Saengerfest Park

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Saengerfest Park might be the most visited park in Galveston; it’s located on the corner of 23rd Street and Strand in Galveston’s Historic Strand District. Literally, thousands of tourists to the island walk by while shopping or gather here when attending one of the city’s many festivals.

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Saengerfest Park is a charming spot, smack-dab in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the district. It features a large, playable chess set, a large compass which can be used as seating, wooden benches, an old-fashioned London-style phone booth and a stage used for movie and music nights throughout the year.

It also features a large “Greetings from Galveston” mural, perfect for standing in front of and posing for selfies or group photos.

The small square park was created in 1994 by George and Cynthia Mitchell. It takes its name from Saengerfest, a biennial singing contest sponsored by German immigrant choral societies around the State of Texas in the 19th century. The word, “Saengerfest,” literally means “singer festival” in German.

A choral group from Galveston, “The Salamanders,” took top honors in the 1879 competition in New Braunfels, Texas, thereby receiving the honor of hosting the next Saengerfest in April 1881. That year, a torch-lit parade was held to welcome 400 singers to Galveston and the competition.