2016 festival of whales event program

Inside: maps, Schedules & more

EVenT pROgRamInside: maps,

EVenT pROgRamEVenT pROgRam PRESENTED BY

BY JOHN TOMLINSON, MAYOR, CITY OF DANA POINTOn behalf of Dana Point, I welcome you to

the 45th anniversary of the Dana Point Festival of Whales—one of our city’s marquee events showcasing all Dana Point has to o�er.

Dana Point is home to some of California’s most scenic vistas. In addition to whale watch-ing boat excursions o�ered during the festival, these coastal perches are ideal locations to experience local marine wildlife and the an-nual California gray whale migration.

A visit to the Dana Point Headlands Conser-vation Area is a must. At the Headlands park, visitors will find our city’s nature interpre-tive center where you can learn more about the area’s natural history, local conservation e�orts and the region’s flora and fauna. The Headlands park also has a network of trails providing access to one of the most scenic beaches in the state—Dana Strand.

The annual celebration kicks-o� Saturday, March 5 at 10 a.m. with a parade down Pacific Coast Highway and fair at La Plaza Park. Joining the opening day festival lineup is the inaugural Cardboard Classic Dinghy

Dash, a cardboard boat building contest, race and barbecue. Also on opening night, the city is hosting a viewing of Free Willy: Escape from Pirates Cove at Lantern Bay Park. Fun starts at 6:30 p.m. and the popcorn is free.

This two-weekend extravaganza is full of activities for the whole family including kids’ fishing clinics, a sand sculpting competition, classic car displays, the educational Ocean Awareness Day, hidden treasure Diamond Dig and the ever-popular Whale of a Clam Chow-der Cook-o�.

Another festival highlight is Art in the Park—a showcase that sees local high school students display their artwork and marine-focused science projects alongside profes-sional artists during the festival’s second weekend. Here, student teams will be creating a sidewalk chalk art display and, in an e�ort to utilize art to convey an important environmen-tal message, they will construct a 9-foot-tall by 30-foot-wide gray whale rib cage and spine out of various plastic items to visually share the impact single-use plastics have on the ocean.

The celebration concludes on Sunday, March 13 with the spectacular Concert on the Water featuring performances from The Eliminators, Sapadilla and Garratt Walkin & The Parrotheads.

You can find a full list of events and attrac-tions in the pages of this program. And while you are here, be sure to take advantage of the festival’s free shuttle service and water taxi.

Again, on behalf of all of Dana Point, please enjoy the always fun-filled, educational and exciting Dana Point Festival of Whales!

45th Annual Dana Point Festival of Whales • March 5-6 & 12-13, 2016 • festivalofwhales.com 3

Five years ago stu-dents took over. The Dana Point Festival of Whales logo that is.

For years, the work of renowned artists decorated the annual celebration—artists like Wyland, known internationally for his marine art raising environmental con-servation awareness, and the movie poster illustrator Phil Rob-

erts, who designed posters for films like Bad News Bears, Austin Powers and Encino Man. California’s whale tail license plate co-designer, Bill Atkins, and the surf classic Endless Summer poster illustrator John VanHamersveld, too, have lent their talents to the festival’s logo.

A new tradition arose in 2012 following the resurgence of a 1990s festival logo—a whale fluke, or tail, swimming amid a sea of colorful confetti. That year a bold logo with deep, vibrant shades of yellow, blue and red depicting a fluking whale against Dana Point’s famed Headlands welcomed guests.

Its designer, Carver Moore, bested an impressive field of entries in the festival’s first logo design contest, a challenge featuring only student entries. The 2011 Dana Hills High School graduate became the first in a now-treasured festival tradition that sees local students vying for the ultimate, o�icial logo, prize.

This year’s winner is Camden Butterworth, a Dana Hills sopho-more who utilized skills learned in her multi-media and design class to take her logo entry in an entirely di�erent direction than past festival designs.

“I wanted to go for a cartoonish look with smooth lines and lettering—a simple design that would be fun and di�erent to look at,” she said. Her logo design, the o�icial brand of the 45th

annual event, now appears on advertisements, event programs, online media and festival merchandise.

“I’ve gone to the festival with my family growing up and last year some of my art was on display,” Butterworth said. “But to be this year’s logo designer is a huge honor. To have my logo be among all the famous artists who have done it in the past, as well as the student designs, is amazing.”

Butterworth’s logo, along with those from runners-up Anthony Aguilar (second place), Agustina Cruz (third place), Chloe Gaynor (fourth place) and Fatemah Khanmohammadi (fi¤h place), will be on display throughout the festival’s Art in the Park event—an

art-focused a�air stretching both festival weekends featur-ing artwork from both local students and professionals.

The student art program began in 2011 with Penny Elia, executive director of the festi-val, looking for ways to engage area youth in new and exciting ways. With the help of Natalie Hribar-Kelly, a digital photog-raphy and ceramics teacher at DHHS, the contest was born, and with it student participa-tion in the festival’s Art in the Park showcase and an annual field trip at sea for students to find inspiration.

