Corpus Christi Festivals and Annual Events

Discover events and festivals in Corpus Christi, TX, from Mardi Gras and Día de los Muertos to Texas music festivals and enduring coastal traditions.

Festivals & Annual Events

Celebrate Corpus Christi traditions throughout the year

Corpus Christi offers a full calendar of festivals for fans of live music, art, food, outdoor activities, and cultural celebrations. Across the seasons, the city features performances, local cuisine, arts and culture, family-friendly experiences, and gatherings honoring the people and traditions of the Texas Gulf Coast. Add a longstanding Corpus Christi tradition, a lively downtown event, or a waterfront festival to your calendar and find more ways to experience the Gulf Coast Capital year-round.

Fall Festivals

Fall brings warm beach days and cooler evenings to Corpus Christi, making it a comfortable season for exploring. Enjoy time by the water, outdoor activities, local restaurants, attractions, and the relaxed pace of the Texas Gulf Coast.

Texas Food Championship

Held at Water's Edge Park

Talented cooks face off in Downtown Corpus Christi during the Texas Food Championship for prizes and an opportunity to advance to the World Food Championships. The weekend combines food, live entertainment, family-friendly activities, and Texas-sized competition.

Conquer the Coast

Held at Whataburger Field

Cyclists of different experience levels can choose among "66-", 21-, and 10-mile routes during Conquer the Coast. The ride travels through Corpus Christi along coastal scenery and city landmarks, offering a new way to see the city.

Run the Runway

Held at Corpus Christi International Airport

Corpus Christi International Airport opens its runway for a distinctive running and walking experience, with close views of planes, trucks, and special airport vehicles. The schedule begins with a 1K Kids Fun Run and continues with a 5K for all ages. Proceeds benefit Wings of Texas, a nonprofit promoting inclusivity in the Coastal Bend, while participants enjoy an aviation-focused event.

Celebration of Flight

Held at Hazel Bazemore County Park

Birders and nature enthusiasts gather at Hazel Bazemore County Park for Celebration of Flight, an annual Corpus Christi birding tradition centered on one of the largest and most diverse hawk migrations. Migrating raptors can be seen overhead, alongside free activities for families.

MusicWalk

Held in Downtown Corpus Christi

MusicWalk fills Downtown Corpus Christi with live performances across multiple stages. Move through the district to hear local performers in a range of genres while also visiting food vendors and exploring downtown.

Texas Jazz Festival

Held at Heritage Park

Each October, the Texas Jazz Festival brings jazz to Corpus Christi. This free event for all ages takes place at Heritage Park and features live jazz, food, and market vendors. It is the longest and largest free-running jazz festival in the world.

Surftoberfest

Held at Water Street Market

Surftoberfest gives the traditional German Oktoberfest celebration a coastal setting in Downtown Corpus Christi. At Water Street Market, visitors can enjoy German fare, live music, a beer stein holding contest, and more.

Sharkathon

Sharkathon is one of the largest conservation-based shark fishing tournaments and takes place in October and November. The event teaches fishermen about the importance of catch-and-release for sharks and the broader need for sea life preservation. The tournament has expanded over time, with cash and prizes now totaling over $80,000. Raffle proceeds help fund educational opportunities for underprivileged children.

Corpus Christi Oyster & Seafood Festival

The inaugural Corpus Christi Oyster & Seafood Festival offers two days of Gulf Coast seafood, music, and festival activities. Located along Oso Bay, the event includes more than 40 vendors serving Texas Gulf oysters, seafood favorites, cold drinks, and more. Guests can come for freshly shucked oysters, the headliners, or the full festival experience.

Dia de Los Muertos

Held in Downtown Corpus Christi

Downtown Corpus Christi hosts a colorful Día de los Muertos celebration honoring culture, life, and music. Streets feature vendors and food trucks, along with sugar skulls, costumes, arts and crafts, and traditional ofrendas.

Corpus Christi Beer Festival

Held at Heritage Park

The Corpus Christi Beer Festival at Heritage Park is a craft beer gathering with a broad selection of brews, live music, food trucks, local vendors, and free Family Art Time. Admission is free, and guests 21+ can purchase tasting tickets.

Greek Food Festival

Held at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Corpus Christi hosts the annual Greek Food Festival, where visitors can experience Greek culture on the coast through live music, Greek dancing, Greek food, church tours, and more.

Jewish Food Festival

The Jewish Food Festival celebrates Jewish heritage and community in Corpus Christi. Its offerings include food, dancing, music, a vintage shop, a raffle, a silent auction, and more. All proceeds benefit the local temple.

