Coastal Weekend: 19th Annual Altar Festival Returns to Corpus

The Día de los Muertos Street Festival occupies 10 downtown blocks in Corpus Christi this Saturday. This marks the 19th year for the free gathering, which operates from 1 p.m. to midnight. The event includes live music, art, food, and cultural performances.

A community ofrenda will serve as a central focal point. Families can use the altar to honor deceased loved ones. The holiday focuses on remembering those individuals and celebrating their lives.

The Monster Mash Cupcake Dash returns to Water's Edge Park on Saturday morning. Participants can choose a 5K, a 10K, or a 2-mile walk. Every finisher receives a cupcake. Proceeds benefit Family Counseling Services, a local provider of mental health care across the Coastal Bend.

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

Villain Invasion Halloween Fest runs Saturday and Sunday at the Holiday Inn Downtown Marina. Attendees can meet horror movie actors and enter costume contests. Gaming tournaments are also available. Weekend passes start at $20, and children 12 and under enter free. Visitors bringing two nonperishable food items to the Coastal Bend Food Bank receive a special-edition event poster while supplies last.

Asbury Methodist Church hosts family pumpkin painting from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Families buy a pumpkin and decorate it together. The church's pumpkin patch remains open through Halloween.