By: Dianté Marigny
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com
Summer may be winding down and school may be back in session, but September is anything but quiet along the Laguna Madre.
South Padre Island and Port Isabel have a packed calendar this month, with Labor Day weekend celebrations, outdoor fitness events, fishing tournaments, community gatherings and plenty of reasons to spend another day at the beach.
The month kicks off with several events over Labor Day weekend. On Friday, Sept. 4, the First Friday Art Walkreturns from 6 to 9 p.m., giving visitors and residents an opportunity to explore the Island’s local art scene.
The holiday weekend gets even busier Sept. 5 and 6 with X La Playita Fest at the Holiday Inn Resort South Padre Island. The beach sports festival includes a DJ LED Beach Run beginning at 8 a.m. Sept. 5, along with beach volleyball and flag football competitions throughout the weekend. Beach wrestling joins the lineup Sept. 6, along with free sandcastle lessons beginning at 10 a.m. Adaptive activities are also scheduled both days.
Foodies have something to look forward to that Sunday as well. Texas Sun & ’Sters will be held Sept. 6 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Captain’s Cove Oyster Bar. The event celebrates Texas-grown oysters and the farmers and chefs helping develop the state’s cultivated oyster industry. Guests will have a chance to sample oysters from Texas producers, including Matagorda Pearls by Oyster Bros and offerings from Three Sisters Oyster Co.
Labor Day weekend will end with a bang when South Padre Island’s Labor Day Fireworks light up the Laguna Madre Sunday, Sept. 6. The free show is scheduled for approximately 9:15 p.m., with some of the best viewing available from businesses throughout the Entertainment District. The Island’s tourism calendar also lists the Labor Day fireworks as a featured Sept. 6 event.
Across the Queen Isabella Causeway, bargain hunters can spend part of Sept. 6 at the Port Isabel Antique & Flea Market at Beulah Lee Park. The city-sponsored market is held on the first Sunday of each month and features an assortment of vendors with free admission for shoppers.
Residents interested in what comes next for South Padre Island can hear directly from local and state leaders on Thursday, Sept. 10. A public State of the Island-style briefing will be held at the South Padre Island Convention Center, 7355 Padre Blvd. Doors open at 9 a.m., with the program beginning at 9:30 a.m. Mayor Patrick McNulty and Texas Transportation Commissioner Alex Meade are scheduled as featured speakers, with discussion centered on what the Island has accomplished and where the community is headed.
Anglers take center stage the following weekend during the SPI Wahoo Classic, scheduled for Sept. 11 and 12 at Jim’s Pier. The offshore fishing tournament targets species including wahoo, dorado and blackfin tuna.
Those looking for something a little calmer can start their weekends with free Pilates on the beach. Classes are scheduled Fridays and Saturdays from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Barry’s Beach Bar deck at the Hilton Garden Inn. Participants should bring their own mats.
One of September’s most colorful events arrives Saturday, Sept. 19, when Sea Turtle Inc. hosts its annual Kemp’s Krawl 5K at Barry’s Beach Bar, 7010 Padre Blvd. Participants are encouraged to break out the neon and glow gear for a nighttime beach run benefiting Sea Turtle Inc.’s conservation, medical care, research and education programs. Day-of registration begins at 6 p.m., pre-race festivities start at 7:30 p.m. and the 5K gets underway at 8 p.m. A DJ, medals, refreshments, photo opportunities and other activities will follow the race.
The final full weekend of September is especially busy for athletes.
A Beach 5K Run/Walk and 1-Mile Fun Run is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26 at 7 a.m. as part of a larger CrossFit and HYROX competition weekend. The community event welcomes runners and walkers of all ages and paces, with finisher medals, event shirts and post-race activities planned. Organizers are asking participants who want a guaranteed shirt and medal to register by Sept. 11.
Then on Sunday, Sept. 27, athletes will swim, bike and run their way across the Island during the South Padre Island Triathlon. The event is based at Jim’s Pier, 211 W. Swordfish St., and offers Olympic, Sprint and Sprint Relay divisions. The course begins with an open-water swim before cyclists head north along Padre Boulevard. Runners then travel portions of Gulf and Laguna boulevards before returning to Jim’s Pier. Athlete Guild lists the event beginning at 7 a.m., while current individual race listings show starts at 7:30 a.m.
And just as September comes to an end, one of South Padre Island’s signature fall traditions begins. The 38th Annual Sandcastle Days kicks off Wednesday, Sept. 30 at the South Padre Island Convention Center, 7355 Padre Blvd. The free event celebrates the Island’s famous sand with master sand sculptors, live music, art booths, food and other activities. The opening is scheduled for 7 p.m., with festivities continuing into October.
From oysters and fireworks to running shoes and fishing rods, September offers a little bit of everything. The summer crowds may begin to thin, but for those who call the Laguna Madre home — or know that early fall is one of the best times to visit — there is still plenty happening on both sides of the causeway.
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