The arrival of fall brings festival season along with it. The cooler temps beckon us outdoors — and what better way to partake in local food, drink, music and art than combining them to be enjoyed alongside your favorite people? Here are 16 different fall festivals in Corpus Christi and the surrounding areas you won’t want to miss out on.
Hummerbird Celebration
September 19-22
Witness the spectacular hummingbird migration through Rockport with the 36th 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: Martha Luigi Auditorium
Friends of Padre Fall Fiesta
September 21
Head out to the Briscoe King Pavillion in Corpus Christi for a fun-filled day to celebrate life on the beach. Enjoy live music, kid’s 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
3rd Annual Tamalada Festival
September 28
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, entertainment, educational speakers, arts and crafts and more.
Where: Texas A&M University Kingsville
Bailando International Dance Festival
October 5-7
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 choreography showcase concerts and the gala concert.
Where: TAMU-CC Performing Arts Center
PRIDE Corpus Christi Parade and Block Party
October 5
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. This year’s parade route will take participants along Shoreline Blvd. and is sure to be a grand time. Immediately following the parade, the fun continues with a free community event on the Great Lawn at Water’s Edge Park.
Where: The Great Lawn on Water’s Edge Park
Sea Turtle Festival
October 5
The Texas Sealife Center will host its Sea Turtle Festival on Oct. 5 from 11 a.m.-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
49th Annual Rockport Fulton Seafair
October 4-6
Enjoy food, fun and a celebration by the sea at the 49th Annual Rockport-Fulton Seafair Oct. 4-6. 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
7th Annual Corpus Christi Vegfest
October 12
Head to Heritage Park on Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. to celebrate healthy living and eating by way of a plant-based lifestyle. The festival will host engaging speakers, delicious food and other local vendors to celebrate and promote plant-based foods and environmental sustainability.
When: Heritage Park
61st Annual Texas Jazz Festival
October 18 – 20
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 19
Join in on the fun for the 9th Annual Surftoberfest! This year, Surftoberfest is taking over Chaparral Street 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: Chaparral St
Viking Fest
October 25
Mark your calendars for the first annual Viking Fest, hosted by Del Mar College on Friday, Oct. 25 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
9th Annual Port Aransas Wooden Boat Festival
October 25 – 27
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
17th Annual Dia De Los Muertos Festival
October 26
The Dia De Los Muertos Festival is bringing life, music and culture to Downtown Corpus Christi for the 17th year. 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
61st Annual Greek Festival
November 1-3
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. In addition to delicious cuisine offerings, the festival will raffle off a brand-new vehicle to one lucky winner. For more raffle 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 2024
November 9
Head out to the 3-acre dog park at the Gulf Coast Humane Society (GCHS) 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. This year, expect cooler weather and a concert at Brewster Street the following day as an extension of the festival.
Where: Gulf Coast Humane Society Dog Park
Jewish Food Festival
November 9 – 10
The 2-day Jewish Food Festival will feature an array of traditional Jewish cuisines like corned beef sandwiches, matzah ball soup, bagels, lox, blinztes 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 new this year, a garden booth.
Where: Congregation Beth Israel
