Galveston Island Revue Weekend

The 15th Annual Bathing Beauties Contest takes place Sat., Aug. 12 at Saengerfest Park. (Photo: Galveston Historical Foundation)

Galveston’s summertime celebration of the island’s vintage past returns Aug. 11-13. This year’s event highlights numerous Galveston Historical Foundation properties for a weekend of classes, parties, contests, and more. Based on island events from summer seasons past, like the Pageant of Pulchritude and Splash Day, the Galveston Island Revue Weekend was resurrected into a contemporary event in 2009. Each year contestants from around the United States vie for prizes, sashes, and more while the assembled crowds enjoy a weekend of retro fun.  

This year celebrates the 15th anniversary of the event and features a new set up of custom curated experiences in many of Galveston Historical Foundation’s favorite historic sites. Dubbed the “Pageant of Pulchritude” by C.E. Barfield, the Galveston beauty contest began in the summer of 1920 and, from then on, marked the kick-off for tourist season each year. By 1928, the event (which had morphed into the “bathing girl revue”) had become so popular that the island’s population was said to have tripled during the event weekend. These Island pageants are said to have been the beginning of what we know today as the Miss Universe Pageant. The famed Galveston Bathing Beauties pageants ended in 1932, partly due to the Great Depression. 

Revue Weekend Main Events:  

Seaport Social and Revue Prevue
Friday, August 11 @ the Galveston Historic Seaport
7-9 p.m., $35 per person

This exclusive seaport soiree is your first chance to cheer on the 2023 Galveston Island Revue Weekend participants. Featuring a night of vintage style, the 30 bathing beauties will be showing off their vintage and vintage-inspired cocktail attire for the first night of competition. Enjoy live music by Dandy Wellington and His Band, access onboard the Official Tall Ship of Galveston, the 1877 ELISSA, specialty drinks, and more! Two complimentary drinks are included in your ticket purchase, and an on-site food truck will be available for paid food options.

15th Annual Bathing Beauties Contest
Saturday, August 12 @ Saengerfest Park
5-9 p.m., free to the public 

The weekend’s main event features the world-famous Bathing Beauties! The contest has become a must-see event as locals and tourists of all ages vie for a glimpse at the vintage swimsuits, parasols, and cheer on this year’s contestants as they compete for bragging rights, cash prizes, sashes, and more. Free to the public at Saengerfest Park!

Queen City Cabaret
Saturday, August 12 @ the 1920 City National Bank Building
10-11:30 p.m., $50 per person

Welcome to the Queen City Cabaret, a hot Jazz induced evening of vintage frivolity and scintillating burlesque, where the unexpected is always on the menu.  Held in the newly restored 1920 City National Bank Building, this special event welcomes some of the nation’s best performers for a night to remember!

Jazz Brunch with Dandy Wellington and his Band
Sunday, August 13 @ Riondo’s Ristorante
11 a.m.-2 p.m., $40 per person