Matagorda Bay Bird Fest

Palacios, a small community near Matagorda Bay has been working to encourage ecotourism for economic development. For the last three years, they have held the Matagorda Bay BirdFest—"connecting people, birds, and nature"— that hosts birding tours of the bay and wetlands, a speakers series focused on the environmental riches of the area, and a wonderfully quirky "Parade of Birds" featuring exotic bird floats, large bird vehicles, and lots of bird costumes down South Bay Blvd. near downtown.