{"id":198494,"date":"2026-02-28T21:54:32","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T21:54:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/198494\/"},"modified":"2026-02-28T21:54:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T21:54:32","slug":"5-fantastic-whale-festivals-in-northern-california-for-spring-2026-monterey-herald","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/198494\/","title":{"rendered":"5 fantastic Whale Festivals in Northern California for spring 2026 \u2013 Monterey Herald"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s that time of year, when beautiful, barnacle-covered behemoths migrate right off the coast of California<\/a>. To celebrate the passage of gray whales<\/a>, Northern California will hold several whale festivals this spring, complete with whale watching<\/a>, live music and hiking, tasty treats and something called \u201cabalone races\u201d (Rumor is last year\u2019s contenders are just now reaching the finish line.)<\/p>\n

Mendocino County is throwing four different whale fests, on the four weekends of March, each in a separate coastal community. After that comes Monterey, in April, with its big annual celebration full of science<\/a> and wharf fun. Here is an abbreviated schedule for each festival, in chronological order; for detailed information, check the events websites for Mendocino (mendoparks.org\/whale-festival<\/a>) and Monterey (whalefest.org<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Whalefest Monterey: April 11-12<\/p>\n

The 16th annual Whalefest will center on Monterey\u2019s historic Old Fisherman\u2019s Wharf and the Custom House Plaza. For serious whale enthusiasts, it\u2019s a must-attend, with marine scientists sharing their fascinating research and conservation tales. (Previous talks have included \u201cWhale Entanglement: Risks, Responses and Prevention\u201d and \u201cThe Unseen and Unsung Heroes of Monterey Bay: the Beautiful, Amazing Microscopic Plankton!\u201d)<\/p>\n

There will also be live music, interactive marine exhibits, sea-themed crafts like scrimshaw and gyotaku \u2014 the traditional Japanese method of \u201cprinting fish\u201d \u2014 and the chance to tour research and rescue vessels. And don\u2019t forget (or accidentally step on) the crowd-favorite Abalone Races, featuring the iridescent-shelled sea snails crawling their way to a photo finish.<\/p>\n

Mendocino: March 7-8<\/p>\n

The charming enclave of Mendocino, perched on the roaring ocean like a history-soaked village in a (non-scary) Stephen King novel, will fire up the start of the whale festivities<\/a>. Note that most of the events are scheduled for Saturday, March 7.<\/p>\n

The festival will feature a chowder-tasting event from local restaurants, with samples, until the \u201cchowder runs out.\u201d There\u2019s a wine walk through town, a storytime-and-crafts family event and a screening of a movie called \u201cThe Boy Who Talks to Whales<\/a>\u201d ($10). Plus, a whale-watching station at Mendocino Headlands State Park.<\/p>\n

\"WhalesWhales spotted at Bodega Head in in Sonoma County. The Endangered Species Act has been credited with the resurgence of the gray whale, depleted by commercial fishing in parts of the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Christopher Chung)
\nLittle River: March 14-15<\/p>\n

Just south of Mendocino, the community of Little River will hold free guided hikes at Spring Ranch<\/a> in Van Damme State Park, with the chance to spot migrating gray whales. Email director@mendoparks.org<\/a> to reserve your spot, as space is limited. Also on Saturday is a margarita-making contest and parks fundraiser<\/a> at the historic Little River Inn, in which audience members can taste and vote for their favorite drinks ($50). That same day will have a self-guided jaunt of a \u201cMocktail Trail\u201d<\/a> at local watering holes ($25).<\/p>\n

Fort Bragg: March 21-22<\/p>\n

The biggie of Mendocino County\u2019s festivals, Fort Bragg\u2019s celebration<\/a> will feature a downtown wine walk, a chowder-tasting competition, a 10K\/5K \u201cwhale run and walk,\u201d a whale swim, live music and food trucks and more. It\u2019s also the Fort Bragg Beer Festival<\/a> on Saturday, March 21 ($40 at the door), with beer-and-cider tastings and free \u201csafe rides\u201d within the city limit.<\/p>\n

A Soroptimist Craft Fair will take over downtown Fort Bragg on both days with handmade gifts, jewelry, pottery and ironworks. On Friday, the county parks district will stage a campfire storytelling evening with hot cocoa and trivia at MacKerricher State Park. Saturday will see free guided walks at MacKerricher to scout for the migrating leviathans, and on Sunday kids can help paint a giant gray-whale skeleton there.<\/p>\n

\"AnAn underwater view of a 35-foot gray whale taken from a catamaran off Southern California. (Craig DeWitt\/Captain Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari via AP)
\nPoint Arena: March 28-29<\/p>\n

A new addition this year is Point Arena\u2019s fest, with guided hikes of the shoreline and crafts at the Point Arena Library. Note that most of the events are on Saturday, March 28. The Point Arena Lighthouse will have marine-science talks with binoculars for lending<\/a> ($5). In town, a Talking Heads tribute band will rock the Arena Theater<\/a> (an old vaudeville joint) for $25-$30, and local bars and restaurants will offer special whale- and seafood-themed delicacies<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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