By: Editorial Team Photo by: Rachel Benavides
Ahoy, mateys! After the hiatus in 2020 due to the pandemic, Buc Days 2021 is officially a go.
Beginning in1938, the Buccaneer Commission, a non-profit organization has annually staged the Buccaneer Days festival in Corpus Christi, Texas in support of bringing entertaining, educational and cultural events to the Coastal Bend. Proceeds from Buc Days are awarded to students as college scholarships. Taking place in the heart of Downtown Corpus Christi, this culturally diverse event features a carnival, parade, rodeo, the Wings Over South Texas Air Show, and so much more.
11 straight days of fun await; so, keep on scrolling for a guide to this year’s Buc Days event!
Buccaneer Days Stripes Carnival
April 29th – May 9th
Buccaneer Days Stripes Carnival kicks off Thursday, April 29th. The new grounds for the carnival can be found near the American Bank Center on Chaparral street. This year, you’ll find new rides and games, an interactive zone with a petting zoo, pony rides, and shopping opportunities, and more. Carnival tickets and hours of operation vary, visit the official Buc Days website for more information.
One of the most iconic kick off moments each year is the Dunking of the Mayor! Corpus Christi Mayor Paulette Guajardo will take the leap into the waters Thursday, April 29th around 5:25 PM. Watch the tradition take place from the Seawall across from the Omni Hotel.
Also in celebration of this year’s kick-off, join the DMD for their Jolly Roger Night! Slip on your best pirate attire and partake in their Pirate Pub Crawl immediately after thee Dunking of the Mayor! The self-guided pub crawl will run through all 11 days of Buc Days and feature special offers at participating bars and restaurants.
PBR Buc Days Chute Out
April 30th
Friday, April 30th, stop by the PBR Buc Days Chute Out (Professional Bull Riding) presented by Coastal Bend Chevy Dealers after you’ve gotten your fair share of carnival rides, hop on over to the American Bank Center Arena for this innovative approach to rodeo. The World Champions Rodeo Alliance (WCRA) in collaboration withbrProfessional Bull Riders (PBR) brings the first stop on their WCRA Triple Crown of Rodeo (TCR) to Corpus Christi for Buc Days from April 30th to May 1st for two days of action and fun.
Wings Over South Texas Air Show presented by Reliant
May 1st – May 2nd
For the first time ever, the legendary Wings Over South Texas Air Show will be a part of the Buc Days event along the Corpus Christi Bayfront. You’ll catch the likes of the USN Blue Angels, USN F-35 C Lightning II Demo Team, USAF F-16CJ Viper Demo Team, USAF Heritage Flight, USN Legacy Flight, and the USN Leap Frogs Parachute Team in the air. Flybys and waterfront displays will also happen each afternoon. This new addition to Buc Days will help to celebrate the USN Blue Angels’ 75th Anniversary and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi’s 80th Anniversary.
Navy Army Night Parade at the Parade Pachanga presented by Physicians Premier ER
May 2nd
The NavyArmy Night Parade is a classic tradition and key component of Buc Days! Due to COVID-19, there won’t be a typical parade route. However, you can catch all the action over at the Stadium Show Parade Pachanga presented by Physicians Premier ER or as televised on KRISTV6, where you’ll still get a glimpse at the epic floats, talented marching bands and high-stepping equestrian units. You can purchase Parade Pachanga tickets online now.
Rodeo Corpus Christi
May 6th – 9th
The Rodeo Corpus Christi, the first 2021 WCRA Triple Crown event of the year, has brought a new and innovative approach to rodeo, allowing the Buccaneer Commission to raise their prize money amounts for participating rodeo athletes. This new approach also helps to return more dollars towards South Texas students.
At this year’s rodeo, you’ll find back riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, and mutton bustin’ along with interactive zones throughout the entire event. The finalist awards will be presented on May 6th by the American Bank Center Arena Military & First Responder Night presented by NEC Co-op Energy.
With 11 full days of activities, there’s no shortage of fun to be had. Just remember to wear your mask and keep social distancing practices in mind while you’re out enjoying it all! To view the complete Buc Days 2021 schedule and purchase tickets, visit their website here.