Every year, students embark on the trip during the heart of

the California gray whale migration season to view the mam-mals in their natural habitat. Sketchbooks and cameras in hand they draw marine life and snap images of their surroundings. Ninety fine arts students attended the first year. Interest among both students and teachers has grown exponentially since. This January, more than 200 students and eight teachers from the

Welcome to the Migration Celebration

SECOND PLACEAnthony Aguilar

THIRD PLACEAgustina Cruz

FOURTH PLACEChloe Gaynor

FIFTH PLACEFatemah Khanmohammadi

FIRST PLACECamden Butterworth

Camden Butterworth, a sophomore at Dana Hills High School, had her design chosen by Dana Point Festival of Whales organizers as the o�icial logo for the 45th annual event. Photo: Andrea Swayne

Dana Hills High School students photograph and sketch wildlife on a whale watching trip to find inspiration for the Dana Point Festival of Whales logo contest. Photo: Allison Jarrell

YoUtHin FOcuSStudent-centric festival program fosters meaningful interaction with community

The Dana Point Festival of Whales brings thousands together each spring to celebrate the Pacific Ocean and the California gray whales’ migration from Baja California lagoons to the Bering Sea. This four-decade-long, ocean-friendly tradition is rooted in environmental awareness, education and fun.

To guarantee that guests for genera-tions to come have the same opportunity to observe and learn about the region’s marine life, festival organizers ask all participating sponsors, exhibitors and guests to be stewards of the ocean—both while enjoying the festival’s merriment and when they return home.

Sponsors, exhibitors and participants

have been keeping the festival’s loca-tion—right at the water’s edge—in mind when planning events for years. In doing so, guests will likely not find balloons, stickers, temporary tattoos, flyers, single-use plastics and other items that could find their way into the ocean.

Festival-goers are also asked to do their part to keep the festival, and local ecosystem, green and clean. A simple way to reduce your impact is to pack a reusable water bottle. Drinking fountains are conveniently located throughout the Dana Point Harbor. Learn more about how you can have a positive impact on the environment during Ocean Awareness Day—Sunday, March 6—at Baby Beach.

KeEpiNg The FEsTivAL cLeAn, GreEN

school’s English, science, math, theater and culinary arts departments boarded whale watching vessels provided by Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching and Captain Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari to observe and work on curriculum created for the outing.

Incorporating STEM subjects—science, technology, English and math—together with the arts to form a STEAM-based edu-cational experience was the perfect way to satisfy the growing interest among teachers and students, Hribar-Kelly said. Elia agreed. The expansion fulfills one of the festival’s core missions: to involve and educate the entire community and highlight the talent of the city’s next generation of leaders.

“Everybody’s heard of STEM as an edu-cational focus, but art is the way to open minds,” Elia said. “It is our responsibility as adults to mentor the next generation and I think the festival gives us a good platform to do that, across all academic subjects. And the festival will now have a whole lineup of student-created entertainment stemming, or should I say ‘STEAMing’ from the original logo program.”

Just as the field trip has expanded, so too has student festival participation.

Students have displayed their artwork alongside professionals at Art in the Park for the last five years. New in 2016, students will not only showcase their art, they will also be creating it. Fine arts students will create sidewalk chalk art during the festi-val’s second weekend.

Marine biology students, too, will fashion art. Using only single-use plastics, students will construct a whale sculpture to visually

convey the negative e�ect such materials, and their pollution, have on the oceans and marine life. This life-sized spine and rib cage—standing 9-feet-tall and 30-feet-wide—will be large enough for guests to walk through.

“We used currents to understand the current situation of plastic pollution in the ocean,” said environmental science teacher Randy Hudson of his students’ studies. “We don’t see it because it gets kind of entrained in these larger-scale currents o�shore … We’re learning about how we are finding whales with plastic in their gut and chemi-cal e�ects in their blood.”

Students will share what they’ve learned through observations of currents, waves and tides—physical factors of the ocean—and how those, along with pollution, e�ect the biological ocean inhabitants.

Dana Hills’ involvement doesn’t end there. Along with the longtime participation of the marching band in the festival parade, an estimated 15 percent of the school’s 2,700 student body—about 400 students—will be involved in the event. In years past, culinary students faced o� against local eateries and organizations in the Whale of a Clam Chowder Cook-o� and baked goods for various festival events.

“What’s really exciting about this year’s expansion is that we’ve created this really well-rounded program that reaches all kinds of kids, with varied interests, and gives them new opportunities to interact with each other and the community in a very meaningful way,” said Rhibar-Kelly.

—Andrea Papagianis. Andrea Swayne and Allison Jarrell contributed to this story.

Photo: Allison Jarrell

PARKINGParking is free at the Dana Point Harbor but is limited to

four hours. Heed this warning: the restriction is strictly en-forced by sheri� ’s deputies. All-day, and hourly, paid parking is available at Doheny State Beach for a discount rate of $1 per hour. Kiosks are located in the park’s lots and the iPhone and Android app, PassportParking Mobile Pay, allows guests to pay and add time with their phone.

SHUTTLEA free shuttle will run throughout the Dana Point Harbor

and Doheny State Beach parking lots each day of the festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The shuttle will service multiple stops along Dana Point Harbor Drive to help festivalgoers get from one area of the festival to another.

