The oh-so-soon arrival of fall brings festival season along with it. As cooler temps invite us outdoors, there’s no better way to celebrate local food, drink, music, culture and art than combining them to be enjoyed alongside your favorite people. Here are 15 different fall festivals in Corpus Christi and the surrounding areas you won’t want to miss out on.
Hummerbird Celebration
September 18-21
Witness the spectacular hummingbird migration through Rockport with the 37th Annual Hummerbird Celebration. This festival will consist of all things birding in South Texas with boating tours, bus birding trips, shopping, keynote speakers and more.
Where: Locations vary
4th Annual Tamalada Festival
September 20
In anticipation and celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Texas A&M University-Kingsville will host the Tamalada Festival to share food and traditions with the Coastal Bend. Enjoy tamale tastings and preparation, live entertainment, educational speakers, arts and crafts and more.
Where: Texas A&M University – Kingsville
Sea Turtle Festival
October 4
The Texas Sealife Center will host its Sea Turtle Festival on Oct. 4 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Briscoe King Pavilion. Kick off the day with a “Turtle Trot” 5k at 7 a.m. and then enjoy a day full of food trucks, live music, activities for kids and offerings from other local vendors all there to celebrate and support local wildlife.
Where: Briscoe King Pavilion
PRIDE Corpus Christi Parade and Block Party
October 4
Join PRIDE Corpus Christi and countless community organizations and leaders by participating in an unforgettable celebration of LGBTQIA+ equality and human rights in Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend. Immediately following the parade, the fun continues with a free community event on the Great Lawn at Water’s Edge Park with vendors, live music and entertainment. If you’re interested in setting up as a vendor or supporting the event, you can find more information online.
Where: The Great Lawn on Water’s Edge Park
50th Annual Rockport Fulton Seafair
October 2-5
Enjoy food, fun and a celebration by the sea at the 50th Annual Rockport-Fulton Seafair Oct. 2-5. The Rockport-Fulton Seafair is a 3-day sea-themed festival featuring live entertainment, arts and crafts, market vendors, dessert and salsa competitions, crab races, water activities, a boat and car show, cardboard boat races and more. Tickets start at $10 and kids under age 12 get in free.
Where: Festival Grounds at Rockport Harbor
Bailando International Dance Festival
October 9-11
This annual festival invites choreographers and dancers to partake in a weekend full of master classes and showcases from talented artists from around the globe. Participants purchase a festival pass, which grants them access to the classes and concerts, and the public is invited to attend both the choreography showcase concerts and the gala concert.
Where: TAMU-CC Performing Arts Center
62nd Annual Texas Jazz Festival
October 17-19
The Texas Jazz Festival is the longest and largest free-running festival in Texas. The three-day festival will host jazz bands on three different stages, a plethora of delicious cuisine and other offerings from local vendors. This family-friendly event at Heritage Park is free to attend and a perfect festival to celebrate the brink of fall in the Coastal Bend.
Where: Heritage Park
9th Annual Surftoberfest
October 18
Join in on the fun for the Annual Surftoberfest! This year, Surftoberfest is taking over Chaparral Street and the entire Water Street Market for an Oktoberfest-themed party that’s bigger and better than ever. The festival will feature polka bands, plenty of beer, food vendors, stein-holding competitions, costume contests and more. The event is free to attend, with food and drinks available for purchase once you arrive.
Where: Water Street Market
9th Annual Port Aransas Wooden Boat Festival
October 24-26
This three-day event exists to celebrate Farley Boat Works and the longstanding tradition of building boats in Port Aransas. Food trucks, flea market vendors and family-friendly activities are to be enjoyed as well as the opportunity to watch four families build different boats from start to finish. Prospective boat builders can attend tutorials and festival-goers can peruse the wooden boat display.
Where: Roberts Point Park
18th Annual Dia De Los Muertos Festival
November 1
The Dia De Los Muertos Festival is bringing life, music and culture to Downtown Corpus Christi for the 18th year from 3 p.m. to midnight. As one of the most popular local festivals, the goal is to celebrate and honor the rich cultural heritage of Mexico and South Texas while educating and uniting our community, drawing tourists to the area and promoting the city. This year, festival goers will enjoy mariachis, ballet folklorico, Latin-influenced rock and pop live music, art exhibitions, the Extravagancia de Piñatas, community ofrendas, local vendors, food and drink offerings and so much more.
Where: Downtown Corpus Christi
Friends of Padre Fall Fiesta
November 1
Head out to the Briscoe King Pavilion in Corpus Christi for a fun-filled day to celebrate life on the beach. Enjoy live music, kids’ activities, food, craft beer from local breweries, plenty of vendors, wildlife education and lots of community, all with the shared goal of showing love to the longest barrier island in the world and spreading the word about beach clean-up efforts with Friends of Padre.
Where: Briscoe King Pavilion
61st Annual Greek Festival
November 7-9
Every year, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church invites the community to partake in a three-day celebration of Greek cuisine and culture. Enjoy gyros, kebabs, spanakopita, baklava and more delicious Greek foods underneath the festival tent with live music and cultural dance presentations. For more information and to keep up to date with festival details, follow the Greek Festival of Corpus Christi on Facebook.
Where: St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
Pawfest 2025
November 8
Head out to the 3-acre dog park at the Gulf Coast Humane Society (GCHS) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for a family-fun-filled day of wiener dog races, food trucks, kid zones, stunt dog show, live music and more all in support of GCHS’s mission to rescue animals and help them find their forever homes.
Where: Gulf Coast Humane Society Dog Park
Viking Fest 2025
November 15
Mark your calendars for the first annual Viking Fest, hosted by Del Mar College on Friday, Nov. 15, from 5-10 p.m. at the Windward Campus. Expanding from the traditional Viking Fall Carnival, this year’s festival promises an evening filled with carnival games and inflatables, live music and interactive demos showcasing the various educational opportunities available at Del Mar College. Join in on a fun-filled evening and discover all that Del Mar College has to offer! Admission is free.
Where: Del Mar College Windward Campus
40th Annual Jewish Food Festival
November 15-16
The 2-day Jewish Food Festival will feature an array of traditional Jewish cuisines like corned beef sandwiches, matzah ball soup, bagels, lox, blintzes and several sweet treats like strudel, challah and rugelach, just to name a few. In addition to the all-you-can-eat offerings, enjoy a silent auction, a vintage booth and a garden booth.
Where: Congregation Beth Israel
