Dia de los Muertos Festival

October 26, 2024, 3 pm to Midnight

The Corpus Christi Dia de los Muertos Festival is BACK!  Now in its 16th year, the Dia de los Muertos Festival has become one of Corpus Christi’s most popular events. It has been nationally recognized in multiple lists as a top Dia de los Muertos Celebration in Texas and the U.S. and voted Best Festival in The Bend Magazine’s Locals List seven years running (2016-2022).

The Dia de Los Muertos Festival (Day of the Dead) is one of the most exciting events in Corpus Christi thanks to all there is to see and do. Free concerts by Latin-influenced musicians and up-and-coming Texas bands, as well as cultural performances, are held on three stages. Entertainment includes Native American, Folklorico, and contemporary dance, Mariachis, and bands that play Cumbia, Tejano, Salsa, Latin Pop, and Rock.

A favorite past-time at the festival is the Hecho-a-Mano Arts and Crafts Expo. Browse the more than 70 vendors selling arts, crafts, jewelry, cottage and other handmade items, or have your face painted in classic Dia de los Muertos style. Art students from Texas A&M Corpus Christi perform ceramic and printmaking demonstrations, while Del Mar College Architecture and Technology design fun activities. Plus, there are plenty of photo opportunities. Get a picture with our famous oversized Calaveras, and step into our giant Dia de los Muertos picture frame or beautiful wings.

An important part of the day for most festival-goers is stopping by the Walk of Remembrance Ofrenda Display at the historic Ritz Theater. Here, you’ll find moving ofrendas created by children, families, organizations, and businesses to honor departed family members, soldiers, celebrities, community leaders, and others. The ofrenda, a sacred Mexican tradition, holds the deceased’s favorite foods, personal possessions, flowers, candles, incense, and other symbolic items to represent the life of the departed. Visitors are invited to leave written memorials on the tribute wall and/or photos of their own deceased loved ones on the community altar at the center of the display.

Be sure to check out the art exhibitions! Arte Inmersivo is an interactive, immersive, selfie-worthy art display at K Space Contemporary with a life-size piñata donkey, marigold room, and giant sugar skull made of plastic bottles. There is also a community altar and art display at La Palmera Mall. This year, we are exhibiting large-scale paintings by local artists from the Dia de los Muertos Art Collection.

We also get the kids involved in the fun! The Kids Corner has lots of activities to keep the children busy, from the rock-climbing wall, crafts, and games, to decorating sugar skulls while young performers dance and sing. The Youth Art Exhibition features works of art by area students in grades 6 – 12. Extravagancia de Piñatas is a contest in which area K-12 school groups compete for bragging rights (and classroom funds). To determine winners, we ask visitors to vote for their favorite piñatas!

Experience one of our region’s most distinctive festivals! You’ll have a great time eating, drinking, dancing, and shopping, all while learning about one of the richest and most ancient traditions in the world. 

The Dia de los Muertos Festival is organized by K Space Contemporary in partnership with Electra Art*Axis Tattoo. The Dia de los Muertos Festival is the primary fundraiser for operating funds for K Space Contemporary, a 501c3 non-profit arts organization. For those who are interested in learning more, please visit www.diadelosmuertoscc.com.