Whalefest Monterey

03/19/2026

🧑🏼‍🚒 Monterey Fire Department has the coolest rescue vessels - The Pearl - protecting our Monterey Bay.

The Monterey Fire Department works hand in hand with the US Coast Guard and State Parks to protect the waterways. This includes 90,000 sq. feet of commercial buildings on the city's two wharves and nearly 600 boats in the harbor. The 34-foot aluminum fire boat, The Pearl, has an enclosed cabin and a combined pump and engine.

If lucky, Whalefest visitors may spot a demonstration by The Pearl during the festival {scheduling permitting.}

🧯Check out The Pearl in action https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6HMkBDrn9s

🧯Learn about marine safety. https://monterey.gov/your_city_hall/departments/fire/marine_safety.php

03/18/2026

💫 Collaborating Organization & Exhibitors Spotlight 💫

Whalefest is proud to showcase our 2026 collaborating organizations that partner with us. These fantastic organizations offer educational and interactive exhibits, enriching our attendees' understanding of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

🖥️ Take a sneak peek at the outstanding exhibitors at https://whalefest.org/exhibitors.

COME LEARN & EXPLORE!
⏰ April 11 & 12, 10am - 5pm
🌍Custom House Plaza, Monterey, CA
📍Fun continues at Monterey Old Fisherman’s Wharf and Stanton Center.

🎪Marine education and engaging displays from dozens of nonprofit organizations:

American Cetacean Society
California Coastal Commission
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
California Killer Whale Project
California Marine Sanctuary Foundation
California Ocean Alliance
California State Parks
Camp SEA Lab
Citizens’ Climate Lobby Monterey Chapter
City of Monterey Library & Museum
City of Monterey Office of Sustainability
Clean Oceans International
CSUMB Ocean Predator Ecology Lab
Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
Hi'Ilani O Ke Kei OCC
Jilly Pfifferling
Joel Salinas
Marine Life Studies
MBARI
MEarth
Monterey Bay Ecotours
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS)
Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club
Monterey Plein Air Painters
Monterey SEA
Monterey Waterkeeper
Moss Landing Marine Lab (MLML)
Ocean Conservation Waves of Freedom
Oceana
O’Neill Sea Odyssey
Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History
Paul Watson Foundation
Sandbar Solar and Electric
Save Our Shores
Save the Whales
Sea Otter Savvy
Seafloor Science ROV
Sprout Up
Steinbeck Experience
Sunflower Star Lab
Surfrider Foundation
The Marine Mammal Center
The Western Flyer Foundation
United States Coast Guard and Auxiliary {+ Sea Scouts troop}
Ventana Wildlife Society

{Exhibitors are subject to change. Additional organizations may continue to be added, so check back.}

03/17/2026

🐋 JOIN WHALEFEST MONTEREY at Old Fisherman's Wharf, the historic Custom House Plaza, and Stanton Center on the Custom House Plaza, on April 11 & 12, 2026, 10am-5pm.

☑️ WHARF FUN: The fun is throughout the Wharf & Custom House Plaza. Take a stroll toward Old Fisherman's Wharf, where Whalefest has spread the fun with music, art, crafts, abalone races, a wharf history walk, and visit some amazing boats on display.

☑️ EXHIBITORS: Come learn and explore the numerous showcases our collaborating organizations are offering, educational and interactive exhibits, and enriching activities for our attendees to understand the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

☑️ SYMPOSIUM: Want to learn more about our spectacular ocean, marine life, whales, and more? Stop in at the Stanton Center Theater at Custom House Plaza for 2 full days of world-renowned Marine educators, scientists, and speakers. The schedule will be available on our website soon. Grab your seats to not miss your favorite speaker.

📃Activities & Schedule: https://whalefest.org/activities-schedule

THE DETAILS:
🌊Free, family-friendly celebration of the amazing marine life in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

🎤Two-Day Marine Science Symposium featuring top scientists discussing whales, ocean conservation, and solutions to whale entanglements

🚤Tour real research & rescue vessels docked at the Wharf

🐋Walk inside “Dee,” the life-size inflatable humpback whale

🎨Enjoy Gyotaku fish printing, origami, scrimshaw demos, and live plein-air artists

🐚Cheer on the crowd-favorite Abalone Races

🎶Live music throughout the weekend

⚓Join maritime history walks and discover Monterey’s rich ocean heritage

🐬Meet dozens of marine organizations and learn about whales, dolphins, sea otters, and more

📰 READ ALL ABOUT IT - Whalefest Press Release: https://whalefest.org/press-release

LEARN MORE:
🐋 Learn about Whalefest: www.Whalefest.org
🐋 Exhibitors & Collaborating Organizations: https://whalefest.org/exhibitors
🐋 Music https://whalefest.org/musician-and-music
🐋 Symposium: https://whalefest.org/symposium

HOW TO SUPPORT:
💙 Donate: https://whalefest.org/donate
💙 Sponsor: https://whalefest.org/sponsors

03/17/2026

🐋 www.whalefest.org/activities-schedule 🐋

03/16/2026

Did someone say FREE MUSIC & PERFORMANCES?

