Free events in Port Arthur, TX

At the Gateway deli location, families can enjoy a special dine-in offer. With the purchase of an adult entrée, one complimentary children’s meal is available for a guest age 12 or under, and the child must be present to redeem it. This promotion cannot be combined with other discounts and is valid only at this participating location.

Harbor Foundation presents the 14th Annual Butterfly Release at the Event Centre Great Lawn in Beaumont. This family-friendly gathering offers free admission, food, crafts, and many kid-focused activities. A highlight of the day is a collective butterfly release that honors the memories of loved ones while celebrating the beauty of the present. Butterflies and commemorative shirts are available for purchase, and sponsorships are offered as well. Each purchased butterfly comes individually wrapped, building anticipation before everyone releases them together. For questions, contact the Harbor Foundation at (409) 656-4799 or aarabia@harborhcs.com.

Keep it moving with a free line dancing session at The Port Arthur Public Library. The program covers a range of dance techniques and offers time to practice classic moves. A special guest will highlight Swing Out and Zydeco steps. Open to men, women, and young adults.

Storytime with Kassie is hosted at Theodore Johns Library.

Music Bingo takes center stage at Madison's on Dowlen with a 2010s Hits edition that blends songs from the decade with classic bingo fun. It is free to participate, and players may use as many cards as they like. Expect at least 15 prize rounds offering multiple chances to win. Food and adult beverages are available from the venue, creating an easygoing night of music, games, and prizes.

Enjoy a storytime led by Kassie at Elmo Willard Library.

A free public lecture at the McFaddin-Ward House Museum spotlights Robert Rauschenberg through Mostly Texas: Robert Rauschenberg at 100. Kristen Clevenson, an assistant curator with the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation in New York City, leads an exploration of the Texas-born artist’s groundbreaking career across painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, and performance, and highlights the strong Texas thread that runs through his work. The talk touches on memorable moments such as his affectionate sign-off in a 1993 letter to then-Governor Ann Richards, “Love from me in Florida + mostly Texas.” Clevenson has been with the Foundation since 2019, curated Robert Rauschenberg: Signs and Signals (1964–94), and has research published by Thaddaeus Ropac Gallery. She holds a master’s degree in art history from Hunter College and a B.A. from the University of Virginia. Museum lectures are admission-free and open to the public, with limited seating. A related, no-cost guided tour of the Robert Rauschenberg exhibit at the Museum of the Gulf Coast is capped at 30 guests, with reservations recommended and walk-ins accepted until spots are filled. For information or tour reservations, call 409-832-2134. A full recording of the lecture will be available online after the event.