PARADE and STREET FAIR: On Saturday, March 5, shuttle services begin at 9 a.m. o� ering guests rides from the harbor and Doheny State Beach to the parade viewing area. The shuttle will continue service from noon to 4 p.m. to and from harbor and Doheny parking lots to La Plaza Park where the Street Fair is held.

WHALE OF A CONCERT: On Sunday, March 15, shuttle services will be extended to 6 p.m. through the Whale of a Concert conclusion.

WATER TAXIGuests can travel from harbor end to end on the Festival of

Whales water taxi—an educational ride featuring interesting facts about Dana Point and gray whales. Daily taxi service will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. between Dana Wharf and the Ocean Institute. Roundtrip tickets cost $5.

In the spirit of conservation, the Dana Point Festival of Whales, Orange County Transportation Authority and Metrolink have once again teamed up to help guests celebrate the California gray whale migration with an af-fordable, hassle-free and environmentally-friendly means of travel.

Throughout both festival weekends OCTA and Metrolink are o� ering a $10 weekend day pass—valid for system-wide travel all day Saturday or Sunday.

To get to the festival, riders can travel to the San Juan Capistrano train station on Metrolink’s OC Line and trans-fer to an OCTA Route 91 bus headed south to Dana Point. Festivalgoers can also bike from San Juan to Dana Point by way of the San Juan Creek trail. This 3-mile trail leads to Doheny State Beach.

Weekend day passes, providing roundtrip transporta-tion and transfers all-day Saturday and Sunday, are available at Metrolink ticket machines. Log on to www.octa.net/whales for full festival-transit schedules.

In addition to enjoying tra� ic-free festival travel, mass-transit riders can also receive special o� ers during the festival by showing their Metrolink ticket, OCTA bus pass or 91 Express Lanes transponder.

HERE ARE THE FOLLOWING EXCLUSIVE OFFERS:BOAT RENTALS Be your own captain and cruise the harbor on a 21-foot

SAVE ENVIRONMENT, CASH WITH MASS TRANSIT TRAVEL

TraVEliNg ABoUt tHe fEStiVAl

electric boat from Vintage Marina Partners. Receive 50 percent o� your rental. Rentals are available from 9 a.m.to 4 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Minimum one-hour rental fee required. Reserve by calling 949.496.6177.

DINING AND DRINK SPECIALS • Buy one premium co� ee beverage at The Co� ee Import-ers, located in the Dana Point Harbor’s Mariners Village on the water’s edge, and receive a second one free. • Snag a seat in Harpoon Henry’s spacious dining room with panoramic harbor views to receive your complimen-tary chef’s choice appetizer with an entrée purchase. One per table. • Enjoy a free side salad with each sandwich purchase at the dockside eatery, Proud Mary’s Restaurant. • Receive a free house appetizer of the chef’s choosing with the purchase of an entrée at Wind & Sea Restaurant. Limit one per table.

OVERNIGHT STAYS Don’t miss a minute of the action! Enjoy a weekend get-away in the heart of the harbor with a special $79 a night rate at the Dana Point Marina Inn. Reservations required. Mention the OCTA/Metrolink rate when booking. Call 800.255.6843 or email [email protected].

WATER TAXI RIDES Take in the sights and sounds of the festival aboard a harbor water taxi from Dana Wharf to the Ocean Institute for just $3 roundtrip. Taxi service runs daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHALE WATCHING EXCURSIONS Receive a 50-percent discount o� a whale watching trip with Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching. Reservations are required. Confirm your trip by calling 949.496.5764 or by visiting www.danawharf.com.

45th Annual Dana Point Festival of Whales • March 5-6 & 12-13, 2016 • festivalofwhales.com6

EveNt ScHedULeSUNDAYMARCH 615 WHALE OF A SAND SCULPTING COMPETITION8 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Baby Beach

4 LILY: A GRAY WHALE TRIBUTE 8:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m. Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari

16 WHALE WALK PAINTING9 a.m.–2 p.m. Doheny State Beach

6 DANA POINT FINE ARTS ASSOCIATION SHOW & SALE9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Harbor walkway near Mariners Village

3 WYLAND ART LESSONS IN THE WILD10 a.m.–10:45 a.m. Ocean Adventure Catamaran, Dana Wharf Dock

13 MARINE MAMMAL LECTURE SERIES10 a.m.–11 a.m. Harpoon Henry’s

7 SAILING & STAND-UP PADDLING CLINIC 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Westwind Sailing, OC Sailing & Event Center