🎹🎺 Whalefest 2026 Music & Performances. FREE, FUN, and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Join us at Monterey Old Fisherman's Wharf🎺🎹

🎶 SATURDAY, April 11th
🎼10:00-11:00am: Monterey High. Monterey High Select Strings

🎼11:00-12:00pm: Monterey High. Monterey High Jazz Band

🎼12:00-1:00pm: Nicholas Fettis. Whalefest Monterey "Orca" - stra Pod. Blends of invigorating original music and Whale Songs from Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

🎼1:00-2:00pm: Better Together. John and Shelly Jemison sing and play classic acoustic Americana and tight harmonies including a few sea shanties from the past.

🎼2:00-3:00pm: Youth Music Monterey. Youth Music Monterey Woodwind Trio. Youth Music Monterey Brass Trio.

🎼3:00-4:00pm: Celtic Roads. Marj Ingram Viales, guitar; Paulette Lynch, Hammered Dulcimer; Jackie Pierce, fiddle; Pat Skinner mandolin.

🎼4:00-5:00pm: I Cantori di Carmel. A cornerstone of the Monterey Peninsula’s musical community brings choral masterworks, and sea shanties at Whalefest under the artistic direction of Daniel Henriks.

🎶 SUNDAY, April 12th
🎼10:00-11:00am: Saxophonia is a saxophone quintet that plays a wide variety of music, including swing, rock and roll, and classical pieces.

🎼11:00-12:00pm: Pacific Pop 'n Jazz (PP'n'J). A 15 piece community band, based in Hollister, that plays big band jazz as well as popular music.

🎼12:00-1:00pm: Holy Sea. Ocean Colored Indie Pop Music by local singer/songwriter Rachael Williams.

🎼1:00-2:00pm: Arthur Wu. Classically trained singer and musician graduate of UCSB. He has just finished singing a last-minute comprimario role with Westbay opera in Palo Alto, in the opera Salome by Richard Strauss. He specializes in singing classical music, particularly opera, but also enjoys singing rock, jazz, blues, you name it. Locally Arthur has sung with various groups such as the Bach Festival, I Cantori di Carmel, Choral Artists of Carmel. In addition to singing, he also enjoys playing piano works by composers like Chopin, Liszt, and Beethoven.

🎼2:00-2:30pm: Hālau Hula Hi'ilani 'O Ke Kai. Family-focused outrigger canoe center and hula hālua based out of Monterey, founded in 1984.

🎼2:30-3:00pm: Nā Haumāna. Specializes in traditional music, dance, and cultural education rooted in Hawaiian values of aloha, lifelong learning, community, and ohana (family)

🎼3:00-4:00pm: Philip Price. Phil's repertoire includes Country, Rock, Pop, Folk, Jazz, Broadway, Movie Music, and some Sea Shanties.

🎼4:00-5:00pm: Chinas Oaxaqueñas San Pablo Apóstal Community. Women, daughters, nieces, and youth of the community who celebrate their heritage by embracing their traditions and religious festivities and inspiring new generations.

03/16/2026

📣Exciting News! Meeting the 2026 Whalefest Symposium Speakers.

Symposium is FREE, open to the public, FUN, and EDUCATIONAL for all marine enthusiasts.

🎤 Our one-of-a-kind Symposium brings together world-renowned marine experts for exclusive talks held annually during Whalefest at the historic Monterey History & Art Stanton Center on Custom House Plaza on the stunning Monterey Peninsula.

🪑Grab a friend and come get a seat to your favorite speaker and topics. Seating is limited - so be sure to check the schedule coming soon and join us.

🅿️ Ample paid parking at the Wharf Front Parking Lot or parking garage in downtown Monterey.

