Festival of Whales Event Program

INSIDE:

Sometimes a gray whale will reward a boatload of admirers by “spyhopping.” This magnifi cent mammal surprised whale watchers aboard a Dana Wharf boat off the coast near San Onofre. Photo by Lawrence Hartmann

Page 3 | 2011 Festival of Whales Event Program | www.danapointtimes.com

BY SCOTT SCHOEFFEL, MAYOR OF DANA POINT

he whales are back and so is the Dana Point Festival of Whales. The Festival gets better each year, with activi-ties and events to entertain and enlighten all ages.

I encourage you all to come and join in the celebration.The Dana Point Harbor and Festival of Whales both cele-

brate their 40th anniversary this year. I would like to congratu-late the Festival founders and organizers on creating our city’s signature event and keeping it going for nearly half a century!

It all starts on Pacifi c Coast Highway with the Festival of Whales Parade on Saturday, March 5, at 10 a.m. Dana Point welcomes our 2011 Celebrity Grand Marshal Henry DiCarlo from KTLA morning weather television. The parade will also feature Community Grand Marshals Brad and Judy Brand-meier, Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year. Minute-man Press and Citizen of the Year, my deserving colleague on the City Council, Lara Anderson. After the parade, come to the Whale of a Block Party at La Plaza Park for family fun with rides, food, live music, education and crafts.

Activities are planned for each day of the two-weekend Festival of Whales to appeal to many different interests:

Explore Marine Life Become well acquainted with our wealth of marine resources through whale watching excur-sions, fi shing, a marine mammal lecture series, the moving and informative Lily the Whale story and seashore interpretive hikes. Ocean and environmental programs are showcased through interactive displays, demonstrations and entertain-ment at Ocean Awareness Day on Sunday, March 6.

Art, History, Music and Education Interested in local his-tory? The Dana Point Historical Society will be conducting walking tours each of the four weekend days. The Doheny State Beach Mobile Marine Mammal Museum will display authentic marine artifacts for visitors to gain an appreciation of our magnifi cent sea life on Sunday, March 13. Art exhibits will be on display in various locations throughout the Festival and “Shark Tale” will be shown at the Movie on the Beach on Saturday, March 5. The Whale of a Concert will close out the Festival on Sunday, March 13, with live bands performing on a fl oating stage accompanied by a sumptuous BBQ feast.

Car Shows After watching them cruise through the parade, the rare collection of Woodies, Nash Metropolitans and Hot Rods can be seen up close along the Harbor walkways.

Land and Sea Sports Whale watching cruises, sailing rides, canoe races, and “on-the-water” stand-up paddling (SUP) clinics will be featured at various times throughout the Festi-val. Additionally, the Mickey Muñoz Mongoose Cup Stand-Up Paddleboard Relay Race, Fun Paddle and Whale of a Beach Cleanup on Saturday, March 12, provide active ways to enjoy the water and help improve our marine environment.

Grunion Run The 10K, 5K Run/Walk and Kids’ 1K Run will be staged on a fast, fl at and fun race course along Doheny State Beach in the early morning of Saturday, March 12, fol-lowed by a Whale of a Pancake Breakfast. For more informa-tion, go to www.festivalofwhalesgrunionrun.com.

Family Fun Bring the whole family to the Whale of a Rubber Ducky Race, Baby Beach Sand Sculpting and Diamond Dig on Sunday, March 6. Parents and kids can also have a great time together at Captain Dave’s Kids’ Carnival on Saturday, March 12.

Whether you want to splash in the ocean or enjoy from the land, the Festival provides many opportunities to experience our maritime heritage and discover more about our treasured coast. For a daily calendar of events, music, artist schedules and shuttle stop information, turn the pages of this Festival Program or log on to www.festivalofwhales.com. The city web-site, at www.danapoint.org, is also a great source of informa-tion about our beautiful city of Dana Point.

t’s time to hail the whale again as Califor-nia’s largest visitors are staging their annual winter parade close to the Orange County

shore. During the months these thousands of gray whales are migrating from the Arctic’s Bering Sea to Baja California lagoons, just as many human visitors from all over the West

(and beyond) rendezvous with them out of Dana Point Harbor. From December through spring, Dana Point Harbor’s

ocean-going fl eets turn to whale watching, possibly tak-ing more people to sea to see whales than any other port! This coastal point is thought to be an important navigational landmark for the parading whales, and the harbor and city celebrate their annual appearance with the Dana Point Festival of Whales each March.

