This weather has me draggin’, y’all. All I want to do is stay in bed, cozy up with some coffee and watch Hallmark holiday movies or ‘Love, Actually’ for the umpteenth time. But, you know I can’t do that: there’s way too much happening this weekend in the Coastal Bend! So grab your raincoats and kick off the holiday season with any of these events:
ART WALK
Friday, 5 p.m.
Downtown
Don’t let the rain stop you from having a Friday night out! Head downtown for your fill of music, local vendors, food and fun, with block parties on nearly every corner. With outdoor stages, downtown music venues, pop-up vendors, and your favorite food trucks, you’ll be sure to kick off the holiday season in style. Plus, check out the Mayor’s Merriest Decor Contest – 36 businesses have decked their halls to claim the title. Which one’s your favorite? 
DECEMBER EXHIBIT OPENING
Friday, 5 p.m.
The Art Center of Corpus Christi
Stop by the Art Center of Corpus Christi during ArtWalk to catch their Decmber exhibit opening. This month’s exhibits include the TAMU-CC BFA Student Exhibition; Log Notes, or: Loving the Earth to Death by TAMU-CC Artist in Residence Bethany Johnson; cyan; and Copper Fantasy by Kathleen Mekailek.
FIRST FRIDAY AT THE ART MUSEUM
Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Art Museum of South Texas
First Friday also means free admission all day to the Art Museum, presented by Frost Bank! Grab the whole family to take in the rotating exhibits on display. With extended hours, there’s no excuse not to embrace your inner Warhol or Picasso and find your way to the AMST. Bonus: hit the AMST outreach table at Art Walk for giveaways and art activities. (I mean, who doesn’t love free things?!)
HOT YOGA, COLD BEER
Friday, 6:30 p.m.
Nueces Brewing Company
Are you feeling a little downward dog? Eclipse season got your chakras all out of alignment? Do you feel a little more limber with some liquid help? This donation-based class is held weekly in the brew room of Nueces Brewing. Grab a cold one for some hot yoga, and we promise you, you’ll feel like a happy baby in no time.
2ND ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY
Friday, 5 p.m.
Newbury Park, Aransas Pass
Start your holiday season off right with carols and cocoa at the second annual Christmas Tree Lighting in Aransas Pass. Special guest Santa Claus will make the rounds at this free community event at Newbury Park. It’s holiday fun for the whole family with face painting and more.
INGLESIDE TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY
Friday, 6:15 p.m.
N.O. Simmons Park, Ingleside
Your heart will grow three sizes at this park lighting ceremony with the Ingleside mayor and mystery V.I.P. The fun only starts when the lights turn on – stay for cookies and refreshments and settle in for a holiday movie in the park, featuring ‘The Grinch’.
WINTER WONDERETTES
Friday and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2:30 p.m.
Aurora Arts Theatre
Are you ready for the Christmas season? Kick it off with a showing of the ‘Winter Wonderettes’ at Aurora Arts Theatre. Jam along to the ’60’s versions of your favorite holiday classics, like “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Run, Run, Rudolph,” as the Wonderettes go on a search to find Santa when he turns up missing. This family-friendly show runs through the holiday season.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays, 2:30 p.m.
Harbor Playhouse
Don’t Scrooge around and miss out on this timeless holiday classic. Tiny Tim will never forgive you if you don’t grab a ticket and catch a showing of the Harbor Playhouse’s production of “A Christmas Carol.” Don’t let the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future show you what you missed out on this holiday season.
A VERY #MERRY CHRISTMAS PARTY
Friday, 7 p.m.
The Annex
It’s time to get holly jolly at the Annex with spiked coco. Get lit with a Christmas tree lighting as the Annex welcomes in December.
WINTER WONDERLAND AT THE MUSEUM
Saturday, 9 a.m.
Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History
Find a magical experience this holiday season at the Museum of Science and History. Send letters to the North Pole at the Nuecestown Post Office, get lost in classic holiday tales on the Story Time Stage, craft snow globes and ornaments nad hang out with the Grinch, Santa and Mrs. Claus. Score your tickets for this enchanting experience here.
TAFT ANNUAL CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL AND PARADE
Saturday, 10 a.m.
