Updates for Whalefest Monterey
15th Annual Whalefest Monterey to be held on Saturday and Sunday, April 12 and 13, 2025 on and around Old Fisherman’s Wharf and the Custom House Plaza – Monterey State Historic Park
April 2, 2025. Monterey, CA. Save the date for the 15th Annual Whalefest Monterey to be held on Saturday and Sunday, April 12 and 13, 2025 from 10 am - 5 pm each day.
This free family-friendly event will be held at and around Old Fisherman’s Wharf and the Custom House Plaza - Monterey State Historic Park. It includes fun and educational activities for all ages, musicians, and dozens of interactive marine-related interactive exhibits by numerous local and national organizations. In addition, we plan to have several research and rescue boats available for public tours.
Whalefest Monterey benefits many local and national marine organizations dedicated to explore, educate, inspire, and to empower the public to protect the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS).
The always fascinating Symposium with world-renowned marine experts will be held on Saturday and Sunday, April 12 and 13, from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm in the theatre at the Monterey History & Art Stanton Center, 5 Custom House Plaza. Dan Haifley from the Board of Directors for the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Monterey Bay, and former Director of the Sea Odyssey of Santa Cruz returns as MC for the Symposium. For more information go to https://whalefest.org/
The interactive marine-themed exhibits on the Plaza will be back for both days and will have something interesting for all ages (see list below). An array of live music and engaging activities such as Gyotaku, Origami, Scrimshaw, and the “almost famous” Abalone Races and more will be available on both April 12th and 13th on Old Fisherman’s Wharf.
New this year will be participation by the Monterey Bay Plein Air Painters Association throughout the event locations. Interact with artists, who will be sharing their approach to composition, technique, and process. See how artists interpret and celebrate all things Whalefest 2025!
In addition to the research boats, Current’Sea from Marine Life Studies, and Sheila B. from Moss Landing Marine Labs, this year will be a new addition: the fishing boat, General Pershing, that was built at the Siino Boat Works then located next to Hovden Cannery in 1930 by the local boatbuilders, the Siino family.
“Dee”, the life size inflatable humpback whale model one can walk inside, will be back. We also plan for the return of “Gracie”, a 30ft real whale skeleton waiting to be assembled by the attendees.
There will be a Calamari Cooking Demo by Gourmet Realtor Tene Shake on April 12th at 2:30 pm. There will be Wharf Walks Maritime Historian Tim Thomas at 11 am and 12:30 pm on both April 12th and 13th.
There will be a variety of live musicians performing on both days and the list is on Whalefest.org.
Whalefest Monterey will feature many educational and engaging displays from local, regional and national non-profits, including:
American Cetacean Society • California Coastal Commission • California Marine Sanctuary Foundation • California State Parks • Camp SEA Lab • Carmel Bach Festival • Citizens’ Climate Lobby • CSUMB Ocean Predator Ecology Lab • Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve • Hi'Ilani O Ke Kei OCC • Marine Life Studies • MEarth• Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) • Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) • Mission Science Workshop • Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club • Monterey SEA • Monterey Waterkeeper• Moss Landing Marine Lab (MLML) • O’Neill Sea Odyssey• Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History • Paul Watson Foundation •Plankton Monitoring Network • Santa Catalina Middle School • Save Our Shores • Save the Whales • Sea Otter Savvy • Seafloor Science ROV • Sprout Up• Sunflower Star Lab • Surfrider Foundation • United States Coast Guard Auxiliary • Ventana Wildlife Society
Note: Subject to change and new exhibitors are still being added! Updates are listed on the website, www.whalefest.org
Whale watchers come from around the world to view hundreds of whales, orcas, otters, dolphins and pelicans who come to feast on a “krill and anchovy buffet” in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Throughout the year, Monterey 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).
Whalefest Monterey is supported by many outstanding sponsors including the Arts Council for Monterey County, thanks to support from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, the City of Monterey, Fisherman’s Wharf Association, Monterey State Historic Park, the California and National Marine Sanctuaries Foundations, and numerous businesses.
As a free event, Whalefest relies on sponsorships and donations to bring this unique event to the public. Sponsorships are available for the 15th Annual Whalefest Monterey on April 12-13, 2025. Please contact Mary Alice Cerrito Fettis at [email protected]
About NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Serving as the trustee for 14 national marine sanctuaries and two marine national monuments, NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary System encompasses more than 600,000 square miles of protected marine and Great Lakes waters. Few places on the planet can compete with the diversity of the system, which protects America's most iconic natural and cultural marine resources. The system works with diverse partners and stakeholders to promote responsible, sustainable ocean uses that ensure the health of our most valued ocean places. A healthy ocean is the basis for thriving recreation, tourism and commercial activities that drive coastal economies. Backed by one of the nation's strongest pieces of ocean conservation legislation, the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, sanctuaries seek to preserve the extraordinary scenic beauty, biodiversity, historical connections and economic productivity of our most precious underwater parks.
For more information, go to www.montereywharf.com or ww
A BIG thank you to our sponsors!
Thank you to all of our valued 2025 Whalefest Monterey Sponsors including Adventures by the Sea, Anthony Lombardo & Associates, California American Water, California Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Gates Eisenhart Dawson Attorneys at Law, Law Office of Samuel H. Park, Mahoney & Associates, Mechanics Bank, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Monterey Bay Chapter, Monterey on Tonight TV Program, Monterey County Bank, Morgan Lewis , Nicora Law Offices, Old Fisherman's Wharf Association, Old Monterey Business Association, Peninsula Septic Tank Service, PSTS , Russell Auria Pest Control, Silva Injury Law, Tenth Street Liquor, Arts Council of Monterey County, City of Monterey, Monterey State Historic Park. Media and other sponsors include KSBW TV Action News 8/Central Coast ABC/ Estrella TV Costa Central, Fashion Streak, Foolish Times, KAZU Radio 90.3 FM, KMBY Radio 1240 AM / 95.9 FM, Monterey Bay Parent, Monterey County Weekly, Monterey Herald, Monterey Signs, Save the Whales, Shagbag Radio Show and Wecker Group.