The herd of grays—which once numbered at least 30,000, then neared extinction from whaling, twice in history—came back in strong numbers after being protected by international treaty since 1938. It is estimated that there are now about 20,000 grays in its coastal parade, approximately the same number of people who sail out of this port to view them each year.

As if thanking the public for following them to sea to admire them instead of harpooning them, the grays are also consid-ered to be the friendliest of all whales toward people. In their shallow calving lagoons down south, they seem to enjoy the touching attention they receive from watchers who observe them with respect. No other great whale species stays as close to land in its travels—within sight and sound of mankind.

It is also signifi cant that the Festival includes a land parade of people; in its fi rst years it was a children’s parade along the marina walkways. Gray whales can be spotted off Dana Point each winter day, usually parading by in pods of three as they enact the longest migration of any mammal on earth—about 6,000 miles in each direction. On frequent daily cruises from this scenic coast, whale watchers can view the mammoth adult mammals—40-plus-feet long and 40 tons heavy! On their spring parade back to the Arctic, they are accompanied by their young calves, all moving slowly and close to shore.

From this historic anchorage of 19th century sailing ships, it is less than fi ve minutes out to sea and usually no more than a mile until the spout of a whale can be seen. Small grays have even been spotted adventuring within the channels of the harbor, along with playful dolphins and sea lions. While at sea, the whale watching ships’ skippers are adept at following the marine mammals without crossing or interfering with their narrow migration path.

The pregnant females head for the warmer waters of

the Baja lagoons to give birth, where the shallow salt-water helps buoy up their two-ton newborns as they learn to swim. However, some mothers have been known to produce a calf prematurely in the shallow coves of Orange County. It is even thought that the present site of Dana Point Harbor was a prehis-toric calving lagoon within Capistrano Bay—eons ago when the shoreline extended miles inland.

Grays also come into local coastal coves to scratch against the rocks, thought to be attempting to dislodge the barnacles that attach themselves to these slow moving mammals along the way. These white parasites and resulting scars when they are rubbed off the whales’ black skin create a mottled visual effect that prompted their name “gray.”

Sometimes a gray whale will reward a boatload of admirers by “spyhopping”—lifting its 15-foot-long head entirely out of water as if to watch back, literally standing on its tail. And at rarer times a whale will “breach”—leaping well out of the water, exposing two-thirds of its up-to-40-foot length and then splash-ing loudly down on its back.

When spring arrives, the pattern of migration reverses and the fi rst arrivals and their babies begin to swim north again, to their main feeding grounds. The parade continues until the last of the herd travels past this coast. By then the adults are slimmer for having lived off their blubber all winter, though the babies are gaining fast on a diet of only their mothers’ rich milk.

We must remember that many fossil skeletons of gray whales’ ancestors have been unearthed well above the present sea level in the hills and valleys around Orange County. They had lived and died here millions of years ago, when most of the area was under the sea. Their remains sank to the ocean bottom. Interestingly, the structure and size of today’s coastal migrants are little changed from those who vacationed here 20 million years in the past.

The changing geological history in this area—the land risen from the sea several times by earthly upheavals—has revealed the remains of these ancient marine mammals on and under the modern dry land, where the entire whale family tree is thought to have originated—right here—before whales evolved from the land into the ocean. Their modern sea-living descendants, who are little changed living fossils themselves, swim by each winter as if to stay in touch. © 2011 by Doris I. Walker

Co-founder of the Dana Point Festival of Whales, author Doris Walker is compiling her adventures with gray whales into a chil-dren’s book. It will combine her activities on behalf of gray whales here and her adventures in the lagoons of Baja California, illustrated by her own close-up photographs. One chapter will describe the local excitement in recent years caused by the “summer vacationing” of the largest of all whales—the blues.

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BY DORIS I. WALKER

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WINTER WHALE PARADES ON LAND AND SEA

BY SCOTT SCHOEFFEL, MAYOR OF DANA POINT

Welcome to DANA POINT


he dive of a whale is quite an amazing feat to behold. Cetaceans spend nearly all their lives underwater, sometimes at

considerable depths. Since whales are mam-mals, like us, they breathe air directly, instead of extracting oxygen dissolved in water as fi sh do. Whales must return to the surface at regular intervals to take in air, and when they dive, they too must hold their breath.

