Festivals & Annual Events

Celebrate Corpus Christi traditions year-round

Whether you're into live music, art, food, outdoor adventures, or cultural celebrations, Corpus Christi has festivals and annual events to match. Throughout the year, the city comes alive with live performances, local flavors, arts and culture, family-friendly activities, and events that celebrate the people and traditions of the Texas Gulf Coast. From longtime Corpus Christi traditions to lively downtown festivals and events along the water, there’s always something worth adding to your calendar. Explore annual events by season and find more ways to experience the Gulf Coast Capital year-round.

Fall Festivals

Warm beach days and cooler evenings make fall in Corpus Christi an easy time to visit and explore the city. Get outside, spend time along the water, and enjoy local dining, attractions, and laid-back days on the Texas Gulf Coast.

Texas Food Championship

Held at Water's Edge Park

The Texas Food Championship brings competitive cooking to Downtown Corpus Christi, where talented cooks go head-to-head for prizes and a chance to advance to the World Food Championships. Come hungry for a weekend filled with food, live entertainment, family-friendly fun, and plenty of Texas-sized competition.

Conquer the Coast

Held at Whataburger Field

Conquer the Coast takes cyclists across Corpus Christi with "66-", 21-, and 10-mile routes designed for different skill levels. Ride along scenic coastal stretches and city landmarks while taking on a cycling challenge that shows off Corpus Christi from a whole new perspective.

Run the Runway

Held at Corpus Christi International Airport

Get ready for a one-of-a-kind experience at Corpus Christi International Airport’s runway! Whether you're running or walking, enjoy up-close views of planes, trucks, and special airport vehicles. The event features a 1K Kids Fun Run followed by a 5K for all ages, with all proceeds benefiting Wings of Texas, a nonprofit promoting inclusivity in the Coastal Bend. Don’t miss your chance to explore the world of aviation while supporting a great cause!

Celebration of Flight

Held at Hazel Bazemore County Park

Celebration of Flight brings birders and nature lovers to Hazel Bazemore County Park to witness one of the largest and most diverse hawk migrations. Watch migrating raptors soar overhead while enjoying free, family-friendly activities during this annual Corpus Christi birding tradition.

MusicWalk

Held in Downtown Corpus Christi

MusicWalk turns Downtown Corpus Christi into a celebration of the city’s music scene with live performances filling multiple stages throughout the district. Follow the music from stage to stage, catch local artists across various genres, and explore food, vendors, and downtown along the way.

Texas Jazz Festival

Jazz Festival

Texas Jazz Festival

Held at Heritage Park

Jazz takes over Corpus Christi each October during the Texas Jazz Festival, the longest and largest free-running jazz festival in the world. Held at Heritage Park, this free, all-ages event brings together live jazz, food, and market vendors for a celebration on the coast.

Surftoberfest

Held at Water Street Market

Enjoy a coastal spin on the classic German Oktoberfest celebration at Surftoberfest in Downtown Corpus Christi. Held at Water Street Market, the event features a beer stein holding contest, German fare, live music, and more.

Sharkathon

Dive into one of the largest conservation-based shark fishing tournaments, Sharkathon, held in October and November. This event aims to educate fishermen on the importance of catch-and-release when it comes to sharks and the significance of sea life preservation. Over the years, the tournament has grown significantly, with cash and prizes now totaling over $80,000. Proceeds from raffle sales are used to support educational opportunities for underprivileged children.

Corpus Christi Oyster & Seafood Festival

Get ready for two days of Gulf Coast seafood, live music, and festival fun at the inaugural Corpus Christi Oyster & Seafood Festival. Set along Oso Bay, the festival will feature more than 40 vendors serving up Texas Gulf oysters, seafood favorites, cold drinks, and more. Whether you’re coming for freshly shucked oysters, the headliners, or a little bit of everything, here’s what to expect at this Corpus Christi seafood festival.

Dia de Los Muertos

Held in Downtown Corpus Christi

Honor and celebrate Día de los Muertos in Downtown Corpus Christi with a vibrant celebration of culture, life, and music. Explore streets lined with vendors and food trucks alongside sugar skulls, costumes, arts and crafts, and traditional ofrendas.

Corpus Christi Beer Festival

CC Beer Festival

Held at Heritage Park

Get ready for the ultimate craft beer celebration at the Corpus Christi Beer Festival at Heritage Park. Sample a wide range of brews, enjoy live music, food trucks, local vendors, and even free Family Art Time. Admission is free, and guests 21+ can purchase tasting tickets.

Greek Food Festival

Held at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

Experience Greek culture on the coast during the annual Greek Food Festival at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Corpus Christi. Enjoy live music, Greek dancing, Greek food, church tours, and more during this celebration in the Gulf Coast Capital.

Jewish Food Festival

Celebrate Jewish heritage and community at the Jewish Food Festival in Corpus Christi. Enjoy food, dancing, music, a vintage shop, raffle, silent auction, and more, with all proceeds benefiting the local temple.