11 SO CAL WOODIES10 a.m.–4 p.m. Harbor Walkway

11 THE LEGENDARY CORVETTE10 a.m.–4 p.m. Harbor Walkway

12 ART IN THE PARK10 a.m.–5 p.m. Island Way and Dana Point Harbor Drive

15 OCEAN AWARENESS DAY11 a.m.–4 p.m. Baby Beach Park

15 DIAMOND DIG11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Baby Beach

15 WHALE OF A RUBBER DUCKY DERBY11 a.m.–2 p.m. Baby Beach

15 WHALE OF A BBQ 11:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Baby Beach Park

10 HARBOR MUSIC SERIES Noon–3 p.m. Dana Wharf, Mariners Village

3 KIDS FISHING CLINIC AND TRIPNoon–12:30 p.m.; 12:45–5:15 p.m. Dana Wharf Docks

8 WALKING TOUR OF TOWN CENTER2 p.m. Blue Lantern Street/Pacific Coast Highway

3 DRONE AND GO PRO DEMO 2 p.m.–4:30 p.m. Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching

SATURDAYMARCH 12 16 WHALE OF A BEACH CLEANUP 9 a.m.–Noon Doheny State Beach

6 DANA POINT FINE ARTS ASSOCIATION SHOW & SALE9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Harbor walkway near Mariners Village


13 MARINE MAMMAL LECTURE SERIES 10 a.m.–11 a.m. Harpoon Henry’s

15 5TH ANNUAL CLAM CHOWDER COOK OFF 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Baby Beach Park

11 BRITISH INVASION10 a.m.–4 p.m. Harbor Walkway



4 CAPTAIN DAVE’S CARNIVAL Noon–2 p.m. Dolphin Deck near Baby Beach


5 WHALE’S TALE TALLSHIP SAILING ADVENTURE12:15 p.m.–3:30 p.m. Ocean Institute


9 DRONES OVER WHALES & DOLPHINS2:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m. Dana Point Yacht Club

SUNDAYMARCH 136 DANA POINT FINE ARTS ASSOCIATION SHOW & SALE9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Harbor walkway near Mariners Village



11 BRITISH INVASION10 a.m.–4 p.m. Harbor Walkway



16 MOBILE MARINE MAMMAL MUSEUM 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Doheny State Beach Visitor Center


15 CONCERT ON THE WATERNoon–5 p.m. Baby Beach

15 WHALE OF A CONCERT BBQ AND SPIRITS GARDENNoon–5 p.m. Baby Beach

3 KIDS FISHING CLINIC AND TRIPNoon–12:30 p.m.; 12:45–5:15 p.m. Dana Wharf Docks


5 OCEAN INSTITUTE – OCEAN EDUCATION CENTEROpen daily during the festival 10 a.m–4 p.m.

MARCH 12–13

CAPTAIN DAVE’S DOLPHIN & WHALE WATCHING SAFARI24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.488.2828, dolphinsafari.com

DANA WHARF WHALE WATCHING34675 Golden Lantern, 800.979.3370, danawharf.com

OCEAN INSTITUTE24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.496.2274, ocean-institute.org

Whale watching excursions are available every day of the festival at these Dana Point businesses

WEEKEND TWO

SATURDAY MARCH 56 DANA POINT FINE ARTS ASSOCIATION SHOW & SALE9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Harbor walkway near Mariners Village

1 FESTIVAL OF WHALES PARADE10 a.m. Pacific Coast Highway

15 CARDBOARD CLASSIC DINGHY DASH & EXPO 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Baby Beach



2 STREET FAIR 10 a.m.–3 p.m. La Plaza Park

11 SO CAL WOODIES 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Harbor walkway

11 THE LEGENDARY CORVETTE10 a.m.–4 p.m. Harbor Walkway


9 JEFFREY ADAM MEMORIAL SAILING REGATTA 11:15 a.m. Dana Point Yacht Club

15 WHALE OF A BBQ 11:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Baby Beach Park


5 WHALE’S TALE TALLSHIP SAILING ADVENTURE12:15 p.m.–3:30 p.m. Ocean Institute

8 WALKING TOUR OF TOWN CENTER2 p.m. Blue Lantern Street/Pacific Coast Highway


14 MOVIE IN THE PARK FREE WILLY: ESCAPE FROM PIRATES COVE6:30 p.m. Lantern Bay Park

5 OCEAN INSTITUTE – OCEAN EDUCATION CENTEROpen daily during the festival 10 a.m–4 p.m.

WEEKEND ONE MARCH 5–6

WHALE WATCHING

45th Annual Dana Point Festival of Whales • March 5-6 & 12-13, 2016 • festivalofwhales.com 7

Arts and CultureART IN THE PARK March 5, 6, 12, 13; 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Regional artists and students from Dana Hills High School will display their unique paintings, ceramics, photography and more at the corners of Island Way and Dana Point Harbor Drive. Live entertainment all day. 12

DANA POINT FINE ARTS ASSOCIATION SHOW & SALE March 5, 6, 12, 13; 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. A walk along the Harbor Boardwalk—along the Mariner’s Village boat docks and near The Co�ee Importers—sees the work of local award-winning artists on display. Peruse or purchase watercolors, oil paint-ings and more. A portion of the nonprofit’s festival proceeds will benefit local high school students. 6

WALKING TOUR OF TOWN CENTER March 5, 6; 2 p.m. Join the Historical Soci-ety on a tour of Dana Point’s notable down-town to hear stories of the city’s origin, buildings, homes and landmarks built from 1924 to 1939. Meet your guide at the Blue Lantern Café—Coastal Kitchen—at 34091 Pacific Coast Highway. For group reserva-tions, call 949.248.8121. 8