Taft City Park
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style … for Taft’s annual Christmas festival and parade. Get your fill of food, snag some arts and crafts for those hard-to-please family members and jam out to live music. Get into the holiday spirit with the parade starting at noon.
FIRST ANNUAL POWWOW
Saturday, 11 a.m.
TAMU-CC University Center
Last month was Indigenous Peoples’ month, but who says you need a month to celebrate and educate yourself on our land’s native stewards? Join the Indigenous Peoples of the Coastal Bend as they present their inaugural powwow in Corpus Christi.
MISTLETOE MAKERS MARKET
Saturday, 11:30 a.m.
Nueces Brewing Company
Meet me at the Mistletoe Makers Market, trying to score some holiday goodies from local vendors and enjoying a cold one from Nueces Brewing Company.
CCISD FOOD DRIVE CONCERT
Saturday, noon
House of Rock
’Tis the season to give and to give back. Catch a free concert featuring performances by CCISD classical guitar program students. Bring a canned food item to donate and get a BOGO slice or free small app with the purchase of any large pizza.
SUICIDAL BUTTERFLY NIGHTMARE POPUP
Saturday, 1 p.m.
Suicidal Butterfly
Come to the dark side, they have … food trucks! Suicidal Butterfly’s nightmare pop-up features a goth twist, with a chillingly stylish fashion show, haunting goth fashion, vendors and food trucks. DJ Covencakes will provide the dark beats at this irresistibly unique, darkly chic event.
H-E-B CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING & LIGHTED BOAT PARADE
Saturday, 4 p.m.
Water’s Edge Park
Don’t get blinded by the lights when the H-E-B Christmas Tree dazzles downtown. Kick off the holiday season with food trucks, live music and vendors – and snap a selfie with Santa at the annual Christmas tree lighting downtown. Make a day of it and snag your seat along the seawall for the Illuminated Boat Parade once the sun goes down. Stay warm with hot cocoa and treats from local vendors.
TOYS FOR TOTS HOLIDAY RIDE
Saturday, 10 a.m.
TAMU-CC, Starfish lot
Get on your bikes and ride for a good cause! Bring an unwrapped toy and $10 to participate in Corpus Christi Harley-Davidson’s Toys for Tots Holiday Ride. Meet at 10 a.m. at TAMU-CC’s Stafish lot; kickstands up at 11 a.m. Police will escort the parade down Ocean Drive to Concrete Street Amphitheater.
WATER STREET FARMER’S MARKET
Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Water Street Market
Kick off your Sunday Funday by supporting local vendors and restocking your pantries with fresh veggies, and more, when you head down to the only Sunday farmer’s market at Water Street Market.
PADRE ISLAND MARKET DAYS’ HOLIDAY MARKET
Sunday, 1 p.m.
Island Presbyterian Church
Shop island style at this outdoor market: find fresh produce, meats, handmade products and other goods. Snap a photo with Mermaid Ylva, make some crafts with your kiddos at the Kids Craft Corner, or just grab some goodies from local vendors or grab some lunch from a food truck.
PEPPERMINT LANE HOLIDAY MARKET
Sunday, 2 p.m.
Downtown
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas … shopping! Grab some hot cocoa and shop local with dozens of vendors and small businesses at the Peppermint Lane Holiday Market. Snap some selfies with Santa and the Grinch while you find the perfect gifts for your loved ones … or while you’re treating your ‘elf’.
SUNDAY FUNDAY BAD SANTA DIY CANDLE PARTY
Sunday, 2:30 p.m.
Hinz Home Company
Ready for some petty thievery? Join Hinz Home Company for a DIY candle making Christmas Party – and on this day only, you can channel your inner grinch and “scratch that sticky finger itch.” Take someone else’s candle and leave yours behind – Bad Santa style. For $55, you claim your spot at the party, complete with charcuterie, cocktails and DIY candle making. Find more information here.
Hey besties! Help a girl out and let me know of any events coming up for the holidays, please! Want your holiday fun run to run up our list? Know of a great market for some Christmas shopping? Is Santa Claus coming to your town? Drop this events writer a line at diandraspicak@gmail.com, or find me on Instagram @deeanndruh or on Facebook. And, as always, email us at righton@rightoncorpus.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @rightoncorpus, and DM us there, too! We’re always looking for new things around the Coastal Bend.
