Dana Point Harbor Celebrates 55th Annual Festival of Whales

The long-running event honors the gray whale migration with parades, carnivals, and other family-friendly activities.

Mar. 2, 2026 at 6:39pm

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Dana Point Harbor is hosting the 55th annual Festival of Whales this weekend, a three-day celebration of the gray whale migration. The event features a parade, carnival, lectures, art lessons, beach cleanups, and other activities to mark the occasion. The festival was founded over 50 years ago by Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching owner Don Hansen, who is credited with bringing whale watching to Orange County.

Why it matters

The Festival of Whales is a beloved tradition that has brought the Dana Point community together for over five decades to honor the annual gray whale migration. The event highlights the area's status as the 'Dolphin & Whale Watching Capital of the World' and celebrates the legacy of the festival's founder, Don Hansen, who pioneered whale watching in the region.

The details

The festival kicks off on Friday, March 6th with a 'Welcoming of the Whales Ceremony' and the opening of the Festival of Whales Carnival, which runs through the weekend. On Saturday, the Festival of Whales Magical Migration Parade returns with giant marine mammal balloons, marching bands, and colorful floats. Other weekend events include art lessons, marine mammal lectures, a clam chowder cookout, and a beach cleanup. Attendees can also book local whale watching excursions during the festival.

  • The Festival of Whales runs from Friday, March 6 to Sunday, March 8, 2026.
  • The Festival of Whales Carnival is open from 5-9pm on Friday, noon-9pm on Saturday, and noon-8pm on Sunday.
  • The Festival of Whales Magical Migration Parade takes place at 10am on Saturday, March 7th.
  • The 'Stand Up To Trash Beach Cleanup and Lunch & Learn' is scheduled for 9am on Sunday, March 8th.
  • The Classic Car Displays and Antique & Classic Boat Show runs from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, March 8th.

The players

Donna Kalez

Chair of the Festival of Whales Foundation and owner of Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching.

Don Hansen

Founder of the Festival of Whales and Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, credited as the first to host whale watching in Orange County.

Acjachemen Nation

Indigenous people who have lived on the Orange County coast for over 10,000 years and will participate in the 'Welcoming of the Whales Ceremony'.

Wyland

Marine muralist who will lead 'Wyland Art Lessons in the Wild' at Dana Wharf Whale Watching.

Alisa Schulman-Janiger

Whale expert who will present at the Marine Mammal Lecture Series.

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What they’re saying

“Reaching the 55th anniversary of the Festival of Whales is incredibly meaningful for our family and for the entire Dana Point community.”

— Donna Kalez, Chair of the Festival of Whales Foundation and owner of Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching

“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 stands as the longest‑running annual whale festival in the world.”

— Donna Kalez, Chair of the Festival of Whales Foundation and owner of Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching

The takeaway

The Festival of Whales has endured for over 50 years, becoming the longest-running annual whale festival in the world. It continues to honor the region's rich marine life and the legacy of its pioneering founder, showcasing Dana Point's identity as the 'Dolphin & Whale Watching Capital of the World'.