As a SCUBA diver, I can descend beneath the waves but to imitate the fantastic dive of a whale, for a human is a futile attempt, at best. When humans dive longer than we can hold our breath, a cylinder of compressed air is neces-sary. The scuba tank is a must because the air pressure within our lungs must equal or slightly exceed the pressure of the water around us; otherwise our chests would be crushed. Under compression, the nitrogen of the air dissolves in the fl uids and tissues of a diver’s body to their full capacity. During ascension, the dissolved nitrogen comes out of the solution as bubbles of gas, causing a sometimes lethal condition known as “the bends.”

In contrast, when a cetacean dives, it takes very little air with them; only a portion of the air is nitrogen, so that the amount that could dissolve in the body fl uids and tissues from one fi lling of the lungs is rather miniscule. This small amount does not enter the blood and tissues, because as the whale dives its lungs compress and drive the air in them into the windpipe and extensive nasal passages. The thickened mem-brane lining these passages helps stop nitrogen bubbles from entering the blood. Whales can store more than twice the amount of oxygen in their blood than we can; this allows them to have effective muscle function for much longer during a dive.

Whales also conserve energy while they are underwater, by slowing their heartbeat and by pumping blood to only a few organs—the brain, heart and muscles. Humans have this “diving refl ex” also, although it’s not as well developed. If a whale gets low on oxygen, it can gener-ate a small amount of energy without using oxygen, but this process creates lactic acid—the substance that makes your legs “burn” if you run too far or too fast. Whales, however, don’t seem to mind the “burn” as much as we do. So

the whale’s secret to staying under water for a long time is to store up a lot of oxygen before it dives and then use as little of it as possible while it’s submerged.

As a cetacean returns to the surface, the lungs gradually expand again, its blowhole opens wide and the foul air accumulated during the dive is expelled explosively. “Ah, the spray, the spout, the blow of a whale,” we whale watchers exclaim with joy at the sight—then the resulting scent wafts our way.

This “fragrant” spout is produced by the water from around the blowhole being forced into the air. As soon as the animal has exhaled, it takes in fresh air, the air sacs of the lungs return to their expanded condition and then it dives again.

You may view many spouts and dives off Dana Point during the current gray whale mi-gration. Perhaps you’ll even catch a whiff of that lustrous odor emanating from a blowhole during your very own whale encounter.

With whale watching season in full swing, there are many opportunities to experience these amazing animals during the 2011 Dana Point Festival of Whales. Among the choices are the Ocean Institute’s Marine Mammal Cruises, where you can join expert marine

BY JULIANNE E. STEERS, MARINE BIOLOGIST

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The misty spout of a gray whale lingers in the air. Photo by Ocean Institute Chief Aquarist Julianne E. Steers (Inset)

eave the car at home and let OCTA and Metrolink get you there for less with a Metrolink Friends and Family 4-Pack

for just $29 and local bus routes for as low as $1.50 or $0.60 for seniors. Kids under 6 ride OCTA buses for free (limit 3). Even if you live close, consider enjoying a weekend mini “stay-cation,” and present your ticket to save on lodging at area hotels. From the San Juan Capistrano Metrolink station, it’s an easy hop on OCTA Bus Route 91 south to Dana Point. A list of schedules and stops can be found at www.octa.net/whales and directions from bus

ana Point Restaurant Week runs March 4 through 13 featuring some of the best and most unique restaurants in south-

ern California. Take a break from the festivities, relax and refuel at these fantastic eateries. You will be treated to special Restaurant Week pricing in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Dana Point Festival of Whales. Contact the restaurants directly or log on to www.festivalof-whales.com to see more about the Restaurant Week specials being offered in honor of this year’s festival celebration.