Cardboard Classic and Sailing RegattaCARDBOARD CLASSIC DINGHY DASH March 5; 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Experience the exhilaration of racing your own watercra¤. Dinghy Dash teams will work all morning long designing and building their cra¤s from just cardboard and duct tape before competing in age divi-sions in the a¤ernoon. $25 per team. Materials supplied. Inaugural event includes vendor booths, barbecue and more. 15

JEFFREY ADAM MEMORIAL SAILING REGATTA March 5Dana Point’s yacht clubs, sail-ing schools and Sea Scouts come together to honor Je�rey Adam, a local 22-year-old who died from a rare bacterial meningitis, with his favorite pas-time—sailing. Dinghy sailors of all ages are welcome. Spectator cruises, lasting 80 min-utes, are open to the public. They depart at 11:15 a.m., noon and 1:15 p.m. 9

Captain Dave’s Whale Watching and MoreDRONES OVER WHALES & DOLPHINS March 12; 2:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m. Discover how innovative drone technology is help-ing local marine experts learn more about dolphins and whales than ever before and see how the aerial tools can be helpful in entanglement rescues. 9

LILY: A GRAY WHALE TRIBUTE March 6; 8:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m. Capt. Dave Anderson welcomes guests aboard his 62-foot re-search and rescue vessel Lily—named for a gray whale who became entangled—to the public for a free tour, lecture and signing of Anderson’s book—“Lily, A Gray Whale’s Odyssey.” 4

UNDER THE SEA CARNIVAL March 12; Noon–2 p.m. All members of the pod are invited to experience an under the sea adven-ture on land. Join Capt. Dave for an a¤ernoon of educational fun complete with games, cra¤s, prizes, facing painting and an underwa-ter simulation at the Dolphin Deck. 4

Classic Car Displays

BRITISH INVASION March 12, 13; 10 a.m.–

4 p.m. Britain’s greatest 1960s exports, aside from James Bond and The Beatles, classic sports cars are on display along the Harbor walkway. View Austin-

Healey, Jaguar, Morgan and Triumph sports cars up close

throughout the weekend. 11

SO CAL WOODIES March 5, 6; 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Meet loyal owners of Califor-nia’s quintessential cars who preserve a piece of the state’s rich surf culture history. The National Woodie Club’s area branch presents wood-paneled, chrome-finished Fords, Buicks and more along the Harbor walkway. 11

THE LEGENDARY VETTE March 5, 6; 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Chevrolet’s iconic American homegrown sports car, the Corvette, stars in this Harbor walkway display. Pacific Coast Corvettes presents the car that has captured enthusiasts and casual drivers for seven model generations. 11

Dana Wharf Whale Watching and MoreDRONE AND GOPRO DEMO March 5, 6, 12, 13; 2p.m.–4:30 p.m. Learn how Dana Wharf’s crew operates drones safely and respectfully to capturing stunning images and videos of local marine wildlife during a 2.5-hour whale watching excursion. 3

KIDS FISHING CLINIC AND TRIP March 6, 13; Noon–12:30 p.m. Young guests will learn how to cast, catch and reel in fish from local ex-perts at this dockside clinic. A free fishing trip, including equipment, for kids 12 and under will follow from 12:45 p.m.–5:15 p.m. Adults are $46 plus license and equipment. 3

MARINE MAMMAL LECTURE SERIES March 5, 6, 12, 13; 10 a.m.–11 a.m. Local marine biologists and guest experts share recent findings on marine life at this continental breakfast at Harpoon Henry’s. Lectures are free. A 2.5-hour whale watching trip is o�ered right a¤er. Whale watching tickets are $55 for adults and $35 for children and seniors. Speakers include: Lei Lani Stelle (March 5); Doug Thompson (March 6); Kirsten Donald (March 12); and Todd Mansur (March 13). 13

WYLAND ART LESSONS IN THE WILD March 5, 6, 12, 13;

10 a.m.–10:45 a.m. Learn how renowned wildlife artist Wyland creates his paintings and sculptures at this dock-side video presentation and art lesson. Kids can enter

their artwork to be judged by Wyland for a grand prize.

Cost is $5 per child. Participants receive a free same-day whale

watching excursion with paid adult ticket for $45. 3

Diamond DigDIAMOND DIG March 6; 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Ahoy Mate! Come dressed in your pirate best to loot buried treasures in the Baby Beach sands. Riches include jewelry, toys and more. Entry into this Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club hosted event costs $10 per child. All proceeds benefit local children’s charities. 15

Doheny State BeachMOBILE MARINE MAMMAL MUSEUM March 13; 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Gain an ap-preciation for the sea’s creatures at this display of marine mammal artifacts at the Doheny State Beach Visitors Center. Free, one-hour parking is available at the state beach for mobile museum visitors. 16

