Corpus Christi is a wonderful city for families, with a wealth of activities to keep the kids happy — because when the kids are happy, everybody is happy. Visit libraries, museums, art centers, performance halls and more for free (or very cheap) family-friendly entertainment.
1. Paint a priceless picture at the Art Center of Corpus Christi
Every Saturday, the Art Center of Corpus Christi hosts free Family Art Time from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Visitors of all ages drop in throughout the day to get creative with instructor-led projects. Some of the more recent projects included city silhouette paintings, koi fish windsocks and monogram collages.
The Art Center of Corpus Christi is located at 100 N. Shoreline. Follow the Art Center on Facebook or call 361-884-6406 for more information.
2. Get nerdy at the Museum of Science & History
The museum hosts Family Fun Days on the second Saturday of every month, where budding young scientists participate in exciting experiments. Every Saturday, the museum runs a treasure hunt where kids become miniature detectives searching for clues throughout the building. The museum also holds science camps and overnight adventures throughout the year!
Learn more about the new science center here, where our 10-year-old reporter, Kai Robertson Meyer, gave us a kid’s-eye view of his experience — because the best way to find out if kids are going to like something is to ask them.
The Corpus Christi Museum of Science & History is located at 1900 N Chaparral in the S.E.A. District. Call 361-826-4667 or visit ccmuseum.com for more information.
3. Visit the Aquarium
The Texas State Aquarium has fun programs daily. Be sure to visit the aquarium’s new dolphins, Liko and Schooner as they flaunt their fins and shine their pearly whites during Trainer Chats. You can also visit with sharks, otters, jellyfish and stingrays. Don’t forget to pet the stingrays and sharks in two separate touch tanks.
We know that aquarium admission can get expensive, but they do host Dollar Days where the whole family can get in on a dime. We have a running list of upcoming Dollar Days that we update regularly, so check it out to plan your next visit!
The Texas State Aquarium is located at 2710 N Shoreline Blvd. Visit texasstateaquarium.com or call 361-881-1200 for more information.
4. Summer Camp at Harbor Playhouse
Consider enrolling with the Young People’s Theatre Camp this summer at Harbor Playhouse. Watch your children become triple threats as they build up their acting, dancing and singing skills. Throughout the camp, they’ll work together with their peers to create, produce and perform their own musical.
Harbor Playhouse is located at 1802 N Chaparral St. Call 361-882-5500 or visit harborplayhouse.com for more information.
5. Have fun learning in the Discovery Dome
The inflatable Discovery Dome is the newest toy for Corpus Christi Public Libraries (CCPL). Once inflated, the large, walk-in blackout movie theatre presents short movies about outer space. The dome can be seen at various libraries and schools throughout the year.
Follow CCPL on Facebook to stay up-to-date on all Discovery Dome events.
6. Enjoy storytelling at Barnes & Noble
Each Saturday at 11 a.m., Barnes & Noble hosts story time, where children can listen to adventure-filled (and sometimes silly) books. Stick around afterwards, because coloring, crafts and activities follow the event.
Barnes and Noble is located at 5129 Blanche D Moore Drive. Visit the website or call 361-992-1339 for more information.
7. Learn about the galaxy at the Robert Wollman Planetarium
Every Tuesday during the school year, the Robert Wollman Planetarium opens its doors to aspiring astronomers. Space movies are projected onto the planetarium’s curved dome overhead. Each movie lasts about an hour and will surely get kids excited about outer space.
The Robert Wollman Planetarium is part of Richard King High School, located at 5225 Gollihar Road. Visit the website or call 361-906-3400 ext. 22170 for more information.
8. Have fun at the public library nearest you
Watch movies, participate in drum circles, be innovative with Legos, color and make crafts at a public library in Corpus Christi. Libraries around the city host weekly (and free!) activities for the little ones. For example, every Wednesday at 4 p.m., the La Retama Library (located at 805 Comanche) hosts “Mad About Science,” a series which gets kids hands-on with fun experiments.
Follow CCPL on Facebook to stay up-to-date on all free events.
9. Take a day trip to the beach
Not only is the beach always free, but there are so many things that you can do! Build a sandcastle, become a sand mermaid, build a bonfire and more. The Padre Island National Seashore (PINS) also hosts tons of events for the community.
10. Appreciate the arts
The Performing Arts Center at Texas A&M University and the Selena Auditorium at the American Bank Center hosts many free (or very cheap) performances throughout the year, from live music and dancing, ventriloquist shows, plays and more. Del Mar College hosts a ton of free recitals at the Richardson Performance Hall as well, and kids are invited.
10 ways for family fun in Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi has plenty of events throughout the year to keep the little ones happy.