Plan Ahead for these Annual Events in Port Aransas

The beaches of Port Aransas are lovely to visit any time of year, but look ahead to these fun family events each year and you may discover a whole new side of Port A.

From fishing tournaments to home tours, shopping events to bird-watching festivals, Port Aransas has numerous events throughout the year to suit every taste, interest and hobby.

 

 

January

• Port Aransas Tour of Homes: January, annually
  
  The Port Aransas Garden Club hosts a self-guided or bus tour of Port Aransas’ finest homes, from gated community residences to beachfront properties. The tour starts at the Port Aransas Community Center, where you can buy a ticket and pick up a map. Click here for this year’s Tour of Homes dates and details.

 

February

• Barefoot Mardi Gras Parade
  
  
• Whooping Crane Festival (Port Aransas): late February, annually
  
  Every winter, many endangered whooping cranes (among other birds) migrate to the warm waters of the Texas Gulf Coast and their arrival is celebrated by the 4-day Whooping Crane Festival in Port Aransas in late February. Festival activities typically include boat tours to view the annual arrival of the beautiful endangered Whooping Cranes, interactive birding workshops and seminars, birding and nature bus tours, a painting and wine tasting class, and a free nature-related trade show. Click here for this year’s Whooping Crane Festival dates and details.
  

 

March

• Spring Break: Mid-March, annually
  
  Love it or loathe it, Spring Break is a huge annual event for Port Aransas. Thousands of visitors flock to Port A beaches to soak up the sun, enjoy the waves, eat local seafood, and party with friends.

  

• Port Aransas Open: late March
  
  Hosted by the Texas Gulf Surfing Association, the Port Aransas Open is an annual surfing competition at Horace Caldwell Pier. Grab a spot on the beach or the pier early for the best viewing. Find out this year’s Port Aransas Open dates and details here.
  

 

April

• Port Aransas Wooden Boat Festival:
  
  Hosted by Farley Boat Works, the Wooden Boat Festival is your chance to see hand-built boats and talk to the builders and designers. Try your hand at rowing a variety of skiffs, enjoy boat building presentations, and build a boat yourself during the annual Family Boatbuilding event. Click here for this year’s Wooden Boat Festival dates and details.
  

 

Texas SandFest: Late April, annually
The Texas SandFest is a hugely popular 3-day invitational sand sculpture competition that began in 1997, is run completely by volunteers, and draws participants and visitors from around the globe. In 2017, the Texas SandFest presented $201,000 in scholarships and donations to area nonprofit organizations. SandFest is easily Port A’s largest event of the year. Festival activities typically include sand-sculpting competitions by amateurs and professionals, kids’ sandcastle lessons, food trucks, local vendors and live music. Thousands of people descend on Port Aransas for this awesome festival that grows every year. Click here for this year’s SandFest dates and details.

May

June

July

• 4th of July Fireworks
  
  Every year, Port Aransas puts together a patriotic celebration that extends throughout the town with a colorful Independence Day parade, fun family festivities on the beach and fireworks show at Roberts Point Park.
• Deep Sea Roundup: mid-July, annually
  
  Known as the Tarpon Roundup when it first launched back in 1932, the Deep Sea Roundup is one of the oldest and largest family fishing tournaments in the Gulf Coast region. Divisions include offshore, bay surf, fly-fishing, and juniors. They even have the Piggy Perch for the young children to fish from the docks. Click here for this year’s Deep Sea Roundup dates and details.
  

August

• Texas Legends Billfish Tournament
  
  Participating boats can leave from any Texas port, but the weigh-in for this huge annual tournament happens at Virginia’s in Port A, where cash prizes are awarded.
  

 

September

• Beachtoberfest
  

  

October

• Harvest Moon Regatta: mid-late October, began in 1987, Galveston to Port Aransas, 250+ yachts offshore sailing
  
  The Harvest Moon Regatta is a long-standing sailboat race from Galveston’s Pleasure Pier to the Port Aransas jetties in the longest point-to-point regatta in U.S. coastal waters. The annual race began in 1987 and has grown to include 250+ yachts sailing offshore to win the prize. Great views can be had from the South Jetty, Robert’s Point Park, Horace Caldwell Pier and the beach. Click here for this year’s Harvest Moon Regatta dates and details.
  

November

• Port A Shop Around
  
  Bag all the savings and shop til you drop at some of Port A’s finest shops and boutiques during the annual Port A Shop Around. This is a popular event among the ladies, so be sure to plan ahead for accommodations. Cross your fingers to be the lucky winner of the grand prize at the annual Shop Around.

 

December

• Carolers Afloat & Boat Lighting Parade
  
  Ring in the Christmas season at Dennis Dreyer Municipal Harbor, where you’ll catch a lighted boat parade followed by refreshments and the arrival of Santa on a U.S. Coast Guard vessel. Great viewing from Roberts Point Park and several waterfront restaurants, like Trout Street Bar & Grill, Virginia’s on the Bay and Fin’s Grill & Icehouse.