Arts and entertainment are as much a part of the Island’s history as its port and Victorian architecture. From theater, music and dance in historic and traditional settings, to reggae, rock, country and the oldies in the city’s nightspots, Galveston sparkles at night.

Your home for live entertainment, The Grand 1894 Opera House presents a year-round schedule of performances featuring stars of stage and screen, Broadway blockbusters, dance, music and comedy. The Grand is also available as a unique rental venue for private functions, meetings and corporate events and serves as the “Official Opera House of the State of Texas.” The site of several world premiere theater productions, The Grand is a historic treasure of the Gulf Coast that has featured performances by a variety of artists, including Steve Martin, Willie Nelson, Bill Cosby, James Earl Jones, Wilson Phillips, The Beach Boys, Gladys Knight, Bernadette Peters and many others.Visit www.thegrand.com for information on the current performing arts season selections and for ticket purchases.

If it’s a just-released motion picture you would like to see, Premiere Cinema, a multi-screen theater, is conveniently located on Seawall Boulevard at 89th Street. In the heart of the historical district, Island ETC operates in the former Strand Theatre. The elegant 200-seat theater is home to plays, musicals, concerts and film festivals year-round. Current hits, blues and rock keep The Strand and Postoffice streets hopping at night.

After dinner at one of the fine restaurants in the area, catch a few sets of live music and top off the evening with a waterfront stroll down the seawall. Drop in and enjoy a hot cup of coffee in one of the coffee shops, a deli sandwich in our many delis and bistros, or bagels and fine pastries offered at one of the many fine bakeries. The Strand, Pier 21 and Postoffice Street area – also known as Gallery Row – are home to art galleries housed in brightly painted Victorian buildings. On a Saturday evening about every six weeks, the galleries host Artwalk, featuring changing artists’ works.

Restaurants, bistros, boutiques and salons are also flourishing in the Postoffice Street area. Loft living brings vitality to this eclectic neighborhood around the clock.