15th Annual Whalefest Monterey to be held on Saturday and Sunday, April 12 and 13, 2025 on and around Old Fisherman’s Wharf and the Custom House Plaza – Monterey State Historic Park

“The Monterey Bay Whale Watching Capital of the World”  

Save the date for the 15th Annual Whalefest Monterey to be held on Saturday and Sunday, April 12 and 13, 2025 from 10 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 includes fun and educational activities for all ages, musicians, and dozens of fascinating marine-related interactive exhibits by numerous local and national organizations. In addition, we plan to have several research and rescue boats available for public tours.

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).

There will be the return of the traditional Symposium with world-renowned marine experts and historians this year and is planned to be held in the state-of-the-art theatre at the Monterey History & Art Stanton Center, 5 Custom House Plaza. The interactive marine-themed exhibits will be interesting for all ages (see list below). An array of live music and engaging activities such as Gyotaku, Scrimshaw, and the “almost famous” Abalone Races and more will be available on both April 12^th and 13^th on Old Fisherman’s Wharf.

Be sure to check out the prior Symposium presentations from 2024 and earlier at Whalefest.org and on the Whalefest YouTube channel.

Whalefest Monterey will feature many educational and engaging displays from local, regional and national non-profits, including many of these participants from 2024:

Past exhibitors included:

American Cetacean Society • California Coastal Commission • California Department of Fish and Wildlife • California Killer Whale Project • California State Parks • Camp SEA Lab • Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve • California Department of Fish and Game • Sustainable Monterey • Hericane Rowing / World’s Toughest Row • Hi’ilani ‘O Ke Kai OCC • Hopkins Marine Station at Stanford University • Marine Life Studies • Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) • Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust • Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) • Monterey Museum of Art • Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club • Monterey Public Library • Monterey Waterkeeper • Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History • Paul Watson Foundation • • Santa Catalina Middle School • Save Our Shores • Save the Whales • Sea Otter Savvy • Seafloor Science ROV • • Surfrider Foundation • U.S. Coast Guard Monterey • Ventana Wildlife Society • Western Flyer Foundation

(Note: Subject to change and new exhibitors are added every year!

Whale watchers come from around the world to view hundreds of whales, orcas, otters, 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.

Sponsorships are available for the 15^th Annual Whalefest Monterey on April 12-13, 2025. Please contact Mary Alice Cerrito Fettis at [email protected] 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.

For more information go to www.montereywharf.com or www.whalefest.org or call 831-238-0777 or email [email protected]

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