Mayor Takes the Plunge as Buc Days Tradition Returns to Corpus Christi

City of Corpus Christi

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS (News Release) - A longtime Coastal Bend tradition took center stage as Paulette Guajardo participated in the annual “Dunking of the Mayor” to kick off Buc Days festivities.

The event took place at approximately 5:25 p.m., with spectators gathering along the seawall at North Shoreline Boulevard and Starr Street to watch the spectacle unfold.

The “Dunking of the Mayor,” first introduced in 1965, is a signature Buc Days tradition in which local “pirates” symbolically forced the city’s mayor to walk the plank and plunge into Corpus Christi Bay. The event marked the official start of the city’s annual celebration.

Buc Days dates back to 1938, when the Buccaneer Commission began organizing the festival to bring entertainment, educational programming and cultural events to the Coastal Bend. Over the decades, the multi-day celebration has grown into one of the region’s largest festivals.

Organizers said proceeds from Buc Days support local students through college scholarships, reinforcing the event’s long-standing community impact.

The festival, held in downtown Corpus Christi, featured a wide range of activities, including parades, live entertainment and family-friendly attractions, drawing thousands of attendees.

Residents and visitors lined Shoreline Boulevard to witness the mayor’s plunge and celebrate the start of another Buc Days season.