CafE Mezzaluna2 Ritz Carlton Drive #102, 949.276.7900, www.mycafemezzaluna.com

Harbor Deli / Slice of New York34667 Golden Lantern, 949.496.0424, www.myharbordeli.com

The Harbor Grill34499 Golden Lantern, 949.240.1416, www.harborgrill.com

Harpoon Henry ’s34555 Golden Lantern, 949.493.2933, www.windandsearestaurants.com/harpoonhenrys

Jolly Roger34661 Golden Lantern, 949.496.0855, www.jollyrogerrestaurants.com

Luxe24582 Del Prado Avenue, 949.276.4990

Mahe24961 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.240.6243, www.eatatmahe.com

Olamendi’s Mexican Restaurant34664 Pacifi c Coast Highway, Capo Beach and 8 Monarch Bay Plaza, 949.218.7394, www.originalolamendis.com

Stacks Pancake House34255 Pacifi c Coast Hwy #110, 949.429.2223

Wind & Sea34699 Golden Lantern, 949.496.6500, www.windandsearestaurants.com

stops to Festival events can be found at www.festivalofwhales.com. And, while you’re out and about, look for the special Dana Point Festival of Whales 40th anniversary graphics adorning OCTA buses.

Using public transportation to and from the Festival is not only an environmentally friendly way to attend, a ride aboard a bus or train can add to the adventure and get you great discounts at area businesses. Below are a few of the special deals riders can enjoy.

• Present your OCTA and/or Metrolink ticket voucher and receive $5 off any whale

biologists on an ocean journey to witness these magnifi cent marine mammals in their natural habitat. And, be sure to stop by the Institute to participate in a hands-on learning adventure into the fascinating lives of whales, including how they eat, commu-nicate and to learn how pollution can effect them.

For Ocean Institute program and cruise information, call 949.496.2274 or visit www.ocean-institute.org.

Marine Biologist Julianne E. Steers is a gradu-ate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Arizona. She is the Chief Aquarist for the Ocean Institute. Steers is also active in the local marine science community as a founding Board Member of the Beach Ecology Coalition.

watching excursion ticket price at Dana Wharf Whale Watching, 34675 Golden Lantern, 949.496.5764, www.danawharf.com.

• Present your OCTA and/or Metrolink ticket voucher and receive a special room rate of only $69, single or double occupancy, at Dana Point Marina Inn, 24800 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.496.1203, www.danapointmarinainn.com.

• Present your OCTA or Metrolink ticket voucher and receive a special room rate of only $169, at Doubletree Guest Suites, 34402 Pacifi c Coast Hwy., 949.661.1100, www.dohenybeach.doubletree.com.

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Ride Big Buses, See Big Whales

Restaurant Week

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To Dive Like a Whale

BY ANDREA SWAYNE


Headlands Park and Nature Interpretive Center Interested in catching a glimpse of migrating gray whales from land? Visit the Headlands Conservation Park and Nature Interpretive Center. Situated high atop the 200-foot cliffs of the headlands, the park trails and scenic overlooks offer a great van-tage point for viewing the whales passing below. The three-mile trail system is open daily from 7 a.m. to sunset and Interpretive Center hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. From the Ocean Institute visi-tors can walk up Cove Road to the park. The Interpretive Center is located adjacent to the park, at the terminus of Green Lantern. It’s a steep walk, but the spectacular views are worth it. For more information, log on to www.danapoint.org and click on the “visi-tors” button then on “nature interpretive center.”

Captain Dave’s Whale & Dolphin Safari Guests aboard the hi-tech catamaran Manute’a can view dolphins and whales from an underwater viewing pod and hear them with an onboard hydrophone. Experienced marine natural-ists narrate the trips and provide engaging question and answer sessions. All trips are broadcast live on www.WhaleWatchingTv.com so passengers can wave hello to friends and family watch-ing on the internet. Mrs. Capt. Dave’s scrumptious triple fudge brownies are a sweet treat served free on each safari. Tickets are $55 for adults, $35 kids 3-12 and kids under 2 are free. Call 949.488.2828 for departure times and reservations. For more information, log on to www.dolphinsafari.com.

Aventura Sailing The sounds of the sea and the wind in the sails await you aboard an Aventura luxury sailboat. Join a

small group adventure or hire a private boat and enjoy the quiet as you listen for the sound of a spout or the splash of a breaching whale. Prices are $30 per person or $180 for a private, six-passenger maximum boat. Call 949.493.9493 for reservations or visit www.aventurasailing.com.

