The Dana Point annual Festival of Whales is a ginormous event that spans two weekends with more than 60 separate events that celebrate, educate and entertain whale-lovers (and festival partiers) everywhere.
From Wyland (in person) offering art lessons to lecture series, Woodies and Corvette shows, TallShip events, music concerts, art shows, kids’ fishing clinics and the popular Rubber Ducky Derby, it’s non-stop fun for two full weekends.
Of course, whale watching excursions take place every day of the event with several commercial lines (my favorite being Dana Wharf) participating.
The event kicks off with the annual Festival of Whales Parade on Saturday, March 3rd, 2018. Thereafter, most events take place in and around Dana Point Harbor. See details.
This is a calendar of primary events. The Festival of Whales website offers many more details.
Saturday, March 3, 2018
| 8 AM – 1 PM | Whale of a Sand Sculpting Competition (Baby Beach) | |
| 10 AM | Festival of Whales Parade (Pacific Coast Highway) | |
| 10 AM – 10:45 AM | Wyland Art Lessons in the Wild (Ocean Adventure Catamaran, Dana Wharf Dock) | |
| 10 AM – 11 AM | Marine Mammal Lecture Series (Harpoon Henry’s) | |
| 10 AM – 3 PM | Street Fair (La Plaza Park) | |
| 10 AM – 4 PM | Ocean Institute Education Center (Ocean Institute) | |
| 10 AM – 4 PM | So Cal Woodies (Harbor walkway) | |
| 10 AM – 4 PM | The Legendary Corvette (Harbor walkway) | |
| 10 AM – 5 PM | Art in the Park (Island Way and Dana Point Harbor Drive) | |
| 10 AM – 5 PM | Dana Point Fine Arts Association Show & Sale (Harbor walkway near Mariners Village) | |
| 11 AM – 1 PM | Whale’s Tale Tallship Sailing Adventure (Ocean Institute) | |
| 11:30 AM – 4 PM | Whale of a Pizza Party (Baby Beach) | |
| Noon – 3 PM | Harbor Music Series (Mariners Village) | |
| 2 PM | Walking Tour of Town Center (Blue Lantern Street/Pacific Coast Highway) | |
| 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM | Drone and Go Pro Demo (Dana Wharf Whale Watching) |
Sunday, March 4, 2018
| 8 AM – 10:30 AM | Whale of a Pancake Breakfast (Baby Beach Park) | |
| 9 AM – 2 PM | Whale Walk Painting (Doheny State Beach) | |
| 10 AM – 10:45 AM | Wyland Art Lessons in the Wild (Ocean Adventure Catamaran – Dana Wharf Dock) | |
| 10 AM – 11 AM | Art & the Sea: Paint Class (Ocean Institute) | |
| 10 AM – 11 AM | Marine Mammal Lecture Series (Harpoon Henry’s) | |
| 10 AM – 4 PM | Ocean Institute Education Center (Ocean Institute) | |
| 10 AM – 4 PM | Sailing & Stand-up Paddling Clinic (Westwind Sailing, OC Sailing & Event Center) | |
| 10 AM – 4 PM | So Cal Woodies (Harbor walkway) | |
| 10 AM – 4 PM | The Legendary Corvette (Harbor walkway) | |
| 10 AM – 5 PM | Art in the Park (Island Way and Dana Point Harbor Drive) | |
| 10 AM – 5 PM | Dana Point Fine Arts Association Show & Sale (Harbor walkway near Mariners Village) | |
| 11 AM – 4 PM | Ocean Awareness Day (Baby Beach Park) | |
| 11 AM – 1 PM | Whale’s Tale Tallship Sailing Adventure (Ocean Institute) | |
| 11:30 AM – 1 PM | Diamond Dig (Baby Beach) | |
| 11:30 AM – 4 PM | Whale of a BBQ (Baby Beach Park) | |
