Buc Days: Crowds gather for Wings Over South Texas Air Show

Ashlee Burns, Corpus Christi Caller Times
·2 min read

Fans lined the Corpus Christi seawall to watch the Blue Angels’ Wings Over South Texas Show on Saturday.

The Blue Angels USMC C-130J Hercules flies over Corpus Christi Bay during the Wings Over South Texas event on Saturday, May, 6, 2023, in Texas.
The Blue Angels USMC C-130J Hercules flies over Corpus Christi Bay during the Wings Over South Texas event on Saturday, May, 6, 2023, in Texas.

Lawn chairs and picnic blankets were scattered across the grass along Shoreline Boulevard as jets zipped above the water.

Saturday marked the third day of the annual Buc Days festival, featuring the air show, carnival, parades, rodeo, concerts and more.

The aerial show draws the attention of adults and children across the state.

Know before you go: Your guide to the 2023 Buc Days in Corpus Christi

Abra Charles, left, Courtney Crabtree and son Adarie Crabtree, 4, of Houston, watch the Wings Over South Texas event on Saturday, May, 6, 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Abra Charles, left, Courtney Crabtree and son Adarie Crabtree, 4, of Houston, watch the Wings Over South Texas event on Saturday, May, 6, 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Adarie Crabtree, 4, of Houston, cheered as jets swirled above the bay. Adarie and his mother, 34-year-old Courtney Crabtree, stopped by the show while on vacation in the area.

“I used to live out here, so I’ve experienced this before, but it’s his first time seeing an airshow,” Courtney said.

Myron Mixon, 72, of Austin, traveled to Corpus Christi with his family to see the show. Mixon, who grew up in Houston, said he hadn’t seen the Blue Angels perform in several years and hoped to see the B-52H Stratofortress, a long-range heavy bomber.

“I went to school in Austin back when the B-52 operated out of that Air Force base,” Mixon said. “Sometimes, when we didn’t have anything else to do, a bunch of college kids would go out there and sit and watch.”

Myron Mixon, of Austin, watches the Wings Over South Texas event with binoculars on Saturday, May, 6, 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas. He and his family traveled to Corpus Christi to watch the airshow.
Myron Mixon, of Austin, watches the Wings Over South Texas event with binoculars on Saturday, May, 6, 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas. He and his family traveled to Corpus Christi to watch the airshow.

Like Mixon, Corpus Christi resident Pablo Gomez, 71, and his grandson, 13-year-old Ace Darwent, attended the air show to see the B-52.

“It’s gigantic,” Gomez said. “I’ve never seen one fly by.”

Gomez said he attends every year but missed the show last year.

“I’ve been a few times, but I like it,” Darwent said. “It’s loud. The best part is obviously the planes.”

Buc Days will take place through Sunday, May 14. Tickets may be purchased online at bucdays.com or at the festival. For the full schedule, visit bucdays.com/schedule.

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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Buc Days: Crowds gather for Wings Over South Texas Air Show