Dia de los Muertos Street Festival will be held on Halloween Day in downtown Corpus Christi from 3 p.m. to midnight. Courtesy Photo
What do you get when you combine Halloween Day with Dia de Los Muertos? You get Treat Street, an architectural feat by Del Mar College students. The structures, built to resemble famous haunted houses, will offer a place for young ghosts and goblins to collect sweets during the annual Dia de los Muertos festival in downtown Corpus Christi, which will be held on Halloween Day this year, Saturday, Oct. 31, 3 p.m. to midnight.
Located in the Stripes Family Area on Chaparral St., Trick or Treat Street was created by students in the Del Mar College’s Architecture Department’s annual week-long student design competition. The task was to build 8 foot x 8 foot building facades of cardboard and 2 x 2 wood lumber.
The festival takes over downtown each year, usually on Nov. 1, All Saints Day. A centuries-old tradition in Mexico, the festival honors loved ones who have died. In Corpus Christi, that means public alters; four stages of live music; a Kids’ Corner of craft activities, games and rock climbing wall; art demonstrations; and more than 90 vendors with themed craft items, jewelry and artwork.
A festival of this size comes with safety warnings and closed streets. City officials issued the following list of streets that will be closed from 5 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30 to Sunday morning, Nov. 1:
Lower Broadway
Street closed between Peoples Street and Taylor Street with no parking on either side of the street. No parking will be allowed on the east side of Lower Broadway between Lawrence Street and Peoples Street.
Mesquite Street
Street closed between Schatzell Street and Twigg Street with no parking on either side of the street. Mesquite Street will be reduced to one lane between IH-37 and Twigg Street.
Chaparral Street
Street closed between Schatzell Street and Starr Street with no parking on either side of the street.
People Street
Street closed between Lower Broadway and Water Street with no parking on either side of the street.
Starr Street
Street closed between Lower Broadway and Chaparral Street with no parking on either side of the street.
Taylor Street
Street closed between Mesquite Street and Chaparral Street with no parking on either side of the street.
Schatzell St
No parking on either side of the street between Lower Broadway and Water Street. No parking on the south side of Schatzell Street between Water Street and Southbound Shoreline Boulevard.
BUS INFO
The RTA bus route will be northbound on Carancahua Street, to eastbound Buffalo Street, southbound Upper Broadway and westbound Antelope Street. No parking will be allowed on the right curb of the bus route.
Signs will be installed along IH-37 to guide motorists to the festival and the Park-n-Ride area.
DO'S AND DON'TS
Festivals goers should also check out the diadelosmuertoscc.com website for information about entertainers and a map. The site also offers some quick tips for those planning to attend:
• Bring a Folding Lawn Chair for seating in front of stages. Some seating is provided, but you are welcome to bring your own.
• Wear comfortable shoes and weather appropriate clothing. The festival covers six to eight blocks and you might want to do some dancing!
• Cash/Ticket Booths and many vendor cannot run credit cards. ATMs are available onsite at the corner of Mesquite and Starr.
• Check out the Official Merchandise Booth near the L & F Main Stage on Starr St. for cool Dia de los Muertos T-Shirts, festival posters, Loteria Corpus Christi games made from our new mural, cups, koozies & more.
• Hashtag your social media posts with #DiaCC.
Some important festival dont’s include:
• Don’t bring an ice chest or alcohol into festival grounds. It is prohibited by city ordinance and TABC licensing.
• Don’t drive around for hours looking for a parking place. Use Park N Ride from City Hall.
PARKING
Water Street will be closed to parking and you may have to walk a short distance to get to the Festival. Be careful where you park. Parking in the area surrounding the festival is owned by surrounding businesses and may be restricted. In these areas you may be towed. It is very important to read the parking signs. Some restricted areas near the festival are towing unauthorized vehicles.
PARK N RIDE
RTA is picking up passengers for the festival at the City Hall parking lot. The pick up location is on the Leopard Street side of City Hall. RTA will drop off festival passengers at Upper Broadway between Buffalo and Antelope.
Passengers with disabilities will be dropped off at Lower Broadway and Schatzell.
Bus Schedule : 2:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
