CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — You might think the fall season isn't as busy as the summer or even spring break for downtown Corpus Christi, but that is no longer the case.
The 'off' season turned 'busy' with no shortage of events this weekend to attract folks to that part of the city and it all kicked off with the Texas Jazz Festival Friday.
The event is expected to attract over 25,000 guests to Heritage Park kicked off Friday evening and will continue through Sunday.
Over 50 bands will perform on 3 stages. There's also plenty of food options and vendors.
With so many folks packing the SEA district, CCPD officers were on hand to keep an eye out and to help visitors cross the busy street.
If you are planning to attend, the RTA is providing a free park and ride.
Concrete Street Amphitheater is also welcoming thousands of guests Saturday.
Taking the stage, the legendary Willie Nelson.
"Right now we are about 5500 tickets sold," said general manager Avery Durrill-Reny. "We were stoked when we got the news that Willie was coming back for his fourth show here. We are over the moon, what a legend."
Durrill-Reny advises concert goers to get there early.
"It's going to be jammed packed all throughout downtown Corpus Christi, our doors will open at 5 pm," she said.
Meantime, Downtown Corpus Christi is the site of Surftoberfest over at the Executive Surf Club, now in its ninth year.
That event kicks off at noon Saturday.
It's where barricades are being placed on Chaparral Street so keep that in mind along with no parking signs going up.
"Downtown is kind of a bigger story, this festival does about 3500 people throughout the day, great family friendly early ramping up to a party festival to get started at downtown," said Richard Lomax.
Lomax of Water Street Restaurants said the month of October is no longer a dry time of year with plenty of options for folks to stay entertained.
"We're in the thick of festival season right now and I remember a time when there was a shoulder season, but the locals and tourist pick up right after summer," he said.
So before someone says there's nothing going on in Corpus Christi, join your neighbors in seeing what's happening in this part of the city.