WHALE OF A BEACH CLEANUP March 12; 9 a.m.–noon Toast to the coast and help keep a treasured California locale pristine by lending a hand in this annual cleanup of Doheny State Beach. Meet at lifeguard headquarters to learn how you can do your part to maintain coastal resources all year-round. Bring work gloves and a recyclable

bag or bucket. Free shuttle available from harbor. 16

WHALE WALK PAINTING March 6; 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Help add a 75-foot long fin whale mural to Doheny’s whale walk—featuring life-sized paintings of the

world’s largest mammals: the gray, blue, humpback and

orca whales. Call the Doheny State Beach Interpretive Associa-

tion for more information at: 949.544.4627. 16

Food Fun WHALE OF A BBQ March 5 & 6; 11:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Barbecued hot dogs, hamburgers and other treats will be served. Stand will be set up adjacent to Baby Beach. 15

WHALE OF A CLAM CHOWDER COOK-OFF March 12; 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Festival-goers, prepare your taste buds. Local eateries and clubs are battling it out in a clam chowder throw down benefitting the non-profit organization Fish for Life that takes children with special needs on fishing excursions. So stop by, sample each entry and vote for your favorite. Cost is $10. There will also be a beer & wine garden available to guests 21 and over. 15

WHALE OF A CONCERT BBQ March 13; Noon–5 p.m. Enjoy barbecued favorites on the sands of Baby Beach while local bands take to the floating stage to close out the 45th annual Festival of Whales. Barbecue includes a spirits’ garden for guests over 21. Valid driver’s license must be pre-sented. 15

EveNtS & ATtRacTIonS


# = Event location; See map on page 6.

(Cont. on page 10)

Diamond Dig

Traveling day and night, the California gray whale makes one of the mammal world’s longest annual migrations. The more than 10,000-mile, roundtrip migration see the species travel from the icy waters of the Bering and Chukchi seas to the warm lagoons of Baja California each fall and returning in spring. During the peak springtime travel, 40 to 50 of these majestic mammals pass by Dana Point each day using the famed 200-foot Headland’s cli�s as a migratory-path landmark. Visitors can head out on a maritime excursion with Captain Dave, Dana Wharf and the Ocean Institute throughout the 45th annual Dana Point Festival of Whales to learn more about the gray whales’ migration and other local marine life from knowledgeable captains, naturalists and researchers. Gray whales, dolphins and more can also be experienced by land from the Dana Point Headlands Conservation Area. The park includes a three-mile public trail system with scenic overlooks and beach access.

Dana Wharf Whale Watching34675 Golden Lantern, 800.979.3370, danawharf.com Climb aboard a family-owned Dana Wharf vessel to experience Orange County’s original whale watching with expert captains and certified naturalists detailing the gray whales’ movements. These 2-hour excursions depart each hour on the hour from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Price is $45 for adults, $35 for seniors and military members, $29 for children 3-12 and free for kids under 2. Special 8 a.m. trips, 4 p.m. sunset cruises and catamaran ad-ventures o�ered throughout the festival’s two weekends. The Dana Wharf marine mam-mal “rain check” ensures a good show of whales and dolphins or the next trip is free.

Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.488.2828, dolphinsafari.com See what it’s like to swim with dolphins and whales aboard one of Captain Dave’s hi-tech catamarans, featuring eye-spy dolphin nets and state-of-the-art research equip-ment. On the catamaran sailboat, enter the eye-to-eye viewing pod, hear dolphins below the surface and explore marine artifacts in the micro-museum. Safaris are never crowded with just 49 guests, and are all topped with a special treat—Mrs. Capt. Dave’s triple fudge brownies. Tickets for these 2.5-hour trips are $65 per adult, $45 for children 1 to 12 and $20 for infants. Departure times vary. Call or visit Capt. Dave’s website to book tickets.

Ocean Institute24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.496.2274, ocean-institute.org Join the Ocean Institute’s skilled and expert crew on a 2.5-hour cruise aboard the marine educational vessel, R/V Sea Explorer, to glimpse into the mysterious world of the whales and dolphins that call Pacific waters home. These 2.5-hour learning-adventure trips are o�ered at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. throughout the festival. Each sea excursion in-cludes hands-on learning activities for kids onboard. Trip cost is $45 for adults, $35 for seniors and military members, $25 for children 4-14 and free for children 3 and under. Weekend admission to the institute is included with each ticket purchase.

Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center34558 Scenic Drive, 949.542-4755, danapoint.org Walk along this blu�-top preserve’s three-miles of trails to view marine-mammal migra-tions from above. The Dana Point Headlands o�ers coastal switchback trails from Dana Point Harbor to Dana Strand Beach complete with sweeping panoramic views and remote desert landscape. The Nature Interpretive Center is open each day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Trails are accessible from 7 a.m. to sunset daily.

