Saengerfest Park

Saengerfest Park is a small park located on the corner of Tremont St (23rd St) and Strand St (Avenue B) in the Strand Historic District of Galveston.

Saengerfest Park was created in the early 1990's by George and Cynthia Mitchell and named after a German music festival, an homage to Mitchell’s heritage. The park is paved with gorgeous red brick, reminiscent of the street’s early years, and a stage was built on the far west side of the property. Encased by historic buildings on two sides, it created a versatile gathering space. On July 10, 1994, the park hosted its very first concert and took a monumental step in establishing Galveston’s rich tradition of live music that is still alive today.

Saengerfest is most known for having a large, playable chess set. The park also features a large compass which can be used as a seat, as well as other wooden benches and old-fashioned London-style phone booth. Vendors often set up tents and booths in the park, especially during special events in Galveston.

While Hurricane Rita struck in 2005, a substantial amount of damage occurred in Galveston. Among the damage to Saengerfest, the 3-story wall of Yaga's Cafe collapsed, blocking off the chess board for many months while the wall was being rebuilt.We'll start our tour of the Strand at the Trolly Stop at Saengerfest Park at 23rd and Strand.