Galveston’s Bucket Brigade Should Be Part of Weekend Fun

Did you know you might find crabs, tiny fish, shrimp, and maybe a seahorse in seaweed? Yup, seaweed is a floating ecosystem. This fact is just one of the things you’ll learn from marine biologists leading Galveston’s Bucket Brigade. Every weekend, marine life experts dressed in bright orange shirts lead a 45-minute interpretive beach tour for visitors at three spots on the island. 

On the east end of the island, you’ll find the Bucket Brigade at Stewart Beach every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Mid-town Bucket Brigade Tours are every Friday and start at lifeguard stand #56 between 56th and 57th and Seawall Blvd. And, if you’re staying on the west end of the island, Bucket Brigade Tours are at Pirates Beach, 4245 13 Mile Road, on Saturdays only. Artist Boat hosts all Bucket Brigade tours at 11 a.m., 12 p.m, 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. Artist Boat recommends you register in advance through their website to reserve your spot, especially on busy weekends.

Midtown Schedule

56th and Seawall Blvd., #56 Lifeguard Stand

Friday only (thru Sept. 3)

11 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., & 3 p.m.

Pirates Beach Schedule

Saturday only (thru Sept. 4)

11 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., & 3 p.m.

Stewart Beach Schedule

Friday, Saturday, & Sunday (thru Sept. 5)

11 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., & 3 p.m.

In addition to learning fascinating facts about marine life, you’ll learn about the impact of common beach trash, including the time it takes for it to degrade. For example, did you know it takes a glass bottle 1 million years to degrade? And, it takes more than 450 years for plastic bottles to degrade. 

Everyone gets a bucket to use during the tour. You can use it for examining seaweed or for picking up beach trash. Remember to bring sunblock and plan to get a little wet when you walk into the water to capture saltwater and seaweed. 

Another thing to love about the Bucket Brigade is that it’s free. 

Shared by a Bucket Brigade Interpreter, 

“I met a family from Austin with many enthusiastic children with them. We caught swimming crabs, snails, fish, and clams. When I told them it was time for me to go to my next tour location, one of the boys asked me, “can you give your phone number to my parents so I can help you catch crabs again soon?” Then his brother handed me a snail shell and said, “this is my lucky shell. I’ve had it for seven years. I want you to have it so you can show it to everybody on your tours.”

This tour is something the entire family will enjoy, so make sure to reserve your spot in advance. 

Ryson Vacation Rentals offers more than 260 properties across the island that provide plenty of reasons to visit Galveston this year. If you need help planning your visit, Gulf Coast Concierge is available to assist.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Christine is a proud BOI, meaning she was “Born on the Island.” She is the co-author of the newly released “100 Things to Do in Galveston Before You Die,” published by Reedy Press. Before the book, she wrote more than 300 blogs on Galveston offering travel tips on what to see and do. Over the years, she’s given hundreds of tours for visiting travel writers showcasing the sites on the island. Currently, she’s a Galveston guide for ToursByLocals.com.