Movie in the ParkFREE WILLY: ESCAPE FROM PIRATES COVE March 5; 6:30 p.m. The city of Dana Point hosts an outdoor screening of the latest Free Willy installment at Lantern Bay Park. Bring lawn chairs, blankets and a picnic dinner for this night under the stars. Free popcorn. Beverages and snacks available for purchase. 14

MusicHARBOR MUSIC SERIES March 5, 6, 12, 13; Noon–3 p.m. The Dana Point Harbor Association presents live entertainment in the Dana Wharf Court-yard and grassy area near Mariner’s Village throughout the festival. 10

CONCERT ON THE WATER March 13; Noon–5 p.m. Close out the year’s Festival of Whales with live music and dancing at Baby Beach. Local bands take the floating stage all day long. A barbecue and a spir-its’ garden for guests 21 and older round out the celebration. Line-up includes: an opening from Molly Bergman, then old school surf from The Eliminators at noon; reggae from Sapadilla at 1:30 p.m.; and a Jimmy Bu�et tribute from and Gar-ratt Walkin & The Parrotheads starting at 3:30 p.m. 15

Ocean Awareness DayOCEAN AWARENESS DAY March 6; 11 a.m.–4 p.m. The Dana Point Harbor As-sociation presents interactive displays, demonstrations and live entertainment highlighting area envi-ronmental programs and ocean-related issues. Event is located at Baby Beach. 15

Ocean Institute Whale Watching and MoreWHALE’S TALE TALLSHIP SAILING ADVENTURE March 5, 12; 12:15 p.m. From “devil fish” to “friendliest whale” travel through time to discover how man’s perceptions of the gray whale have changed. Then, set out to sea aboard a historic tallship to gain insights into humans’ evolving relationship with the ocean. 5

ParadeFESTIVAL OF WHALES PARADE March 5; 10 a.m. Thousands of local participants open the 45th annual Dana Point Festival of Whales in a lively parade along Pacific Coast Highway to celebrate the gray whales’ “Magical Migration” with floats, giant balloons, horses, vintage

cars, bands and more. Route travels PCH south from Selva Road to Golden Lan-tern. Free shuttle available from Harbor to parade viewing area. This year’s grand marshal is the comedian and actress Rita Rudner. 1

Rubber Ducky Derby WHALE OF A RUBBER DUCKY DERBY

March 6; 11 a.m.–2 p.m. The Dana Point Women’s Club puts a fun spin on a

classic rubber ducky race. Cost is $6 per duck or $10 for two.

Funds go toward children’s summer programming at the Dana Point Library. Prizes awarded to first, second and third place. 15

Sand Sculpting Fun

WHALE OF A SAND SCULPTING COMPETI-TION March 6; Sculpting begins, 8 a.m.; Judging, 2:30 p.m. Bring your buckets, sculpting tools and imagination to Baby Beach to create ocean creatures, pirates, woodies and more in this annual contest hosted by OC Parks. Twenty plots available. No entry fee. 15

Sailing and Paddling

SAILING RIDES March 6, 12, 13; 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Take to harbor waters and learn how to steer and sail a Carpi 14 on these half-hour educa-

tional sessions. Cost $15 per boat with a three-person

maximum. Proceeds benefit the Dana Point Aquatic Foundation’s

at-risk youth and adaptive-boating programs. 7

STAND-UP PADDLING CLINICS March 5, 6, 12, 13; 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Experience the SUP craze firsthand during these 45-minute on-the-water clinics. $10 per person. For participants ages 12 and up—12 to 14 year olds must be accompanied by an adult. Lifejackets are provided. 7

Street FairFESTIVAL OF WHALES STREET

FAIR March 5; 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Visit La Plaza Park a¤er the parade for the fun-filled Whales and Tails Wag-a-thon and fair hosted by

the Pet Project Foundation and Dana Point Chamber of

Commerce. Event includes: live entertainment, food trucks, carnival

games, more than 70 booths, a pet costume parade, farmers market and more. Free shuttles are available both to and from the Harbor. 2

*All events are dependent on weather.

WhALe wATcHinG


EveNtS & ATtRacTIonS(Cont. from page 8)

Photo: Allison Jarrell

Top: Randy Hudson, an environmental science teacher at Dana Hills High School and past recipient of Capistrano Unified School District’s “Teacher of the Year” award, instructs students on an annual field-study trip to Baja California. Courtesy photo Above: With a li¤ from its mother, a young California gray whale gets close to a panga boat in Ojo de Liebre—or Scammon’s Lagoon—located in Mexico’s Baja California Sur about 450 miles south of Tijuana. Photo: Randy Hudson

BY RANDY HUDSON, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE TEACHER AT DANA HILLS HIGH SCHOOL

This year, the National Park Service celebrates its centennial—100 years of conservation that sprung from a novel but powerful idea: to protect wildlife and habi-tat for future generations.

This idea may have started in America but has since morphed into a global e�ort to es-tablish parklands and legislate on behalf of endangered species. It has even blossomed into entirely new fields of study. One of the sentinels of this early movement was John Muir—an author, naturalist and environ-mental philosopher—who had an uncanny beat on how the natural world functioned and an understanding that everything in the universe is ultimately connected.

Nearly 150 years ago, Charles Scammon sailed past Dana Point in his initial pursuit of the gray whales to their Baja California, Mexico nursery grounds in Ojo de Liebre. The result of this voyage, and more in the following years, decimated the east Pacific population as whalers e�ectively removed two generations of whales from the oceans in less than a decade.

Numbers remained low for the next century when, in the spirit of conservation, the United States enacted the Marine Mam-mal Protection Act. This federal legislation, coupled with the protection of the gray whales’ nursery grounds in Baja, has had a profoundly positive impact on the species.

