FRIDAY MARCH 6TH
Welcoming of the Whales
4:30 – 7:00 PM
Ocean Institute
Experience a sunset Welcoming of the Whales ceremony with the Acjachemen Nation and a Dana Point Surf Club paddle out, followed by a festive reception at the Ocean Institute featuring food, beverages, live music, and interactive ocean-themed activities.
Festival of Whales Carnival
5:00 – 9:00 PM
Lantern Bay Park
Enjoy classic carnival fun with rides, games, and food for all ages at the Festival of Whales Carnival, plus live music and a beer garden hosted by the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group throughout the weekend.
SATURDAY MARCH 7TH
Cardboard Classic & Dinghy Dash
8:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Baby Beach
Experience the Cardboard Classic & Dinghy Dash with Westwind Sailing during the Dana Point Festival of Whales, featuring a cardboard boat race, business barge displays, public voting, food, music, awards, and more.
Wyland Art Lessons in the Wild – On the Water
9:00 – 9:45 AM
Dana Wharf Whale Watching
Marine muralist Wyland continues the Landmark Whale and Dolphin Adventure “Art Lessons in the Wild,” facilitating the most creative experience on the water!
The mission of The Wyland Foundation is to give both children and adults alike the tools they need to become more creative through art. A portion of the ticket price will be donated back to the Wyland Foundation. Each child participant also receives a FREE gift from Wyland!
Little Folk Club – Festival Edition
9:00 – 9:45 AM
Don Hansen Courtyard/Dana Wharf
Join Little Folk Club for this harbor-favorite, family-friendly singalong experience with vocals by Victoria Bailey, perfect for infants to pre-K.
Marine Mammal Lecture Series: Alisa Schulman-Janiger
9:30 – 10:30 AM
Wind & Sea
Enjoy an intimate marine mammal lecture paired with a continental breakfast at Wind & Sea, featuring whale experts sharing insights on whale entanglements, sea lion rehabilitation, and current marine mammal research, presented in partnership with the Pacific Marine Mammal Center.
Magical Migration Parade
10:00 – 11:00 AM
Dana Point Harbor Drive & Island Way
Kick off the Festival of Whales weekend with the beloved Parade, featuring an updated route along Dana Point Harbor and Island Way. Enjoy giant helium balloons, marching bands, school groups, community nonprofits, colorful floats, and military units in this lively, can’t-miss celebration.
Modern Makers Mart – Festival Edition
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Bump Out Park
Explore the Modern Makers Mart at Bump Out Park with local artisans, boutique goods, fresh food, clothing, home décor, a beer garden, and live DJ—an energetic, family-friendly stop during Festival of Whales weekend.
Clam Chowder Cook-Off
11:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Baby Beach Lawn
Warm bowls, ocean air, and community gather at our Clam Chowder Cookout during Dana Point’s Festival of Whales. Local chefs simmer hearty chowders, live music drifts by, and families celebrate coastal tradition – sharing stories, sunshine, and the soulful comfort of classic seaside flavor.
Dockside Drafts
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Ocean Institute
Enjoy waterfront craft beer at Dockside Drafts during Festival of Whales weekend, located at the Ocean Institute’s Maddie James Seaside Learning Center and Historical Wharf, featuring Spirit of Dana Point and refreshing pours from local breweries.
Festival of Whales Carnival
12:00 – 9:00 PM
Lantern Bay Park
Enjoy classic carnival fun with rides, games, and food for all ages at the Festival of Whales Carnival, plus live music and a beer garden hosted by the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group throughout the weekend.
Dana Point Historical Society Walking Tour
2:00 – 4:00 PM
Blue Lantern
Join the Dana Point Historical Society’s annual historic town center Walking Tour and explore local landmarks, early home exteriors from S.H. Woodruff’s 1920s planned community, and scenic bluff-top harbor views while learning stories from Dana Point’s early history.
Harbor Music Series
10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Don Hansen Courtyard/Dana Wharf
Experience live music at the Festival of Whales, presented by Dana Point Harbor Partners, with performances in the Dana Wharf Courtyard showcasing a variety of musical styles all weekend.
Whales & Wine: Naturalist Nona Reimer at Frisby Cellars
5:30 – 7:30 PM
Frisby Cellars
Join marine mammal expert Nona Reimer for an engaging talk at Frisby Cellars exploring whales and other cetaceans, blending marine science, storytelling, and wine culture with seasonal insights on California gray whales migrating along our coast.
SUNDAY MARCH 8TH
Stand Up To Trash Beach Cleanup and Lunch & Learn
9:00 – 11:00 AM
Baby Beach
We encourage the “BYOB” philosophy (bring your own bucket or reusable bag, reusable gloves, water bottle or coffee cup) to help reduce any additional waste, but collection supplies will be available at check-in. We invite everyone to stay for the Lunch & Learn session, where each month we feature a new speaker who explores how trash ends up in our environment, its impact on both us and the marine life we cherish and the simple actions we can take to reduce waste and protect our oceans!
