Last Updated on September 25, 2026 by Evelyn Martinez
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 17 different fall festivals in Corpus Christi and the surrounding areas you won’t want to miss out on.
Corpus Christi Oyster, Seafood & Music Festival
September 11-12
This annual festival prepares Gulf Coast seafood to perfection out on Oso Bay over two days, featuring everything from freshly shucked oysters to grilled Gulf shrimp, crab and fish. Attendees can also indulge in local seafaring vendors and live music throughout the day. Daily or weekend pass tickets can be purchased online.
Where: Peary Place Park
Hummerbird Celebration
September 17-20
Witness the spectacular hummingbird migration through Rockport during the 38th Annual Hummerbird Celebration. This festival features all things birding in South Texas with boating tours, bus birding trips, shopping, keynote speakers and more. Find the full itinerary and purchase your tickets online.
Where: Locations vary
Celebration of Flight
September 25-27
Take in the full splendor of migration season in the Birdiest city in America! Celebrate the migration of the Broad-winged Hawk during this three-day bird watching festival. Family-friendly and free to the public, visitors will embark on guided bird walks, attend discussions with local experts and participate in activities like owl pellet dissecting. Keep the fun going after hours at Lazy Beach Downtown, which will host a pre-festival Soar & Pour as well as the festival afterparty. Find the full schedule of events on the HawkWatch website.
Where: Hazel Bazemore County Park
Texas Food Championship
September 25-27
As Texas’ official qualifying event for the World Food Championships, this three-day food fest will take over Water’s Edge Park this September. Open to food lovers of all tastes and palettes, this festival brings the state’s premier chefs, pitmasters and other rising culinary talent together for a live competition. Expect explosions of Texas flavors, music and vendors in addition to the 10 competing divisions ranging from barbecue and live-fire cooking to seafood and desserts. Purchase your daily (or weekend) pass online.
Where: Water’s Edge Park
51st Annual Rockport Fulton Seafair
October 1-4
Enjoy food, fun and a celebration by the sea during the 51st Annual Rockport-Fulton Seafair. This four-day sea-themed festival will feature 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
PRIDE Corpus Christi Parade and Block Party
October 3
Join PRIDE Corpus Christi, countless community organizations and the Coastal Bend LGBTQ community and allies for the yearly Pride Parade and Block Party! Participate in a grand celebration of equality and human rights right alongside the coast. 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 at Water’s Edge Park
Bailando International Dance Festival
October 8-10
This annual festival invites choreographers and dancers to 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
Sharkathon
October 9-11
The Coastal Bend’s Sharkathon brings together catch-and-release shark conservation efforts with the fun of a traditional fishing tournament. This annual fundraiser raises money for local non-profit and educational services that help combat the rapidly declining worldwide shark population, not only through ticket sales but also by inviting catch-and-release veterans to educate new anglers. Those interested in participating in the tournament can sign up and pay their dues online.
Where: Check in at the Packery Channel Boat Ramp Pavilion
65th Annual Texas Jazz Festival
October 16-18
The Texas Jazz Festival is Texas’s longest-running and largest free festival. 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
11th Annual Surftoberfest
October 17
Celebrate Oktoberfest with a coastal spin during the 11th annual Surftoberfest! Taking over the entire Water Street Market, the festival will feature polka bands, plenty of beer, food vendors, stein-holding competitions, costume contests and more. The event is free to attend and family-friendly, with food and drinks available for purchase within the footprint.
Where: Water Street Market
19th Annual Día de los Muertos Festival
October 24
The annual Día de los Muertos Festival brings life, music and culture to Downtown Corpus Christi for the 19th year from 1 p.m. to midnight. As one of the most popular local festivals, join the Coastal Bend community in celebrating and honoring the rich cultural heritage of Mexico and South Texas through education, live music, traditional ofrendas and plenty of dancing. 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
5th Annual Tamalada Festival
November 7
In celebration of Hispanic history and culture, Texas A&M University-Kingsville will host the annual Tamalada Festival where the Coastal Bend community comes together to indulge in cultural education, tradition and food! Enjoy tamale tastings and preparation, live entertainment, educational speakers, arts and crafts and more.
Where: Texas A&M University – Kingsville
61st Annual Greek Festival
November 6-8
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
9th Annual Port Aransas Wooden Boat Festival
November 6-8
This free three-day event celebrates Farley Boat Works and the longstanding tradition of building boats in Port Aransas. Food trucks, 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 historic wooden Farley boats.
Where: Roberts Point Park
Pawfest 2026
November 14
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 shows, 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 2026
November 14
Mark your calendars for this year’s Viking Fest, hosted by Del Mar College. From 5-10 p.m. at the Windward Campus, 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 and open to the public.
Where: Del Mar College Windward Campus
40th Annual Jewish Food Festival
November 14-15
The two-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 shop and a garden booth.
Where: Congregation Beth Israel
