Nothing kicks off the month of May quite like the Buccaneer Days Illuminated Night Parade.
The annual event will feature an abundance of floats, lively high school marching bands, high-stepping horses, and of course, we can’t forget about our own KRIS-6 family who will not only be taking part in it, but will also be televising the event live this year.
The Buc Days Parade, as fun as it may be, does come with its own list of do’s and don’ts.
Here is some advice from the Corpus Christi Police Department to help prepare you as our city hosts the 81st annual Buc Days Parade – Like people are not permitted to camp along the route before 5:00 p.m. on Friday.
“If you come out here prior to the time when you can campout, the beat officers will politely tell you, ‘hey you are violating the rules, and you can’t start camping out till the given time’, and they will have them move,” said C.C.P.D. Senior Officer Travis Pace.
“On Friday after 5p.m., you can rent your own port-a-potty and put it at your location. It just cannot block the sidewalk and cannot be on private property without permission,”said Pace.
“The city has put the time between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Saturday. If you drink, drink responsibly. Don’t get to the point where you are going to create a danger to yourself or to others, and you are going to create problems. If you are there with someone drinking, be responsible and watch out for them so things don’t get out of hand,” said Pace.
Senior office Travis Pace says the biggest do, is be courteous, be patient, have a good time, be respectful of others, and be a good person enjoying a great event.
Here are some rules for spectators to follow:
- People are not permitted to camp along the route before 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 4.
- Citizens can rent portable toilets and place them on City property along the parade route, as long as the toilets do not block the sidewalk, public right of way, or other’s access to the parade route.
- Spectators absolutely are not allowed to use spray paint to mark their spots along the parade route. Residents should use chalk or a non-permanent marker. Also, if people mark spots with tape, the City asks the material be pulled up and placed in trash bags before the parade begins.
- No “poppers” or other noise makers or silly string is allowed along the parade route.
- Spectators are asked to bag their trash before leaving and remove any large items brought to the parade route (e.g. barbeque pits, chairs, coolers). Volunteers will hand out free trash bags along the parade route and after the parade, Solid Waste Operations’ crews will pick up the bags.
*Consumption of alcohol is only allowed Saturday, May 5, from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.during the parade, along the parade route. Police ask spectators to please drink responsibly so the parade is enjoyable for everyone. Officers will keep an eye out for incidents of public intoxication, including people who are drunk and disorderly.
Sidewalk closures currently in place within the Harbor Bridge work zone along Leopard Street between North Brownlee Boulevard and Antelope Street will be lifted during the May 5th Buc Days Illuminated Night Parade.
Additional areas adjacent and outside of the sidewalk will be designated as the project work zone and will be closed to the public.
Prohibited areas will be marked with orange barricade fencing and “No Trespassing” signs. For the safety of all parade attendees, camping will not be permitted in this area.
All parade spectators are encouraged to obey warnings and to stay out of the designated construction zone areas. Police will be patrolling the area and issuing citations for trespassing in the prohibited construction zone.