Marine Mammal Lecture Series: Pacific Marine Mammal Center
9:30 – 10:30 AM
Wind & Sea
Enjoy an intimate marine mammal lecture paired with a continental breakfast at Wind & Sea, featuring whale experts sharing insights on whale entanglements, sea lion rehabilitation, and current marine mammal research, presented in partnership with the Pacific Marine Mammal Center.
Little Pirates Treasure Hunt
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Baby Beach
Join the Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club for the Little Pirate Treasure Hunt at Baby Beach, a fun-filled, family-friendly event supporting children’s charities locally and worldwide. Buy a $10 shovel, dress like a pirate, and start digging for treasure during Festival of Whales weekend.
Interactive Sailing Rides
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Westwind Sailing
Enjoy a hands-on sailing experience aboard a Capri 14 with Westwind Sailing, open to ages 5 and up, with proceeds benefiting the Dana Point Aquatic Foundation’s educational and adaptive boating programs.
Classic Car Displays
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Harbor Village Parking Lot
Start your engines and explore iconic classic cars at the Festival of Whales, featuring displays from local car clubs including British Invasion, Capo A’s Club, Just Having Fun Car Club, Hot Rods Unlimited, Pacific Coast Corvettes and SoCal Woodies – perfect for auto enthusiasts of all ages.
Antique & Classic Boat Show
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Harbor Village Parking Lot
Explore antique and classic boats at this special harbor display, featuring vintage mahogany and fiberglass models presented by the Antique and Classic Boat Society SoCal.
Modern Makers Mart – Festival Edition
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Bump Out Park
Explore the Modern Makers Mart at Bump Out Park with local artisans, boutique goods, fresh food, clothing, home décor, a beer garden, and live DJ—an energetic, family-friendly stop during Festival of Whales weekend.
Festival of Whales Carnival
12:00 – 8:00 PM
Lantern Bay Park
Enjoy classic carnival fun with rides, games, and food for all ages at the Festival of Whales Carnival, plus live music and a beer garden hosted by the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group throughout the weekend.
Concert on the Water
12:00 – 5:00 PM
Baby Beach
Bring your beach chairs and blankets and enjoy a FREE afternoon concert at Baby Beach, featuring live music performed from a specially designed floating dock and a relaxed waterfront atmosphere during Festival of Whales weekend.
Dockside Drafts
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Ocean Institute
Enjoy waterfront craft beer at Dockside Drafts during Festival of Whales weekend, located at the Ocean Institute’s Maddie James Seaside Learning Center and Historical Wharf, featuring Spirit of Dana Point and refreshing pours from local breweries.
Kids’ Fishing Clinic and Fishing Trip
12:00 – 5:15 PM
Dana Wharf Sportfishing
Dana Wharf Sportfishing invites all children to come to their dockside fishing clinic and learn hands-on techniques on fishing from the experts. Prizes will be raffled off at the end of the clinic.
Dana Point Historical Society Walking Tour
2:00 – 4:00 PM
Blue Lantern
Join the Dana Point Historical Society’s annual historic town center Walking Tour and explore local landmarks, early home exteriors from S.H. Woodruff’s 1920s planned community, and scenic bluff-top harbor views while learning stories from Dana Point’s early history.
ACTIVITIES & OPEN HOUSES
Festival of Whales Merchandise
Friday, March 6, 4:30 – 7:00 PM at Ocean Institute
Saturday, March 7, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM in Dana Wharf
Sunday, March 8, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM on Baby Beach
Shop official Festival of Whales commemorative merchandise at select locations throughout the harbor, including the Wharf area on Saturday and Baby Beach on Sunday. Limited quantities available—grab yours while supplies last.
Whale of a Kids’ Art Contest
Submissions Due March 2
The magical migration of the California Gray Whale is the theme for this art contest. To enter take a photo of your creative drawing or painting and email recreation@danapoint.org by March 3, 2025. Please include the child’s name and age on the entry. The winning submission will receive an ocean-themed gift basket and a whale-watching trip for a family of four. Open to children up to 12 years of age.
Pacific Marine Mammal Center – Booth & Interactive Whale Exhibit
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Island Way
Festival of Whales attendees are in for a whale-sized surprise this year with the arrival of Winston the Whale, a 56-foot-long, anatomically correct inflatable whale. This life-sized exhibit offers a unique opportunity for visitors to explore the fascinating world of marine mammals up close.
Doheny State Beach Whale Walk
Saturday & Sunday
Doheny State Beach
This stunning, life-size display features paintings of the majestic whales that migrate past our shores, offering visitors a unique opportunity to walk alongside these ocean giants. The Whale Walk stretches along the asphalt promenade, nestled between the park’s green lawn and the sandy shoreline, extending from the lifeguard headquarters tower to the Dana Point Harbor breakwater.
Ocean Institute General Admission
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Ocean Institute
Ocean Institute staff and volunteers stand ready to guide visitors through a wide range of experiences, from our horn shark touch tank, intertidal touch tanks, and much more.