| Noon – 12:30 PM; 12:45 PM – 5:15 PM |
Kids Fishing Clinic and Trip (Dana Wharf Docks) | |
| Noon – 3 PM | Harbor Music Series (Dana Wharf, Mariners Village) | |
| 2 PM | Walking Tour of Town Center (Blue Lantern Street/Pacific Coast Highway) | |
| 2 PM | Whale of a Rubber Ducky Derby (Baby Beach) | |
| 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM | Drone and Go Pro Demo (Dana Wharf Whale Watching) | |
| 6 PM – 9 PM | Movie Screening: Title TBD (Ocean Institute) |
Saturday, March 10, 2018
| 8 AM – 1 PM | Cardboard Classic Dinghy Dash & Expo (Baby Beach) | |
| 8 AM – Noon | Boat Builders’ Breaky and BBQ on the Beach (Baby Beach) | |
| 9 AM – Noon | Whale of a Beach Cleanup (Doheny State Beach) | |
| 10 AM – 5 PM | Dana Point Fine Arts Association Show & Sale (Harbor walkway near Mariners Village) | |
| 10 AM – 4 PM | Kids’ Fun Fair (East Marina Parking Lot) | |
| 10 AM – 10:45 AM | Wyland Art Lessons in the Wild (Ocean Adventure Catamaran, Dana Wharf Dock) | |
| 10 AM – 11 AM | Marine Mammal Lecture Series (Harpoon Henry’s) | |
| 10 AM – 4 PM | Ocean Institute Education Center (Ocean Institute) | |
| 10 AM – 4 PM | Sailing & Stand-up Paddling Clinic (Westwind Sailing, OC Sailing & Event Center) | |
| 10 AM – 4 PM | British Invasion (Harbor walkway) | |
| 10 AM – 5 PM | Art in the Park (Island Way and Dana Point Harbor Drive) | |
| 10 AM – 5 PM | Dana Hills High School Young Artists Show and Sale (Island Way and Dana Point Harbor Drive) | |
| 11 AM – 3 PM | 6th Annual Clam Chowder Cook Off (Baby Beach Park) | |
| Noon – 2 PM | Captain Dave’s Under Sea Eco Carnival (Capt. Dave’s Dolphin Deck near Baby Beach) | |
| Noon – 3 PM | Harbor Music Series (Dana Wharf, Mariners Village) | |
| 2 PM – 3 PM | Capt. Dave’s Presents “Entangled Whales: What Can We Do?” (OC Sailing & Event Center) | |
| 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM | Drone and Go Pro Demo (Dana Wharf Whale Watching) |
Sunday, March 11, 2018
| 10 AM – 5 PM | Dana Point Fine Arts Association Show & Sale (Harbor Walkway near Mariners Village) | |
| 10 AM – 10:45 AM | Wyland Art Lessons in the Wild (Ocean Adventure Catamaran, Dana Wharf Dock) | |
| 10 AM – 11 AM | Marine Mammal Lecture Series (Harpoon Henry’s) | |
| 10 AM – 4 PM | Kids’ Fun Fair (East Marina Parking Lot) | |
| 10 AM – 4 PM | Ocean Institute Education Center (Ocean Institute) | |
| 10 AM – 4 PM | British Invasion (Harbor walkway) | |
| 10 AM – 4 PM | Sailing & Stand-up Paddling Clinic (Westwind Sailing, OC Sailing & Event Center) | |
| 10 AM – 5 PM | Art in the Park (Island Way and Dana Point Harbor Drive) | |
| 10 AM – 5 PM | Dana Hills High School Young Artists Show and Sale (Island Way and Dana Point Harbor Drive) | |
| Noon – 3 PM | Harbor Music Series (Dana Wharf, Mariners Village) | |
| Noon – 5 PM | Whale of a Concert on the Water (Baby Beach) | |
| Noon – 5 PM | Whale of a Concert BBQ and Spirits Garden (Baby Beach) | |
| Noon – 12:30 PM; 12:45 PM – 5:15 PM |
Kids Fishing Clinic and Trip (Dana Wharf Docks) | |
| 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM | Drone and Go Pro Demo (Dana Wharf Whale Watching) |