The Whale Watching Capital of the World™  

Monterey, CA. October, 2019. Don’t miss it! Monterey Old Fisherman's Wharf Association presents the 10^th Annual Whalefest Monterey™ to be held at and around Old Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey, California, The Whale Watching Capital of the World™ on Saturday, January 25^th and Sunday, January 26^th, 2020 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. 

This free, fun and educational interactive family event for all ages celebrates the biodiversity of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and much more! The event, which features a 2-day Symposium with world-renowned marine experts and dozens of exhibit booths, benefits many local and national marine organizations that educate, inspire, and empower the public to protect the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Enlightening and edutaining interactive exhibits at the upcoming 10th Annual Whalefest Monterey include dozens of marine related exhibits by numerous local organizations including Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, Greenfield Community Science Workshop, Marine Life Studies, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Seafloor Science ROV, Student Oceanography Club Creative Ocean Painters, Sustainability Office of the City of Monterey, Communities for Sustainable Monterey County, The Marine Mammal Center,  Save the Whales, Stanford's Hopkins Marine Station, Ventana Wildlife Society and more.

The 10^th Annual Whalefest Monterey Symposium will include these outstanding presentations by renowned marine science experts and more to come! (Subject to change)

• Mimic Competition: John Ryan, MBARI
• Paul Michel, MBNMS, Superintendent (Update/Introduction)
• Chad King, NOAA (Octopus Garden-Davidson Seamount)
• Admiral Jon White, RET USN, President & CEO Ocean Leadership Consortium (Ocean Security)
• Peggy Stap, Director Marine Life Studies & Whale Entanglement Team (WET)^® (Update and new project)
• Dave Ebert, Pacific Shark Research Center
• Wallace J. Nichols, Author, Blue Mind, Middlebury Institute of International Studies 
• Tom Escher, Red & White Fleet (Battery Operated Enhydra)
• Brandon Southall, Southall Environmental Associates (Underwater Acoustics)
• Colleen Flannigan, UCSC

In addition, Save the Whales returns with Dee, the 43-foot inflatable whale model people can go inside of and see its internal organs, and photo ops with costumed creatures roaming the area.

There will be up to five boats at the California Dock at Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf including the Fulmar (NOAA’s research ship),  Curret’Sea (Marine Life Studies research and WET® vessel), the Coast Guard 43’ foot boat, the Sheila B. from Moss Landing Marine Lab and The Pearl (Monterey Fire Boat).

Monterey Abalone Company will host Abalone Races in front of Big Fish Grill and Moss Landing Marine Labs will be the non-profit recipient. Monterey Bay Whale Watching will host scrimshaw-making using soap. Chefs from the Wharf will conduct cooking demos in front of Abalonetti Bar and Grill. Discovery Whale Watching/J & M Fishing will host Gyotaku, the Japanese art of stenciling fish and an orca.

On the Causeway will be Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club boats, US Coast Guard 29’ foot boat, US Coast Guard Auxiliary exhibit, COASTIE, the Safety Boat, and the Science Seafloor ROV.

Maritime Historian Tim Thomas will conduct 90-minute free Wharf Walks at 11 am and 2 pm on Saturday and Sunday (Meet outside of Harbor House at the head of the Wharf). 

There will also be a variety of live musical entertainment as well as an information and merchandise booth, with Whalefest Monterey T-shirts and aprons for donations.

Weather permitting, whale watching tours, fishing, sailing and glass bottom boats will be operating from the Wharf (many at discounted rates). Wharf restaurants will be serving lunch and dinner. Wharf shops will also be featuring marine-themed merchandise.

Corporate sponsorships are available this year. Please contact Mary Alice Cerrito Fettis at [email protected] for more details.

Ride the free MST Trolley to the Wharf from the East and West Garages. MST Trolley details click here.

Special discount Hotel Rates: Stay for the weekend!

Special Whalefest Monterey discount room rates are available at some local Monterey Hotels, including the Portola Inn and Spa. Subject to availability, guests can reserve rooms for a discounted rate. January 24, 25 or 26, 2020 at this website:  https://be.synxis.com/?Chain=18268&hotel=65712&rate=WHALFST

Also, there will be discount room rates at the Comfort Inn Monterey Bay at 2250 North Fremont in Monterey. Please call the hotel directly to arrange the discounted rate. The Inn at 1252 Monterey is located at 1252 Munras Avenue: 831 372-2908. www.stayatmonterey.com and Comfort Inn Monterey Bay, 2050 North Fremont Street 831-373-3081 www.montereygetaway.com.

For more information about Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf, go to www.montereywharf.com or call (831) 238-0777.

Whale watchers come from around the world to view hundreds of whales, orcas, dolphins and pelicans who continue to feast on a “krill and anchovy buffet” in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Throughout the year, this Whale Watching Capital of the World offers sightings of 15 species of whales, 10 species of dolphins, 2 species of porpoise, 6 species of pinnipeds and 1 species of Fissiped (sea otter).

More details to come!

Thank you to our valued sponsors that include Fisherman's Wharf Association, California State Parks, Marine Life Studies, Save the Whales, United States Coast Guard, Wecker Group,  KSBW TV, Central Coast ABC, Estrella TV Central Coast, Monterey Herald, Santa Cruz Waves, and KAZU FM. Shagbag Radio Show, Access Monterey Peninsula (AMP Media), Letty Sloma Photography, Fashion Streaks, Monterey Signs, Aquafina and Old Fisherman’s Grotto.