Whalefest is an educational and entertaining family-friendly event held at and around Custom House Plaza and Old Fisherman's Wharf on April 11 & 12, 10am-5pm, rain or shine. It includes fun activities for all ages, live music, tours of research and rescue vessels, and interactive marine-themed exhibits.

Whalefest Activities

Throughout the festival, Old Fisherman’s Wharf and Custom House Plaza will host interactive exhibits and activities including Gyotaku fish printing, origami, scrimshaw demonstrations, and the popular Abalone Races provided by Monterey Abalone Company.

Maritime historian Tim Thomas will lead history walks highlighting Monterey’s maritime heritage. We'll also have an appearance by “Dee,” the life-size inflatable humpback whale model that visitors can walk inside. And, of course, two days of live music.

Boat Tours

Research and rescue vessels will be available for public tours at the California Dock on Old Fisherman’s Wharf. On Saturday, April 11, we'll host tours of: the R/V Current’Sea (43 feet) from Marine Life Studies, the R/V Sheila B (30 feet) from Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, and the General Pershing Boat (60 feet) from Monterey Boat Heritage. On Sunday, April 12, vessels will include the R/V Current’Sea (43 feet) from Marine Life Studies and the Western Flyer (77 feet) from the Western Flyer Foundation.

Live Music Schedule

Schedule is subject to change.

Saturday, April 11
10am–11am: Monterey High Select Strings
11an–12pm: Monterey High Jazz Band
12pm–1pm: Nicholas Fettis – Whalefest Monterey “Orca” Stra Pod
1pm–2pm: Better Together
2pm–3pm: Youth Music Monterey Woodwind & Brass Trios
3pm–4pm: Celtic Roads
4pm-5pm: I Cantori di Carmel

Sunday, April 12
10am-11am: Saxophonia Saxophone Quintet
11am-12pm: Pacific Pop ‘n Jazz
12pm-1pm: Holy Sea / Rachael Williams
1pm-2pm: Arthur Wu
2pm–2:30pm: Hālau Hula Hi'ilani 'O Ke Kai Hawaiian cultural performance
2:30pm–3pm: Nā Haumāna traditional Hawaiian music & dance
3pm–4pm: Philip Price
4pm-5pm: Chinas Oaxaqueñas San Pablo Apóstal Community cultural dance

Whalefest Symposium

Monterey History and Art at Stanton Center will host the Whalefest Symposium, April 11 & 12, 11am-4pm, a deep dive into critical work being done to protect our oceans. Learn more here.

A highlight this year will be a close-up look at “whale entanglements and crab traps - problems and solutions” with representatives from Oceana, government, technology and fishing communities.

Other speakers include Stephanie Marcos, Marine Life Studies; Adam Ratner, The Marine Mammal Center; Ashley Kidd, Sunflower Star Labs; John Ryan, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute; Jack Barkowski, Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University; April Ridlon, Monterey Bay Aquarium; and Chad King, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.