Ranch Hand Weekend

Held at King Ranch

Ranch Hand Weekend at King Ranch in Kingsville celebrates the area’s ranching heritage. The weekend includes food, family activities, a hearty breakfast, opportunities to explore the ranch, and a festival rooted in South Texas ranching culture.

Winter Festivals

Milder weather, open beaches, and fewer crowds make winter a relaxed season in Corpus Christi. Take your time with outdoor adventures, local culture, and restful days on the coast.

CC Songwriter's Festival

Held in Downtown Corpus Christi

The CC Songwriter’s Festival is a multi-day celebration of songwriting at venues throughout Downtown Corpus Christi. Hear songwriters representing a variety of genres and attend song swap showcases, workshops, panels, award ceremonies, and more.

Merry Days by the Bay

Held in Downtown Corpus Christi

Merry Days by the Bay brings holiday celebrations to the coast in Downtown Corpus Christi. Festive boat parades and larger-than-life decorated trees are joined by holiday lights and decorations at local spots, plus music, food trucks, and holiday cheer.

Spring Festivals

Spring in Corpus Christi brings warmer weather and the sounds of nature. Visit the beach, explore parks, go birding, and enjoy the easygoing rhythm of coastal life.

Barefoot Mardi Gras

Held at Padre Balli Park and Whitecap Beach

Barefoot Mardi Gras brings coastal and Cajun culture together on the beach in Corpus Christi. At Padre Balli Park and Whitecap Beach, guests can enjoy music, a parade, food, and more with shoes optional.

St. Patrick's Day Festival

Held in Downtown Corpus Christi

The annual St. Patty’s Festival celebrates St. Patrick’s Day in Downtown Corpus Christi with green beer, live music, festive energy, and activities for the whole family.

Birdiest Festival in America

Held at the South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center

Each April, The Birdiest Festival in America celebrates spring migration at the South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center. Birders from around the world gather to see rare bird species, listen to nationally recognized experts, and join field trips to coastal birding hotspots.

Texas SandFest

Held in Port Aransas

Texas SandFest is a three-day beach event in Port Aransas featuring world-class sand sculptors. Artists from around the globe build impressive works entirely from sand during the largest native-sand sculpture competition in the U.S.

Buc Days Parade & Carnival

Held at Hilliard Center

Buc Days is a culturally diverse Corpus Christi tradition along the Downtown Corpus Christi Bayfront. The annual coastal celebration features Rodeo Corpus Christi, the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour and Finals, a carnival, food, activities, and entertainment.

Rodeo Corpus Christi

Held at Hilliard Center

At the Hilliard Center Arena, Rodeo Corpus Christi brings the action of saddle bronc riding, mutton bustin’, barrel racing, and more. The event also hosts the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour and Finals, bringing professional bull riding into the arena.

Beach to Bay Relay

Beach to Bay Relay welcomes runners from around the world for the largest relay marathon in the U.S. Its route follows the shoreline, crosses Naval Air Station Corpus Christi and the JFK Causeway, and ends along scenic Ocean Drive.

Mural Fest

Held in Downtown Corpus Christi

Mural Fest celebrates Corpus Christi history and culture through large-scale public art in Downtown Corpus Christi. New murals appear in the Marina Arts District, with each work highlighting different parts of the city and its culture.

Summer Festivals

Long summer days create more time for beaches, outdoor adventures, and activities on the water. Spend time downtown for local flavors and attractions, or shape a summer in Corpus Christi around your own interests.

Juneteenth

Held in Downtown Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi Juneteenth celebrations begin with several weeks of events and lead into the annual Corpus Christi Juneteenth Festival each June. The celebration includes live music, food trucks, a kid’s zone, and a headlining performer.

PRIDE

Corpus Christi PRIDE invites everyone to coast their way freely and fully. June events across the Gulf Coast Capital include pet parades, family days, nightlife, and more.

Mayor's Big Bang Celebration

Held in Downtown Corpus Christi

The Mayor’s Big Bang Celebration marks the Fourth of July along the Corpus Christi Bayfront. Water’s Edge Park and the bayfront host fireworks, festivities, food trucks, and family activities throughout the day.

Hooked on Padre Fishing Tournament

Held on Padre Island

Anglers of every skill level can compete in the two-day Hooked on Padre Fishing Tournament on Padre Island. The weekend combines competitive fishing with tight lines and good times on the Texas Gulf Coast.