Ocean Institute Whale’s Tail Tallship sailing cruises aboard the Spirit of Dana Point leads guests on an exploration of how time and discovery have shaped man’s perception of the gray whale. Cruises run from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Member pricing is $36 for adults and $21 for children 12 and under (minimum age 4). Non-members, $40 for adults and $23 for kids 4 to 12. Marine Mammal Cruises aboard the R/V Sea Explorer introduce participants to whales and other marine animals using state-of-the-art equipment including satellites, plankton nets, sediment samplers and video microscopes. Cruises are offered at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. both weekends. Member pricing is $22 for adults and $19 for children 12 and under (minimum age 4). Non-member pricing is $35/adult and $22/children 4 to 12 years old. Weekend admission to the Institute is included with the cruise ticket purchase. For information and reservations contact the Ocean Institute at 949.496.2274 or log on to www.ocean-institute.org.

Riviera Yacht Charters The Riviera is a custom 40-foot yacht with an exceptionally wide beam for a comfortable and stable ride and a cruising speed of 18 knots to reach the whales and dolphins quickly. Guests can choose to ride in a climate-controlled cabin or enjoy the sounds and sights of

WHALE WATCHING ADVENTURES

t’s been a long time coming since Ocean Awareness Day at the

2008 Festival of Whales commenced its fi rst ever com-munity art project—a beautiful mosaic whale tail sculpture public art piece. It all began when the Dana Point Harbor Association commissioned local artist Eric Danton to sculpt a 6-foot tall iconic image of a whale tail. Danton completed the tail and then community art coordinator Karin Schnell enlisted Dana Point artist Aileen May to help facili-tate the implementation of an art medium on the tail. May devoted considerable time and talent to create a beautiful mosaic application and got the ball rolling by applying the initial octopus mosaic to the sculpture. She then, with the help of Schnell and Harbor Association representative Kim Tilly, painstakingly prepared the mosaic tiles for installation on site by the community.

“The Harbor Association is pleased to donate this public art piece to the county and its residents,”said Tilly. “It is our hope that this beautiful work will serve as a permanent and moving tribute to the whales’ annual migration past Dana Point.”

The Harbor Association worked with the OC Dana Point Harbor Department to fi nd the perfect home for this beautiful and special sculpture. Now, they are pleased to announce the dedication of the sculpture will take place at the OC Sailing & Events Center on Sunday, March 6 at 1 p.m. Orange County 5th District Supervisor

resh off completing their fi rst photographic book The Spirit of San Clemente, the Photographic Art Club has a new focus—documenting the 40th Annual Dana Point

Festival of Whales through the lenses of 40 photographers. The photos taken at this year’s Festival will be added to those

taken by the club during many other city events to produce the club’s second book, a photo art volume that will present a complete picture of life in Dana Point by capturing the essence of this lovely coastal city. The book is scheduled to be in pro-duction by May 2011 and part of the proceeds will go to support photography classes at the local Boys & Girls Clubs.

“We have yet to name our Dana Point book and are welcom-ing suggestions from the public,” said club founder and presi-dent Frank Ritenour. “While enjoying your day at the Festival, be on the lookout for our 40 photographers. They will be wearing badges identifying them as event photographers and club mem-bers. Who knows, your Dana Point Whale Festival adventure may be documented in the pages of our book.”

The club holds monthly meetings at 6 p.m. the last Tuesday of each month, at the Wind & Sea Restaurant in Dana Point Harbor. Interested members of the public are welcome to join. For more information, log on to www.meetup.com/photo-graphicartclub. —AS

the whales from the deck as a marine naturalist narrates. A television is on board to give the little ones an up close view. Tickets are $35 per person and children under 3 are free. Call 949.496.5891 to make a reservation. For more information and a departure schedule, log on to www.rivierayachtcharters.com/2011-festival-of-whales.

Dana Wharf Whale Watching Dana Wharf is celebrating its 40th anniversary too! Back by popular demand and to cele-brate 40 years—the Whale of a Deal—all tickets on the 8 a.m. trip are just $8. Regular hour-long excursions depart every hour on the hour from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Festival weekends. Tickets are $29 for adults, $24 for seniors and military and $19 for kids 3-12 years. Children 2 and under are free. Two-hour excursions following their Marine Mammal lectures on both weekends at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. are also available. Marine bi-ologists will narrate aboard the 63-foot, state-of-the-art OCean Adventures catamaran—featuring a spacious viewing deck and full-service deli-style galley. For those who want a one-on-one educational experience, prior to the 11:30 a.m. departure, a lecture session from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and continental breakfast at Harpoon Henry’s will be included with all 11:30 a.m. reserva-tions. Tickets are $39 for adults, $29 for children 3-12 and free for kids under 2. Check out the schedule and purchase tickets online at www.zerve.com/DanaWharf/OceanAdv. Use a Promo Code (FOW11) to save $5 per adult fare (not valid on 8 a.m. special). For more info, call 800.979.3370 or 800.590.9994 or visit www.danawharf.com. Sightings of whales or dolphins are guaranteed, or come back again and ride free.