Census counts performed in the same lagoons that once ran red, boast record numbers of gray whale adults and calves for the last three years.

Having ventured to the famed Scam-mon’s Lagoon twice in recent years to interact with the whales has proven to be an amazing experience for my family. Here, mothers proudly display their young calves to eager onlookers, o¤en swimming along-side panga boats and occasionally propping their calf upward where watchers may be introduced to the new addition. My children regale as they recount their own interac-tions and are gi¤ed with memories I hope will last well into their adult lives.

This month we celebrate the 45th annual Dana Point Festival of Whales, an interpre-tive-education event which shares in the same spirit of conservation. We mark the return of the gray whales as they venture north from the lagoons of Baja to the Bering Sea, and more symbolically a return from their drastically low numbers.

It’s a success story that we use to remind ourselves of where we once were, how we recognized the folly of our ways and recti-fied the issue. But did we?

Gray Whales may no longer be hunted in North America, but they still face a formi-dable foe—us.

They migrate more than 10,000 miles an-nually through an ocean in transition, one being altered by human activity and thus continues to present more obstacles to their survival.

Issues of plastic pollution are an ex-ample. Single use plastic items of conve-nience enter our oceans on the order of millions of tons per year and are turning up in carcasses of wildlife from fish to birds to gray whales. The synthetic estrogen-like compounds that adhere to both the in-gested plastic and subsequently the whale’s blubber have the power to render a species extinct by e�ectively sterilizing its reproduc-tive system.

Recent studies show the sheer volume of the non-biodegradable, prey-like debris outnumbers plankton on the order of 10 to 1. And that’s just plastic. Human induced climate change is warming the surface waters, altering the pH of our oceans and redistributing organisms and the food they require to survive.

Unfortunately, these impacts are the obvious ones to list. One must think on the level of John Muir to identify those minute and obscure connections in order to truly grasp the magnitude of this new reality.

So, as we celebrate the return of the California gray whales and feel the inspira-tion that many have experienced over the years to make a positive impact on their lives, perhaps we should focus on making changes to our own lives first.

“When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” —John Muir

The SEa Is CalLInG anD we MUsT liStENOur choices, no matter how small, have an impact on our environment

The California gray whale landed on the endangered species list in the early 1970s. Around the same time, Don Hansen—a local captain running whale watching trips for high school students—moved his small sportfishing company from the San Clemente Pier to the not-yet-opened Dana Point Harbor.

A¤er years of heavy hunting by the native peoples in Alaska and Serbia, the gray whale population dwindled—nearing extinction. The National Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act worked to change that. The acts estab-lished safeguards to protect the whales’ more than 5,000-mile migration corridor—from the Bering Sea to Baja California Sur. The Mexican government, too, took action and gave sanctuary status to the lagoons whales migrate to each winter.

The population grew over the next two decades. In 1994, with an estimated popu-lation of 21,000, the California gray whale was removed from the endangered list. It was the first marine being to be delisted.

During this time, Dana Point became the West’s whale watching epicenter.

Hansen’s harbor move brought about the founding of Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching. To celebrate the com-pany’s opening, Hansen and late Orange County and Dana Point historian Doris Walker launched the first—and unnamed—Dana Point Festival of Whales. One year saw the festival really get o� the ground.

The festival and gray whale population are symbiotically linked—each growing with the passing years.

“Gray whales are exceeding expectations. Every year we see record a¤er record being set in terms of population,” said Donna Kalez, Hansen’s daughter and general manager of Dana Wharf, who sits on the festival’s governing committee. “It is super exciting. Awareness of whales and dol-phins is at the highest it has ever been. It is something to be proud of. Dana Point can be proud of the awareness it has brought to whales and dolphins.”

From humble beginnings, the festival has transformed into a two-weekend educa-

tional event. It has maintained its origins, however. This festival is grassroots—both organized and executed by the commu-nity, for the community.

Each day, each event, members of the local fold help make this festival possible.

The city of Dana Point kicks the celebra-tion o� with a parade down Pacific Coast Highway—a hallmark event that sees hun-dreds of residents, students and organiza-tions take part. Right a¤er the parade, the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce and Pet Project Foundation welcome guests to the annual street fair at La Plaza Park.

Throughout the festival local organiza-tions such as the Dana Point Historical Society, Dana Point Fine Arts Association, Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club, Doheny State Beach Interpretive Associa-tion, Fish for Life, Ocean Institute, Dana Point Harbor Association, Dana Point Women’s Club, Mariner Sea Scouts, Dana Point Aquatic Foundation, Orange County Parks, City of Dana Point, and more host events for the whole family.

“We call it “festival synergy”—the working together of two or more things to produce a result greater than the sum of their individual e�ects,” said Penny Elia, executive director of the Festival of Whales. “Local organizations don’t just work on their own event, they interact with each other and create an incompa-rable synergy that can be seen and felt not only throughout the two weekends but during the year-long planning process for this huge event.”

Festival marks 45 years of education, celebration

A Community Tradition

shoP & dIne danA Point haRBoR

2016 festival of whales event program

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