Whalefest Monterey

Details

• Location: Old Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey, Monterey, CA
• Phone: (831) 238-0777
• Time: 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Description:
  

  14th Annual Whalefest Monterey Announces New Dates: April 13 and 14, 2024
  The Monterey Bay Whale Watching Capital of the World   
  
  Save the date for the 14th Annual Whalefest Monterey to be held on Saturday and Sunday, April 13 and 14, 2024 from 11 am - 5 pm each day.
  
  This "edutaining" free family friendly event will be held at and around Old Fisherman’s Wharf and the Custom House Plaza -Monterey State Historic Park. It incl des fun activities for all ages, musicians, boat displays and dozens of fascinating marine-related interactive exhibits by numerous local and national organizations. It includes the popular Gyotaku and Scrimshaw activities on Old Fisherman’s Wharf and a return of the “world famous” Abalone Races.   

  
  Whalefest Monterey benefits many local and national marine organizations that educate, inspire, and empower the public to protect the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS). The event will also feature a 2-day Symposium with world-renowned marine experts and historians on this date or earlier in the year. Be sure to check out the prior Symposium presentations from 2023 and earlier at Whalefest.org and on the Whalefest YouTube channel.

  Featuring displays from local, regional and national non-profits that may include these organizations among others:

  •          American Cetacean Society
  •        California Coastal Commission
  •          Camp SEA Lab
  •          Community Builders for Monterey County
  •          Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
  •          Greenfield Community Science Workshop
  •          Marine Life Studies
  •          Monterey Bay Aquarium Underwater Explorers
  •          Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary MBNMS
  •          Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History
  •          Regen
  •          Santa Catalina Middle School
  •          Save Our Shores
  •         Save the Whales/MontereySEA
  •          Sea Otter Savvy
  •          Seafloor Science ROV
  •          Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
  •          Squid 4 Kids
  •          Surfrider Foundation
  •          Sustainability Office, City of Monterey
  •         The Marine Mammal Center
  •          The Wahine Project
  •          Ventana Wildlife Society
  •          Yacht Club - Monterey Peninsula
    (Note: Subject to change.)

  Whale watchers come from around the world to view hundreds of whales, orcas, dolphins and pelicans who come 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).
  
  Whalefest Monterey is supported annually by many outstanding sponsors including the Arts Council for Monterey County, thanks to support from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors; Fisherman’s Wharf Association, Monterey State Historic Park, Marine Life Studies, Monterey Bay Aquarium, National Marine Sanctuaries Foundation, and numerous business sponsors.

  Media sponsors have included KSBW TV Action News 8, Central Coast ABC, Estrella TV Costa Central, Coast Weekly, Foolish Times, Monterey Bay Parent, KMBY, KAZU, Monterey Herald and the Shagbag Radio Show.

  Corporate sponsorships are available.  Please contact Mary Alice Cerrito Fettis at maryalicefettis@gmail.com for more details.
  
  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.