Visit Port Arthur is your guide to the abundant culture, birding and beaching, as well as fantastic Port Arthur hotels, restaurants and entertainment. Lake Sabine and the Gulf of Mexico coast connect to our city. We have all the water you could ever want, within minutes. Our beaches are surrounded by nothing but nature, for miles and miles.
We have fishing holes for fresh and salt water anglers and Mardi Gras is always a catch away. Come taste our Cajun flavor, lose yourself in our dramatic Port Arthur history, and absorb all the natural beauty that the city of Port Arthur has to share. Add your energy to ours.
Mardi Gras: Catch the Excitement
The ever-popular Wayne Toups will be among headliners for the 20th 
anniversary edition of Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas, the party that colors downtown Port Arthur green, gold and purple from Feb. 15-19. Lighted night parades with bead-tossing revelers fill the schedule along with chicken and motorcycle parades. Elaborate costumes , Cajun music, a carnival and street food make a family-friendly event in Port Arthur. Visit mardigras.portarthur.com for more info and make sure to visit Museum of the Gulf Coast for ¡CARNAVAL! , a traveling exhibit featuring festival exhibits from around the world.
Parades and entertainment
Thursday, Feb. 16
anniversary edition of Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas, the party that colors downtown Port Arthur green, gold and purple from Feb. 15-19. Lighted night parades with bead-tossing revelers fill the schedule along with chicken and motorcycle parades. Elaborate costumes , Cajun music, a carnival and street food make a family-friendly event in Port Arthur. Visit mardigras.portarthur.com for more info and make sure to visit Museum of the Gulf Coast for ¡CARNAVAL! , a traveling exhibit featuring festival exhibits from around the world.
Parades and entertainment
Thursday, Feb. 16
- 4:45 p.m. - Curir du Mardi Gras, to begin at Rose Hill and Lakeshore Drive, ending at festival grounds.
- 6 p.m. - Longneck Road
- 8 p.m. - Joel Martin Project
- 6 p.m. - Longneck Road
- 8 p.m. - Joel Martin Project
- 7 p.m. - Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie
- 7 p.m. - Valero Krewe of Krewes Parade from Rose Hill to Procter Street to Houston Avenue.
- 7 p.m. - Golf card and ATV Parade, from Rose Hill to Procter Street to Houston Avenue.
- 10 p.m. - Kevin Fowler
- 1 p.m. - Krewes Royalty March, inside festival grounds
- 3 p.m., - Jivin’ Gene Bourgeois and the Ken Marvel Band
- 5:30 p.m. - Leroy Thomas & The Zydeco Roadrunners
- 5:30 p.m. - Motorcycle Showcase Parade, from Rose Hill to Procter Street to Houston Avenue
- 6 p.m. - Total Krewe of Aurora Grand Parade, from Rose Hill to Procter Street to Houston Avenue.
- 8:30 p.m. - Champagne Room
- 10 p.m. - Stoney Larue
- 2 p.m. – Munchkin Parade, costumed children, inside grounds
- 3 p.m. – Ryan Foret and Foret Tradition
- 4 p.m. Richard Industrial group Motor Parade, from Rose Hill to Procter Street to Houston Avenue.
- 6:30 p.m. – Wayne Toups & ZydeCajun
"Southern Discomfort"
Museum of the Gulf Coast will present several showings of the BBC documentary
“Southern Discomfort” to celebrate what would have been Janis Joplin's 69th birthday. Showings will be at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day beginning Thursday, Jan. 19 through Sat., Jan. 21. Film attendance includes complimentary admission to the Museum's many exhibits including the Gulf Coast Music Hall of Fame featuring 65 artists of different genres. The first 10 people to attend each day will receive a free itunes compilation CD featuring the music of Joplin as well as artists who either inspired her or were inspired by her.
Janis Lyn Joplin was born on January 19, 1943 in Port Arthur, Texas. She would later become one of the most influential musicians in American music history. This iconic singer and artist has been given the informal title "Queen of Rock." Although Joplin's early years which included attending Port Arthur Schools, Port Arthur College and Lamar University in Beaumont were not uncommon, Joplin was a true individual. Stepping out from the conformity of the 1950s, she eventually found herself in California.
