Corpus Christi closes downtown for free Day of the Dead event

Ten downtown blocks in Corpus Christi will close to vehicle traffic on Saturday for the 19th annual Día de los Muertos Street Festival. The free event runs from 1 p.m. to midnight and features live music, art, food, and cultural performances. A community ofrenda, or altar, will be available for families to honor loved ones who have died. The holiday focuses on remembering those individuals and celebrating their lives.

The festival is the anchor for a wider weekend of activities in the Coastal Bend region. On Saturday, the Monster Mash Cupcake Dash returns to Water's Edge Park. Participants can register for a 5K, a 10K, or a 2-mile walk while wearing costumes. Every finisher receives a cupcake. Proceeds from the race benefit Family Counseling Services, an organization that provides mental health care across the area.

Also on Saturday, the Villain Invasion Halloween Fest takes over the Holiday Inn Downtown Marina. This event runs both Saturday and Sunday. Attendees can meet horror movie actors, join costume contests, and play in gaming tournaments. Weekend passes start at $20, and children 12 and under enter for free. Visitors who bring two nonperishable food items for the Coastal Bend Food Bank receive a special-edition event poster while supplies last.

Families seeking a quieter option can visit Asbury Methodist Church on Saturday morning. The church hosts pumpkin painting from 10 a.m. to noon. Families can select a pumpkin from the on-site patch and decorate it. The patch remains open for purchase through Halloween.

A new event debuts Saturday at the Hilliard Center. Hocus Pocus Corpus runs from noon to 3 p.m. and offers free Halloween activities, including trick-or-treating and door prizes. A community resource fair is also part of the program. The event includes a presentation on renters' rights. Residents can suggest future events for the local listing by emailing Stephanie Molina at stephanie.molina@kristv.com.