the 25th annual on Galveston’s East Beach from 10.am.to 5.00 pm. You are invited to come see how piles of sand magically transform into imaginative sculptures. For over two decades on the first Saturday of June, teams of architects, designers, and engineers have taken their tools to East Beach in Galveston for what is considered one of the world’s largest sandcastle competitions. The Houston Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has been organizing this competition every year since 1986. This year over 60 teams have their eyes and shovels set on winning the prestigious Gold Bucket Award. Firms begin months in advance generating ideas, developing designs, and assigning duties. On the day of the event the teams, stretched along the beach front, meticulously sculpt their piles of sand and work non-stop for five hours. The judging of all sculptures is rated on originality of concept, artistic execution of the concept, technical difficulty, carving technique, and utilization of the site. In addition to the Gold Bucket, Awards are given in 8 different themed categories as well as for best team t-shirt design, best team signage, best costume, and public favorite. At the end of the day, everyone goes home with memories of a great day at the beach filled with fun, sun, sand, and sea. There is a "special event" cash only $10.00 parking fee per vehicle collected by the Galveston Parks Board. There is no ATM close by so please be prepared.

June 4– Movie Night on The Strand at, 8:00 pm, The Breakfast Club, Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Anthony Michael Hall. Universal Pictures; Rated R; 95 minutes; 1985. A brain, a beauty, a jock, a rebel and a recluse are forced to spend a Saturday together in high school detention. The five bare their souls to each other then band together against their sadistic and insecure principal in this teen drama featuring the 80s 'Brat Pack.') Grab your chairs, blankets, & pillows, and head downtown for a FREE family-friendly event under the stars. Held the 1st Saturday of each month.

June 11 – ArtWalk, an event that provides visitors with wine and cheese while leading them through the historic streets and into boutiques and galleries. The event runs from 6 to 9 pm.

June 10 thru Aug. 18 -- Bands on the Sand from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 pm at Moody Gardens® Palm Beach. Enjoy local and regional bands on Friday evenings during the Summer at Palm Beach. Each Friday will feature a different band with the best R&B, Pop, Country and rock music around. Each event will conclude with a fireworks show at the end of the night. Visit www.moodygardens.org/concerts for a complete schedule. Cost: $10.00

June 18 – from 10 am – 4 pm at Saengerfest Park, 2300 Strand Market on the Strand is a free monthly event held the third Saturday of each month at Saengerfest Park. The Market offers a variety of hand-crafted items by local artisans. Relax a bit as you stroll down The Strand, and visit with our vendors about their items and their individual craft. Browse and shop items ranging from whimsical aprons to photographs of historic Galveston, bath salts, jewelry, plants, and much more.

July 16 – ArtWalk, an event that provides visitors with wine and cheese while leading them through the historic streets and into boutiques and galleries. The event runs from 6 to 9 pm.