Corpus Christi seals 10 blocks for 19th Day of the Dead celebration

Ten downtown blocks in Corpus Christi will close to traffic this Saturday for the 19th Día de los Muertos Street Festival. The event is free to the public and runs from 1 p.m. to midnight. Organizers will set up a community ofrenda where families can honor deceased relatives.

The festival features live music, art installations, food vendors, and cultural performances. This year marks the 19th edition of the annual celebration in the Coastal Bend region. The holiday focuses on remembering those who have passed and celebrating the lives they lived.

The festival anchors a busy weekend of Halloween-themed activities across the area. The Villain Invasion Halloween Fest takes over the Holiday Inn Downtown Marina on Saturday and Sunday. Attendees can meet horror movie actors and enter costume contests. Weekend passes start at $20, while children 12 and under enter for free. Visitors who bring two nonperishable food items for the Coastal Bend Food Bank receive a special-edition poster while supplies last.

Other scheduled events include the Monster Mash Cupcake Dash at Water's Edge Park on Saturday morning. Participants can run a 5K, 10K, or 2-mile walk in costume. Every finisher receives a cupcake, and proceeds benefit Family Counseling Services. Asbury Methodist Church hosts family pumpkin painting from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. The church’s pumpkin patch remains open through Halloween.

A new event called Hocus Pocus Corpus debuts Saturday at the Hilliard Center from noon to 3 p.m. The free gathering includes trick-or-treating, door prizes, and a community resource fair. The event also features a presentation on renters' rights.

Residents can suggest future events for the Coastal Bend Weekend listing by emailing Stephanie Molina at stephanie.molina@kristv.com.