Buc Days 2024: Your guide to the rodeo, carnival, concerts and more
Buc Days starts in a few days, arrrr you ready?
The annual festivities will take place Thursday, May 2 through Sunday, May 12, featuring a rodeo, live music, a carnival, parades, food and more.
Tickets may be purchased online at bucdays.com or at the festival.
Here's a guide to make sure you capture the full experience of the event. For the full schedule, visit bucdays.com/schedule.
Dunking of Mayor Paulette Guajardo
Since at least 1955, Corpus Christi mayors have had to "walk the plank" to kick start Buc Days.
Corpus Christi Mayor Paulette M. Guajardo has the honor of jumping into the Corpus Christi Bay once again this year.
The annual Dunking of the Mayor will start at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 2, where you can watch from the seawall on Shoreline Boulevard.
5K Run
For its second year, the Buc Days 5K returns with runners jogging along Shoreline Boulevard Saturday, May 11.
The 3.1-mile course starts at 8 a.m. and will start and end on Buc Days Festival Grounds at the American Bank Center.
Register at bucdays.com/attractions/buc-days-5k by Tuesday, April 30 to secure a finisher medal and T-shirt.
Parades and Stadium Show
After 14 years, the Stadium Show at Buc Stadium returns as a tradition to Buc Days.
At 7 p.m. Saturday, May 4, attendees will be able to enjoy a panoramic view of the parade from seats in the stands. Tickets are $10 per person, with children 3 and under free but they must sit on a lap. Reserved seating will require all ages a ticket and tickets are $15 per person.
As well, the Buc Days Rally Night Parade is set to return to the Leopard Street route this year immediately after the Stadium Show around 8 p.m.
The Driscoll Children's Parade will take place down Shoreline Boulevard and will feature local schools and youth organizations. It will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 11.
Carnival and Treasure Island
During the entire length of Buc Days, the Stripes Carnival will be open.
Attendees must be at least 36 inches tall to ride most of the rides. Carnival rides accept tickets or the $25 presale All-You-Can-Ride wristband.
Along with the carnival, Buc Days will have Treasure Island — an attraction filled with local vendors, racing pigs, a petting zoo, pony rides, concession areas and more.
Rodeo Corpus Christi
Rodeo Corpus Christi, presented by Miller Lite, will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, through Sunday, May 11, at the American Bank Center Arena.
The rodeo will include saddle bronc riding, barrel racing and more.
Tickets range from $22.50 to $77.50 and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com or at the American Bank Center Box Office. Tickets also include the scheduled Rodeo Concert after the dust settles.
Rodeo Concert Series and other live music
The five entertainers taking the stage are musician William Beckmann, rock star Bret Michaels, musical group La Mafia, country singer Aaron Watson and artist Josh Turner.
The musicians will come on after Rodeo Corpus Christi is over and the stage is set, so roughly about 30 minutes to an hour.
As well, local artists will serenade crowds at the Buckin' Marlin Stage in the Stripes Carnival and Beer and Wine Garden Stage at the American Bank Center Plaza.
PBR Pendelton Whisky Velocity Tour
The Professional Bull Riders Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour is the top expansion series of the PBR.
The tour will feature some of the best athletes of the sport going head-to-head with the fiercest bulls in the country. It will bring all the high-energy sound, lighting, special effects and edge-of-your-seat action that fans have come to expect from the sport of bull riding.
The PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour will hold its finals at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4. Tickets start at $17.50 and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com or at the American Bank Center Arena Box Office.
Parking
You can pay $15 at any of the multiple parking lots near the American Bank Center or pay the same amount at Whataburger Field, then hop on one of the free Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority shuttles to be dropped off at the festival grounds.
The shuttle's schedule is 5 p.m. to midnight May 2, May 3 and May 8 through May 10; and noon to midnight May 4, May 5, May 11 and May 12.
Bag policy
All bags will be checked at public gates into the festival grounds and inside the American Bank Center.
Bags, briefcases, strollers and backpacks are subject to search and seizure at festival gates.
Any bags larger than a clutch bag will need to be cleared at the arena. Bags no larger than 12 by 12 by 6 inches will be permitted inside. The American Bank Center allows each member of the party, including children, to bring in a large clear Ziploc bag of their belongings. Guests who have bags larger than this size will be asked to return them to their vehicles.
Prohibited items
Alcohol, drugs, illegal substances or any paraphernalia associated with drug use
Audio/video recorders, professional cameras or tripods
Selfie sticks
Cans, bottles, coolers or other similar containers
Fireworks
Flags/signs with poles
iPads/tablets of any size
Laser pens/pointers of any type
Noisemakers such as air horns
Outside food or drinks
Oversized bags, backpacks, duffel bags or diaper bags
Pepper spray/mace
Weapons of any type including chains, knives, firearms and spiked jewelry
Any other item deemed unacceptable by event/building management
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John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com or Twitter @johnpoliva.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Your guide to Buc Days' rodeo, carnival, concerts and more