The Museum's Music Hall of Fame features a permanent exhibit on the life and career of Janis Joplin with a wide array of artwork, personal effects, photographs and memorabilia as well as a replica of Joplin's painted Porsche. Audio-visual touch screens as well as an old fashioned juke box allow visitors to see and hear Janis' soulful performances. The Museum's gift shop offers a wide variety of souvenirs commemorating Joplin's influence and worldwide impact.
Visitors may also enjoy seeing Port Arthur sites related to the life of Janis Joplin. A downloadable driving tour brochure is available on the Museum’s website: www.museumofthegulfcoast.org and hard copies are available at the Museum and the Port Arthur Convention & Visitors Bureau located at 3401 Cultural Center Dr., Port Arthur, Texas 77642.
The Museum of the Gulf Coast is owned and operated by the Port Arthur Historical Society in partnership with Lamar State College - Port Arthur and the City of Port Arthur. It is located at 700 Procter Street in downtown Port Arthur. The Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 409-982-7000. Continue reading ““Southern Discomfort”” »
“Southern Discomfort” to celebrate what would have been Janis Joplin's 69th birthday. Showings will be at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day beginning Thursday, Jan. 19 through Sat., Jan. 21. Film attendance includes complimentary admission to the Museum's many exhibits including the Gulf Coast Music Hall of Fame featuring 65 artists of different genres. The first 10 people to attend each day will receive a free itunes compilation CD featuring the music of Joplin as well as artists who either inspired her or were inspired by her.
Janis Lyn Joplin was born on January 19, 1943 in Port Arthur, Texas. She would later become one of the most influential musicians in American music history. This iconic singer and artist has been given the informal title "Queen of Rock." Although Joplin's early years which included attending Port Arthur Schools, Port Arthur College and Lamar University in Beaumont were not uncommon, Joplin was a true individual. Stepping out from the conformity of the 1950s, she eventually found herself in California.
The Museum's Music Hall of Fame features a permanent exhibit on the life and career of Janis Joplin with a wide array of artwork, personal effects, photographs and memorabilia as well as a replica of Joplin's painted Porsche. Audio-visual touch screens as well as an old fashioned juke box allow visitors to see and hear Janis' soulful performances. The Museum's gift shop offers a wide variety of souvenirs commemorating Joplin's influence and worldwide impact.
Visitors may also enjoy seeing Port Arthur sites related to the life of Janis Joplin. A downloadable driving tour brochure is available on the Museum’s website: www.museumofthegulfcoast.org and hard copies are available at the Museum and the Port Arthur Convention & Visitors Bureau located at 3401 Cultural Center Dr., Port Arthur, Texas 77642.
The Museum of the Gulf Coast is owned and operated by the Port Arthur Historical Society in partnership with Lamar State College - Port Arthur and the City of Port Arthur. It is located at 700 Procter Street in downtown Port Arthur. The Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 409-982-7000. Continue reading ““Southern Discomfort”” »Thin walls of wood hold wine
People want to know how Earl Rutherford gets his wood work so shiny and smooth. Then they want to touch it. The wood turner exhibiting at Texas Artists Museum said he doesn’t know what the grain will look like until the bark comes off, then
the wood will reveal its character. Admire, handle and even purchase his impossibly thin-walled goblets and wine glasses, boxes, eggs and interlocking pattern pieces. Don’t ask to go home with the ice cream scoop. It’s for his wife. The Groves native now lives in Beaumont, where the Woodworkers of Southeast Texas meet each fourth Monday at his workshop.
In January, Texas Artists Museum is also hosting Lamar University Students and work of Slava Protopopov. For more art in Port Arthur, visit Museum of the Gulf Coast, and remember Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas is set for Feb. 16-19 in downtown Port Arthur. Continue reading “Thin walls of wood hold wine” »
the wood will reveal its character. Admire, handle and even purchase his impossibly thin-walled goblets and wine glasses, boxes, eggs and interlocking pattern pieces. Don’t ask to go home with the ice cream scoop. It’s for his wife. The Groves native now lives in Beaumont, where the Woodworkers of Southeast Texas meet each fourth Monday at his workshop.