40 Photographers for 40 Years

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A child helps place mosaic tiles on the sculpture at the 2008 Festival of Whales Ocean Awareness Day. Photo by Karin Schnell

Tale of a Tail BY ANDREA SWAYNE

I Patricia Bates is expected to

offi ciate the ceremony.While you’re there, check

out this year’s Ocean Aware-ness Day, also on Sunday March

6, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Baby Beach. Participating groups present

an array of fun and interactive activities that both educate and entertain.

For more information on the sculpture and Ocean Awareness Day, log on to www.festivalof-

whales.org.

mosaic whale tail sculpture public art piece. It all began when the Dana Point Harbor Association commissioned local artist Eric Danton to sculpt a 6-foot tall iconic image of a whale tail. Danton completed the tail and then community art coordinator Karin Schnell enlisted Dana Point artist Aileen May to help facili-tate the implementation of an art medium on the tail. May devoted considerable time and talent to create a beautiful mosaic application and got the ball rolling by applying the initial octopus mosaic to the sculpture. She then, with the help of Schnell and Harbor Association representative Kim Tilly, painstakingly prepared the mosaic tiles for installation on site by the community.

“The Harbor Association is pleased to donate this public art piece to the county and its residents,”said Tilly. “It is our hope that this beautiful work will serve as a permanent and moving tribute to the whales’ annual migration past Dana Point.”

The Harbor Association worked with the OC Dana Point Harbor Department to fi nd the perfect home for this beautiful and special sculpture. Now, they are pleased to announce the dedication of the sculpture will take place at the OC Sailing & Events Center on Sunday, March 6 at 1 p.m. Orange County 5th District Supervisor

A child helps place mosaic tiles on the sculpture at the 2008 Festival of Whales Ocean Awareness Day. by Karin Schnell

ness Day, also on Sunday March 6, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Baby

Beach. Participating groups present an array of fun and interactive activities

that both educate and entertain.For more information on the sculpture and

Ocean Awareness Day, log on to www.festivalof-whales.org.

Photo above: Frank Ritenour (left) with club members. Courtesy photo

Event MapEvEnt Locations coordinatE with Listings on pagEs 10 & 12

E1 Festival of Whales Parade 10 a.m. The parade, themed 40 Years of Magical Migration, features fl oats and balloons and runs along Pacifi c Coast Highway from Selva Road to Golden Lantern. Arrive early, enjoy breakfast harbor side, board the free shuttle and spend the day visiting all the events located throughout the Harbor and Dana Point Plaza.

E2 A Whale of a Block Party 10 a.m.–5 p.m. at La Plaza Park. The Block Party, hosted by the Dana Point Cham-ber of Commerce, is a fun and educational event with interac-tive booths for the whole family. Stay all day and enjoy rides, food, live music, crafts and more.

E15 Dana Outrigger Canoe Club Race In its 21st year of historical paddling, Dana Outrigger Canoe Club will once again host a competition with paddlers from across Southern California. The event will take place at Baby Beach and spectators are welcome.

E11 Metropolitan Club Beep, Beep! Take a stroll down the Harbor walkway and enjoy an impressive display of Nash Metropolitans. Immediately following the Festival parade, the Nash Metropolitans will be escorted to the Harbor for display along the Harbor walkway grassy areas.

E14 Hot Rods Unlimited The Festival welcomes back Hot Rods Unlimited! Stroll down Dana Point Harbor Drive and enjoy a display of vintage hot rods and classic cars.

E15 Movie in the Park 6:30 p.m. Join us for a special showing of “Shark Tale,” rated PG. FREE popcorn, hot bever-ages and snacks will be available. Bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnic dinner and enjoy this family-friendly movie.

E8 Whale of a Pancake Breakfast 8 a.m.–11 a.m. Hosted by Veterans of Foreign Wars post 9934 at the OC Sailing & Event Center’s Dana Cove Room. Start your day with delicious, fl uffy pancakes with strawberry topping served hot off the griddle, tasty sausage and bacon, served with juice, milk or coffee. Over 25 great gifts raffl ed plus surprise entertainment. All proceeds will benefi t the VFW. Adults $6, children under 12 $3.