Ranch Hand Weekend

Held at King Ranch

Celebrate the region’s rich ranching heritage during Ranch Hand Weekend at King Ranch in Kingsville. Spend the weekend enjoying food and family fun, start the day with a hearty breakfast, explore the ranch, and take in the festival while experiencing a tradition rooted in South Texas ranching culture.

Winter Festivals

Enjoy winter in Corpus Christi with milder weather, wide-open beaches, and more room to explore at your own pace. Winter is an easygoing time for outdoor adventures, local culture, and relaxing days on the coast.

CC Songwriter's Festival

Held in Downtown Corpus Christi

Celebrate the art of songwriting at the CC Songwriter’s Festival, a multi-day event held at venues throughout Downtown Corpus Christi. Hear talented songwriters from a variety of genres, and explore song swap showcases, workshops, panels, award ceremonies, and more.

Merry Days

Merry Days by the Bay

Held in Downtown Corpus Christi

Celebrate the holidays on the coast during Merry Days by the Bay in Downtown Corpus Christi. See festive boat parades and larger-than-life decorated trees, then explore local spots with holiday lights and decorations alongside music, food trucks, and plenty of holiday cheer.

Spring Festivals

Soak up warmer days and the sounds of nature with spring in Corpus Christi. Spend time on the beach, explore local parks, go birding, and enjoy the laid-back pace of life along the coast.

Barefoot Mardi Gras

Held at Padre Balli Park and Whitecap Beach

Celebrate Mardi Gras on the beach during Barefoot Mardi Gras in Corpus Christi, where coastal and Cajun culture come together. Kick off your shoes and enjoy music, a parade, food, and more at Padre Balli Park and Whitecap Beach.

St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day Festival

Held in Downtown Corpus Christi

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Downtown Corpus Christi at the annual St. Patty’s Festival. Enjoy green beer, festive cheer, live music, and family-friendly fun during this lively celebration on the coast.

Birdiest Festival in America

Held at the South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center

Celebrate spring migration at The Birdiest Festival in America, held each April at the South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center. Join birders from around the world to view rare bird species, hear from nationally recognized experts, and take field trips to coastal birding hotspots.

Texas Sandfest

Texas SandFest

Held in Port Aransas

See world-class sand sculptors at work during Texas SandFest, a three-day event held on the beach in Port Aransas. Artists from around the world create impressive sculptures entirely from sand during the largest native-sand sculpture competition in the U.S.

Buc Days Parade & Carnival

Held at Hilliard Center

Celebrate a Corpus Christi tradition at Buc Days, a culturally diverse event along the Downtown Corpus Christi Bayfront. Enjoy Rodeo Corpus Christi, the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour and Finals, a carnival, food, activities, and entertainment during this annual celebration on the coast.

Rodeo Corpus Christi

Held at Hilliard Center

Feel the energy of Rodeo Corpus Christi at the Hilliard Center Arena with saddle bronc riding, mutton bustin’, barrel racing, and more. The rodeo also features the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour and Finals, bringing professional bull riding to the arena.

Beach to Bay

Beach to Bay Relay

Join runners from around the world for Beach to Bay Relay, the largest relay marathon in the U.S. The course winds along the shoreline, through Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, over the JFK Causeway, and finishes along scenic Ocean Drive.

Mural Fest

Held in Downtown Corpus Christi

Celebrate the history and culture of Corpus Christi through large-scale public art during Mural Fest in Downtown Corpus Christi. The event brings new murals to the Marina Arts District, with artwork showcasing different aspects of the city and its culture.

Summer Festivals

Make the most of long summer days with wide-open beaches, outdoor adventures, and plenty of time on the water. Head into town for local flavors, attractions, and more ways to enjoy summer in Corpus Christi your way.

Juneteenth

Held in Downtown Corpus Christi

Celebrate Juneteenth in Corpus Christi with several weeks of events leading up to the annual Corpus Christi Juneteenth Festival each June. Enjoy live music, food trucks, a kid’s zone, and a headlining performer during the celebration.

PRIDE

Celebrate PRIDE in Corpus Christi with events that invite everyone to coast their way freely and fully. Join the celebration in June with pet parades, family days, nightlife, and more throughout the Gulf Coast Capital.

Mayor's Big Bang Celebration

Held in Downtown Corpus Christi

Celebrate the Fourth of July along the Corpus Christi Bayfront during the Mayor’s Big Bang Celebration. Head downtown for a day filled with fireworks, festivities, food trucks, and family activities at Water’s Edge Park and along the bayfront.

Hooked on Padre Fishing Tournament

Held on Padre Island

Cast your line during the Hooked on Padre Fishing Tournament, a two-day competitive fishing event held on Padre Island. Anglers of all skill levels can take part in a weekend of tight lines and good times on the Texas Gulf Coast.