In January, Texas Artists Museum is also hosting Lamar University Students and work of Slava Protopopov. For more art in Port Arthur, visit Museum of the Gulf Coast, and remember Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas is set for Feb. 16-19 in downtown Port Arthur. Continue reading “Thin walls of wood hold wine” »Tet preview part of library holiday fare
Vintage prayer cards from a Cajun collection and fava beans to remind Italian 
Americans of plentiful crops are featured in the Port Arthur Public Library’s holiday display, up through Jan. 10. Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, is represented in a colorful Asian display from Buu Mon Buddhist Temple in Port Arthur. In 2012, The Year of the Dragon will be ushered in on Jan. 23.
“It’s a huge success,” Carolyn Thibodeaux , library organizer, said of the collection reflecting the area’s cultural diversity. Kawanzaa candles, Mexican bingo and paper flowers and Jewish dreidels help show how cultures decorate, eat and worship during holidays.
Ahsan Tariq, a native of Pakistan and a library employee, helped assemble a display that includes dolls in traditional garments. He said he hopes Holidays Around the World will promote a better understanding of people who call Port Arthur home. Port Arthur Noon Sertoma Club sponsors the exhibit.
The library is at 4615 Ninth Avenue. While in town, soak up more history at historic homes along Lakeshore Drive, such as Pompeiian Villa and Rose Hill. Continue reading “Tet preview part of library holiday fare” »
Americans of plentiful crops are featured in the Port Arthur Public Library’s holiday display, up through Jan. 10. Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, is represented in a colorful Asian display from Buu Mon Buddhist Temple in Port Arthur. In 2012, The Year of the Dragon will be ushered in on Jan. 23.
“It’s a huge success,” Carolyn Thibodeaux , library organizer, said of the collection reflecting the area’s cultural diversity. Kawanzaa candles, Mexican bingo and paper flowers and Jewish dreidels help show how cultures decorate, eat and worship during holidays.
Ahsan Tariq, a native of Pakistan and a library employee, helped assemble a display that includes dolls in traditional garments. He said he hopes Holidays Around the World will promote a better understanding of people who call Port Arthur home. Port Arthur Noon Sertoma Club sponsors the exhibit.
The library is at 4615 Ninth Avenue. While in town, soak up more history at historic homes along Lakeshore Drive, such as Pompeiian Villa and Rose Hill. Continue reading “Tet preview part of library holiday fare” »Villa shares Santa, holiday tin collection
The newest Christmas draw to Pompeiian Villa, Port Arthur’s pink house on the 
sea wall, is a collection of Victorian-style porcelain hinged tins. Tiny gold-rimmed circles are adorned with red and green seasonal images including a tree, flowers, reindeer and frolicking children.
The Villa has again set out its collection of hundreds of Santa Claus figurines. Docent Pamela Walters says children and their families are welcome to admire Santa in poses from pilot and golfer to beach lover and list maker. Eudora Haber left her collection to Pompeiian Villa and it comes out each Christmas.
“We’re usually pretty busy at this time of year,” Walters said.
Admission is the usual $2.
The Port Arthur Historical Society operates the Villa. For group tours, call Walters at (409) 983-5977.
For more on the museum, visit www.museumofthegulfcoast.org or call (409) 982-7000.
Continue reading “Villa shares Santa, holiday tin collection” »
sea wall, is a collection of Victorian-style porcelain hinged tins. Tiny gold-rimmed circles are adorned with red and green seasonal images including a tree, flowers, reindeer and frolicking children.
The Villa has again set out its collection of hundreds of Santa Claus figurines. Docent Pamela Walters says children and their families are welcome to admire Santa in poses from pilot and golfer to beach lover and list maker. Eudora Haber left her collection to Pompeiian Villa and it comes out each Christmas.
“We’re usually pretty busy at this time of year,” Walters said.
Admission is the usual $2.
The Port Arthur Historical Society operates the Villa. For group tours, call Walters at (409) 983-5977.
For more on the museum, visit www.museumofthegulfcoast.org or call (409) 982-7000.
Continue reading “Villa shares Santa, holiday tin collection” »Follow Us!
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