The Dia De Los Muertos Street Festival in Corpus Christi is virtual this year due to — you guessed it — COVID-19. To maintain the safety of the general public as well as the multitudes of festival vendors, volunteers, and performers, the annual event held by K Space Contemporary and AXIS Tattoo will bring the color and culture of the Day of the Dead to its fans rather than having the fans come to it: Dia de los Muertos 2020 in a Brand New Way, according to its brand new branding.
Since it began 12 years ago, this highly anticipated Mexican holiday celebration has brought music, culture, and people to downtown Corpus Christi on the weekend closest to its Nov. 2 date. Though the streets of downtown Corpus Christi will not fill with people this year, the goal of the festival remains the same: to celebrate and honor the rich cultural heritage of Mexico and South Texas while uniting the community and promoting the city.
The safety of everyone involved with the Dia De Los Muertos Street Festival was the top priority when making the decision to go virtual, said K Space Contemporary executive director and festival director, V. Michelle Smythe.
“We believe it is in the best interest of our participants and visitors who travel to Corpus Christi to attend this cultural heritage festival that we replace our traditional street festival with a virtual celebration of this beautiful Mexican holiday,” Smythe said.
The 2020 Dia De Los Muertos Virtual Festival will combine both physical and virtual art exhibitions, an altar exhibition, virtual art workshops, and other online events. All festival offerings will depend on the sponsorships received by the organization.
This year’s themed exhibitions and contests include:

  • ART EXHIBITION inviting all artists to participate in this year’s theme, “Disfruta el Sabor! Savor the Flavor,” an art show depicting Mexican food items or referencing Mexican food traditions of aguas frescas, raspas, tacos, enchiladas, tamales, tortillas, guacamole, conches, cures, sopapillas, and more!
  • YOUTH ART EXHIBITION themed “Dia de los Muertos en Corpus Christi,” in which young area artists (grades 6-12) are invited to create a work of art based on what the Day of the Dead in Corpus Christi means to them.
  • PINATA CONTEST in conjunction with the annual Dia de los Muertos festivities is open to local K-12 school groups. Teachers are invited to create piñatas with their youth groups, classes, and after-school clubs in Corpus Christi and cities within a 50-mile radius. Each group/club may enter one hand-constructed piñata (group project.) The theme will also be “Disfruta el Sabor! (Savor the Flavor!)” Mexican food (same as the art exhibition theme above). Piñatas must be delivered to K Space Contemporary by Oct. 17.

“While we will certainly miss all of our friends and family who visit our festival every year, we are confident in our decision,” Smythe said. “We look forward to presenting the festival (in person) when it is safer for everyone.”
For more information on the 2020 Dia De Los Muertos Festival as well as art exhibition registration requirements or how to become a sponsor, visit the website or contact K Space at info@kspacecontemporary.org or 361-887-6834. Follow the event on Facebook for updates.