Dana Point Harbor Welcomes 48th Annual Festival of Whales

Dana Point's 48th annual Festival of Whales, one of Southern California's largest and longest running celebrations, will take place March 2, 3, 9 and 10 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Dana Point Harbor.

Dana Point Harbor invites families to experience the 48th Annual Dana Point Festival of Whales, March 2-3 and 9-10 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can explore Dana Point Harbor during the gray whale’s annual winter migratory ritual, and enjoy engaging activities including whale watching, first day Parade and street fair, sand sculpting, live music, the Dinghy Dash, Art in the Park, Chowder Cook-Off, Ocean Awareness Day, delicious harbor eats, educational programs, and much more.

The Festival of Whales Parade kicks off the festivities on Saturday, March 2 at 10 a.m. Attendees can view the parade from the side of Pacific Coast Highway between Selva Road and Street of the Golden Lantern, where onlookers can enjoy the parade featuring giant helium balloons, community organizations and more.

Whale watching excursions will depart every hour on the hour, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., from the wharf during both festival weekends, offering views of majestic ocean life found off the coast of Dana Point. Prices and trip durations vary.

Music has long been a highlight of the Festival and 2019 offers a new attraction, the Ocean Institute’s presentation of Whale Songs & Other Tails from the Opera: A Musical Event with Lyric Opera of Orange County on March 9 at 6 p.m. The performance is being hailed as an elegant evening of eclectic opera, featuring whale songs, catcalls, bird trills, and other operatic animal music, plus refreshments.

For more information and to view the full list of events visit FestivalofWhales.com and.DanaPointHarbor.com.