E8 Whale Tail Sculpture Dedication 1 p.m. Join the Dana Point Harbor Association at the OC Sailing and Event Center for a dedication ceremony for their fi rst ever community art project. Dana Point artist Eric Danton was comissioned to sculpt a 6’ tall iconic image of a whale tail at the 2008 Ocean Awareness Day. With the help of Dana Point artist Aileen May and the community of Dana Point, the sculpture is now ready for its close up!

E15 Ocean Awareness Day 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Located at Baby Beach, the event features interactive displays, demon-strations and entertainment showcasing ocean and environ-mental programs and issues related to our ocean.

E15 Diamond Dig 12 p.m.–1 p.m. on Baby Beach. You have a whale of an opportunity to become rich by digging for treasure. Kids and adults can pay for a shovel and dig for pirate’s booty—cash, toys and diamonds! Dress as a pirate and receive a clue to the buried treasure!

E15 Whale of a Rubber Ducky Race 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Hosted by the Dana Point Woman’s Club, this fun spin on a traditional “Rubber Ducky Race” will be held at Baby Beach.

Ducks can be pre-purchased at Art in the Park on March 5 and at Baby Beach the day of the event for $6 per duck, or two for $10. Or, beginning March 1, ducks can be purchased at Beacon Printing and Dana Wharf Sportfi shing. Prizes will be awarded to the fi rst three ducks.

E15 Festival of the Whales Baby Beach Sand Sculpting Competition 8 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Choose one of fi ve categories: Castles, Whales and Ocean Creatures, Pirates and Ships, Woodies and Surfboards, or Patriotic Emblems. Judging begins at 2:30 p.m. with awards to follow. Bring your own buckets and tools. Dyes and stabilizers not allowed—all natural. Sand provided free. Bring a team of fam-ily and friends and join the fun! Sculpting creation areas are limited—fi rst come, fi rst served.

E15 Whale of a BBQ 12 p.m.–4 p.m. Delicious BBQ specialties at affordable prices will be served up adjacent to Baby Beach. Choose from tri-tip sandwiches, mouth-watering chicken sandwiches, salads and more!

E10 Kids Free Fishing Clinic and Trip 12 p.m.–12:30 p.m./ 12:45 p.m.–5:45 p.m. Dana Wharf Sportfi shing invites children to come to their dock side fi shing clinic and learn hands on techniques from the experts. Prizes will be raffl ed off at the end of the clinic. After the clinic, Dana Wharf will be running a fi shing trip. Adults are $39 plus license and equipment, children 12 and under fi sh for FREE (includes equipment). Call 949.496.5794 for reservations.

E4 Lily The Whale–Behind The Scenes 1 p.m.–2 p.m. Join Captain Dave at the Dana Point Marina Inn to learn about Lily the Gray Whale’s headline-making disentangle-ment in Dana Point Harbor with exclusive video, photos and a question and answer session. For info call, 949.488.2828.

E11 So Cal Woodies The best of the best woodie cars will be on show from the offi cial Southern California Chapter of the National Woodie Club. Stroll along the Harbor walkway and enjoy this one-of-a-kind display!

E10 Marine Mammal Lecture Series 10 a.m.–11 a.m. at Harpoon Henry’s. Marine mammals are among the most beloved icons of the California coast and yet much of their life history and biology remains a mystery to us. Enjoy a continental breakfast as special guests (March 5: Marine biologist and great white shark expert Mary Blasius, March 6: Dennis Kelly, Director of Coastal Dolphin Survey Project) present recent fi ndings on sharks, local whales, dolphins and other marine mammals. Following the lecture, go on a whale watching trip aboard the OCean Adventures Cata-maran to get up close and personal with these magnifi cent creatures. The lecture is free with purchase of the whale watching cruise aboard the OCean Adventures Catamaran and includes a continental breakfast. To attend the lecture only (with breakfast), $5 per person will be collected at the door. To purchase tickets, visit www.danawharf.com or call 949.496.5794.

E8 Sailing Rides 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Westwind Sailing takes you on a sailing ride to learn how to steer and sail a Capri 14! $15 per boat, three people max. Ages 5 and up. Call West-wind Sailing, 949.492.3035 for details.