Learn more about these fantastic Symposium Speakers, topics, bios, and more at https://whalefest.org/symposium

📍Stanton Center located at Monterey History and Art Museum on Custom House Plaza next to Old Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey, California
⌚ April 11th & 12th
⌚ Symposium 11am-4pm
⌚ Whalefest festival is 10am-5pm

SCHEDULE: https://whalefest.org/symposium

MEET THE SPEAKERS: Thank you speakers!
🎙️ Jack Barkowski, Hopkins Marine Station Stanford University
🎙️ Ashley Kidd, Sunflower Star Laboratory
🎙️ Stephanie Marcos, Monterey Bay Marine Life Studies
🎙️ Adam Ratner, The Marine Mammal Center
🎙️ John Ryan, Ph.D., Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute MBARI
🎙️ Giovanna Sainz, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute MBARI
🎙️ Matthew S. Savoca, Ph.D., Hopkins Marine Station Stanford University and California Marine Sanctuary
🎙️ Geoff Shester, Oceana
🎙️ Lucy Zhang, Saratoga High School & Daniel Zhang

03/16/2026

03/15/2026

📣Whalefest Monterey 2026 is almost here - activity schedule is out now! 👏🏼

Join the fun, education, symposium, music, exhibits, art, and more at Monterey Old Fisherman's Wharf, Custom House Plaza, and Stanton Center. 2 days of FREE community FUN.

🐋-> April 11-12, 10am-5pm

03/14/2026

🛳️ R/V Sheila B. joining the Whalefest 2026 boat display! See on Saturday, April 11, 10am-5pm.

🛳️ Come see Research Vessel Sheila B. operated by Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, supporting oceanographic research, biological sampling, and hands-on marine science training along the Central California coast. The vessel is routinely used for nearshore and shelf studies, including plankton tows, CTD casts, water quality sampling, benthic surveys, and marine mammal observations.

🛳️ Serving as a critical teaching platform, the Sheila B. enables students and researchers to gain practical experience in field methods, data collection, and interdisciplinary marine research, contributing to long-term monitoring and a deeper understanding of regional ocean processes and ecosystems.

🛳️ The R/V Sheila B. is a 30’x10’ PackCat aluminum hull landing craft built by the William E. Munson Co. in 2001. She has been in service since as a multi-purpose research platform.

🔗 Schedule & Request: https://mlml.sjsu.edu/marineops/rv-sheila-b/

(📸 credit to SJSU Operations Moss Landing Marine Laboratories website)

03/14/2026

🐋 Who’s Visiting Whalefest 2026? 🐋

03/13/2026

🎹 Don't miss Whalefest’s 2 fun FREE days of amazingly musicians and performances, April 11 & 12, 10am-5pm.

🎹 Come get Wooed by Author Wu, one of the many talents at Whalefest.

🎶 Schedule: https://whalefest.org/music-schedule

🎶 Musicians & Performances: https://whalefest.org/musician-and-music

03/13/2026

🐋 Whalefest Monterey celebrates the ocean, connection with community, and educates to protect the future of stunning Monterey Bay.

Join Whalefest, April 11th & 12th, for a FREE 2-day festival at Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf, Custom House Plaza, and Stanton Center, where ocean lovers come together to explore and learn.

🌊 WHAT TO EXPECT?
☑️Hands-On Exhibits: 10am-5pm, Dive into interactive displays from dozens of local and national nonprofits focused on marine science, sustainability, and ocean protection.
☑️ Science Symposium: 11am-4pm, Hear from world-renowned researchers as they share the latest discoveries from Monterey Bay and beyond.
☑️ Live Music & Entertainment: 10am-5pm, Enjoy performances that bring coastal culture to life.
☑️ Art & History: Ocean-themed arts and crafts to spark wonder for all ages.
☑️ History Wharf Walk: 11:00am & 12:30pm with Historian, Tim Thomas
☑️ Abalone Race: 11:30 & 1:30pm by Monterey Abalone Company
☑️ Boats Display: 10am-5pm

💙 WHY IT MATTERS?
☑️ Whalefest is more than a festival, it’s a heartfelt call to action. Through education, art, history, marine life, and community, we celebrate the beauty of the ocean and inspire stewardship for generations to come.

🎟️ WANT TO HELP?
☑️ Donate: Every contribution helps us keep Whalefest free, inclusive, and impactful.

☑️ Sponsor: Support marine conservation and connect with thousands of attendees.

🐋 MISSION?
☑️ Inspiring, educating, and empowering the public to protect and explore our Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

All info at your fingertips at www.Whalefest.org