Port Aransas beach sees increase of spring breakers for final weekend

PORT ARANSAS — South Texas began to warm up Friday afternoon after another cold front pushed across the Coastal Bend, allowing spring breakers to get a head start on the last weekend of spring break on Port Aransas’ beach.

Though spring breakers from across the state flocked to the beach town last year, Port Aransas Police Detective Cody Clark said Friday that this year’s crowd was smaller than previous years due to fluctuating weather. But he expected a larger turnout for the final weekend.

Hundreds of spring breakers flocked to Port Aransas beach on Friday, March 17, 2023. Some donned hoodies, sweaters and jackets due to temperatures in the low 60s.

Vehicles began lining up at the beach entrance Friday afternoon. Game wardens stopped cars full of young adults as police beach patrol pulled over golf carts packed with half-dressed visitors.

Clark said there had been “a few” DUI arrests throughout the week, and he expected more on St. Patrick’s Day — which was why more Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and game wardens were on site.

Cars, trucks and golf carts lined the beach. Those who weren’t lucky enough to find parking near the party walked miles down the beach, alcohol in hand and beads around their necks.

Families gathered farther down the beach, where the music faded and parking became much more available. Surfers enjoyed the waves near the pier.

Though the two-week event has become more family-friendly in recent years, crowds of teenagers and college students could be seen walking down the beach to mile marker 32.

The tide pushed in around large, lifted trucks parked in a circle on the beach. While some of the college students and younger teens wore typical spring break attire, others were prepared for the 60-degree weather with jackets and pants. Many embraced the St. Patrick’s Day spirit with green wigs, beads and bikinis.

Kacey Sugrue, 17, wears green attire, including a green wig, in honor of St. Patrick's Day at Port Aransas beach on Friday, March 17, 2023. Sugrue said she was visiting from Austin for spring break. — Kacey Sugrue, 17, wears green attire, including a green wig, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day at Port Aransas beach on Friday, March 17, 2023. Sugrue said she was visiting from Austin for spring break.

Some danced on trucks while others cheered around a tightly packed “Oklahoma Drill” arena. Rob Gil, 21, of Austin, and Keenan Stewart, 22, of San Antonio, pushed their way to the center of the circle, though they didn’t dare take part.

Gil and Stewart said the weather didn’t keep them from their first spring break on the beach.

“It was tough finding a parking spot, but that was the only hard part,” Stewart said.

Chase Davids, a 20-year-old college student from Oklahoma, said this was his first spring break at Port Aransas’ beach. The student had spent three days at the beach while visiting his parents’ home in Port Aransas.

“It’s been very good,” Davids said. “The breeze has helped with the heat. Today started out freezing, but the sun kind of turned out, so everything is nice now.”