World Ocean Day
World Ocean Day is the UN-recognized day of ocean celebration and action.
On World Ocean Day, people around our blue planet celebrate and honor the ocean, which connects us all. Get together with your family, friends, community, and the planet to start creating a better future. Working together, we can and will protect our shared ocean. Join this growing global celebration on June 7th at East Beach!
WHY CELEBRATE WORLD OCEAN DAY?
A healthy world ocean is critical to our survival. Every year, World Ocean Day provides a unique opportunity to honor, help protect, and conserve our world’s shared ocean. The ocean is important because it:
- Generates most of the oxygen we breathe
- Helps feed us
- Regulates our climate
- Cleans the water we drink
- Offers a pharmacopoeia of medicines
- Provides limitless inspiration!
World Ocean Day Events 2025
FREE Film Screening
Sentinels of the Port
Thursday, June 5th
Rosenberg Library
Check-in: 6:00 pm
Showtime: 6:30 pm
Join Artist Boat and Galveston Unscripted for this locally produced documentary about Galveston Island Pilot Boat Captains. Learn about the skill, the dedication, and the dangers Captain’s face in order to guide commercial ships and cruise ships safety through the Galveston’s shipping channel.
Free Workshops
The Crude Life Portable Museum Adventure
Friday, June 6th
9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Dive into adventure by seining for marine life, explore the 1st century sea chest with 21 preserved specimens, and capture what you’ve seen through sketches. The workshop will be hosted by acclaimed artist and biologist, Brandon Ballengée.
Artist Boat’s World Ocean Day Festival
Saturday, June 7th
11:00 am to 4:30 pm
R.A Apffel Beach Park, East Beach
1923 Boddeker Rd, Galveston, TX 77550
Join Artist Boat and our partners in celebrating World Ocean Day. Spend the day at the beach discovering, learning, demonstrating, and experiencing how we CAN be a part of the solution to keep pollution out of the ocean. Enjoy hands-on activities, Eco-Art workshops and Bucket Brigade tours (see registrations below), and live entertainment on the main stage.
Winners of the Beautify the Bucket Art Contest will be announced at 4:00 pm.
The Festival is FREE with East Beach Entry.
($15/Car All Day Parking)
FREE
World Ocean Day Festival Workshops
Ocean-lovers of all ages can join in on a workshop on the beach.
Workshops will take place at the World Ocean Day Festival on June 7, 2024
R.A. Apffel Beach Park, East Beach
Free for all ages! Register Today!
Spaces are limited.
Masters of Adaptation Art Workshop
Join artist and biologist, Brandon Ballengée, for this hands on art-science workshop on Gulf fish species diversity, natural history, and specimen drawing.
FREE
11:00 am | 12:30 pm
2:30 pm
Drum Circle
Join in on a drum circle on the beach. Enjoy making rhythms of the island as learn to play a drum or other percussion instrument with leader and host, Ilya Janos Kolozs. This popular workshop is always a favorite. Reserve your spot early!
FREE
12:15 pm | 1:30 pm
2:45 pm
Totally Turtles Acrylic Painting
Join Artist Boat educators to learn to create your own acrylic paint artwork of your favorite Gulf turtles. Explore basic techniques and learn about these amazing creatures.
FREE
11:00 am | 12:15 pm
1:30 pm| 2:45 pm
Bucket Brigade
Explore the creatures and features that make Galveston beaches unique with Artist Boat’s Bucket Brigade, an interpretive Beach tour. Learn all about what makes our coast unique with hands-on activities and topics like turbid water, marine debris, Sargassum landings, and more!
FREE
Beach Tour Times
11:00 am | 12:15 pm
1:30 pm| 2:45 pm
Festival Activities
Women in Coastal Science
Join Visit Galveston on the main stage, as Artist Boat hosts the Women in Coastal Science live stream. Karla Klay, Executive Director of Artist Boat, will interview Captain Wendy Morrison. Learn about the dedication and experience of guiding ships safely through the Galveston shipping channel, as the only female Pilot Boat Captain in Galveston.
No reservation required.
3:00 pm on the Main Stage
Vendors & Partners
Visit the World Ocean Day Festival Tent to meet our partners and sponsors of this year’s event. Spend the day learning about the ocean and environment for these amazing exhibitors and volunteers. Interactive activities are fun for the whole family.
Visit the Artist Boat booths learn about watershed or help beautify a bucket.
11:00 am to 4:30 pm
Beautify the Bucket
The Beautify the Bucket Art Contest is in full swing with 130 trash barrels adopted, provided by the Galveston Island Park Board of Trustees. These barrels will be displayed at the World Ocean Day Festival with winners announced at 4:00 pm on June 7th. Don’t miss out on viewing these amazing pieces of marine art in one place! After the festival, these barrels will be distributed along the beaches and other locations across Galveston Island as needed.
Winner Announcements
4:00 pm on the Main Stage
SPONSORS
