Corpus Christi comes together to create a stress-free jazz festival with free shuttle rides

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The tranquil sounds of birds in Heritage Park will soon be joined by the soulful melodies of saxophones as the 64th Annual Texas Jazz Festival kicks off in Corpus Christi.

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While music lovers prepare to enjoy a weekend of jazz under the stars, several local organizations are hard at work behind the scenes to make the event a success.

One of those groups is the Nueces County Alternative Incarcerations Program. Their participation ensures the festival grounds stay clean and welcoming throughout the weekend.

“Our inmates do a big part with the Jazz Fest. We have them do all the clean up,” said Jose Aguayo, a sergeant with the Alternative Incarcerations Program.

Aguayo said the program’s involvement helps relieve pressure on event organizers.

“It helps out the committee. It helps out the community. It’s something that they don’t have to stress over. We’ll worry about the clean-up. They have to worry about the festival itself,” he said.

To ease traffic and parking congestion near Heritage Park, the Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority (CCRTA) is offering free shuttle services throughout the festival.

Buses will pick up and drop off attendees every half hour at three locations: City Hall, the Nueces County Courthouse, and Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.

The shuttle times vary each day:

Friday – 5:30 PM to 12:00 AM

Saturday – 5:30 PM to 12:30 AM 

Sunday – 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM

“I strongly encourage people to, to make their lives easier, enjoy the event, not have to worry about parking, not have to worry about security. It’s just a great time to go and use the buses for free,” said Rita Patrick, managing director of the CCRTA Public Relations Department.

Each shuttle stop will be staffed with security personnel, and an officer will ride aboard each bus to help ensure the safety of riders and their belongings.

“We’ll also have security on our parking lot to make sure that vehicles are safe and that the customer feels okay leaving the cars behind, and that’s our priority,” said Miguel Rendon, deputy CEO of the CCRTA. 

As final preparations come together, it’s clear the Texas Jazz Festival is more than just a celebration of music—it’s a community effort involving the Sherrif’s office, public transportation, volunteers and more.