What to Know55th Annual Festival of WhalesDana PointMarch 6-8, 2026The Magical Migration Parade is set for March 7 at 10 a.m.; the event will begin on Golden Lantern and Dana Point Harbor DriveOther happenings include a Clam Chowder Cookout, the Festival of Whales Carnival, nature talks, art gatherings, and more; be sure to check dates and times for specific events you’d like to joinSome events are ticketed, while others, like the Magical Migration Parade, are free
While Dana Point’s yearly whale-inspired extravaganza has been around for over half a century, and another five years on top of that, we can confidently say that whales have been doing their thing for quite a bit longer.
Still, the beloved and well-attended Festival of Whales is among the more venerable whale-wonderful weekends, with traditions that have now charmed generations of Southern Californians.
One of those tried-and-true happenings is the Magical Migration Parade, a procession brimming with briny beauty, whale-cool floats and art, and eye-catching entries that pay homage to the realm of the sea.
But there was no parade to sea, er, see in 2025, due to roadwork.
Now the merry migration-themed jamboree will be back on March 7, something sure to cheer longtime fans. But do note that the route has changed, so you’ll want to get up on where to go to bask in the blowholes and flukes.
The Festival of Whales Carnival, the Clam Chowder Cookout, the Classic Cardboard & Dinghy Dash, live tunes, art happenings, nature talks, and other happenings on the schedule may have you sticking like a barnacle to Dana Point from March 6 through 8.
That’s easy to do during pretty much any weekend of the year, of course; it’s easy to barnacle-out in the pretty ocean-close burg, deciding you’ll never leave.
“Reaching the 55th anniversary of the Festival of Whales is incredibly meaningful for our family and for the entire Dana Point community,” said Donna Kalez, Chair of the Festival of Whales Foundation and owner of Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching.
Don Hansen, Ms. Kalez’s father, began the festival back in the early 1970s, helping the gathering to become one of the best-known whale parties on the West Coast.
“When my father envisioned the festival in 1971, he could never have imagined that it would be thriving more than five decades later. Although we lost him in 2022, his legacy lives on through this event.”
“Today, the Festival of Whales stand as the longest-running annual whale festival in the world. Each season, we work to introduce new experiences while honoring longstanding traditions.”
The biggest “parade” of whales will always take place along the vast migratory byways that span thousands of miles of ocean, of course.
But this charming on-land procession, a playful ode to the awesome giants just offshore, is all about giving ocean enthusiasts, kids, grown-ups, and anyone who loves community spirit the chance to pause and cheer for our noble fellow earthlings, the whales.