E8 Stand-Up Paddling Clinics 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Join the SUP craze and learn fi rst hand why it’s the fastest grow-ing water sport today! Westwind Sailing will host 45 minute on-the-water clinics held each hour on the hour. Ages 12 and up (12–14-year-olds must be accompanied by an adult). $10.

E9 Dana Point Historical Society Walking Tour 2 p.m. Meet at Bella Bazaar (corner of Blue Lantern and PCH) for the historic town center Walking Tour showing historic buildings discussing the early building of the city. FREE, donations gladly accepted. Call 949.248.8121 or visit www.danapointhistorical.org for info.

E10 Harbor Music Series 12 p.m.–3 p.m. Presented by the Dana Point Harbor Association in the Jolly Roger Court-yard, Harpoon Henry Grassy Area and Art in the Park. FREE.

E4 Whale watch from land! FREE Film and Live Whale Watching Broadcast 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Stop by the Dolphin Deck offi ce (next to Baby Beach), for an exclusive FREE viewing of Captain Dave’s award win-ning documentary “Wild Dolphins and Whales of Southern California.” Screenings every hour. Throughout the day relax and enjoy their boat’s live whale watching broadcast from WhaleWatchingTV.com right on their deck overlooking the harbor. Sandwiches, snacks, ice cream, and refreshments are available for purchase.

E7 Dana Point Fine Arts Association Show and Sale 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. The Dana Point Fine Arts Association will host an art show and sale along the Harbor Boardwalk in Mariner’s Village. Dana Point Fine Arts will donate a portion of artist’s sales to Dana Hills High School Art Department.

E12 Art in the Park Local artists will be displaying a variety of works on the grassy areas at the corner of Island Way and Dana Point Harbor Drive.

E6 Ocean Institute Whale’s Tale Tallship Sailing Adventure 2 p.m.–4 p.m. Join us for a tallship sailing adventure as you gain new insights into man’s evolv-ing relationship with the ocean and the giants that roam our California coast. Non-members, $40 adults, $23 children 12 & under. Members, $36 adults, $21 children 12 & under (min. age 4).

E6 Seashore Interpretive Family Hike 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Guided family tidepool hikes through the Dana Point Marine Protected Area with Ocean Institute naturalists. Hikes are available on a fi rst come fi rst served basis. Space is limited. Sign up at the front desk of the Ocean Institute after admission is paid, no additional charge.

E6 Ocean Institute 10 a.m.–4 p.m. During the festival, a hands-on journey into the mysterious and fascinating world of whales will allow visitors to explore a variety of fascinating phenomena unique to these magnifi cent animals. There will be opportunities to examine how they communicate and eat, to see how pollution can affect them, learn about ongoing research, and create fun whale-theme crafts. Admission: $6.50 for adults and $4.50 for children (3 -12 yrs); Children under 2 and members are free.

E2 & E10 2011 Festival of Whales Merchandise T-shirts, sweatshirts and notecards will be on sale through-out the Harbor and are available for purchase online at www.festivalofwhales.com.

Dana Point Restaurant Week March 4–13. Try out some of Dana Point’s best restaurants at a bargain price. Turn to page 4 for a list of participating eateries.

all weekend

Saturday, March 5 SUNday, March 6


*Free Shuttle 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

E15 Second annual Mickey MuNoz Mongoose Cup Join Mickey and his friends for a day of pad-dling fun, camaraderie, a Waterman Expo and delicious BBQ at Baby Beach. Mickey Muñoz, an avid stand-up pad-dler, is an early pioneer of surfi ng and well-known surfboard shaper. Once described as the “surfer’s surfer,” Mickey has been riding waves since the 1950s and has been featured in many popular surfi ng fi lms and documentaries. Winning the fi rst professional surf contest and pioneer-ing big wave surfi ng at

Waimea Bay are a few of Mickey’s surfi ng accomplishments. His event will directly benefi t local charitable organizations. There will be an open fun paddle, a lively Waterman Expo and SUP relays. The event will start at 9 a.m. with a Fun Paddle and harbor cleanup sweep. The Mickey Muñoz Mongoose Cup is an event open to everyone. The Fun Paddle is open to any type of paddling craft and the Mongoose Cup will be contested solely as a stand-up paddleboard relay race (SUP relays). Event participants will receive a commemora-tive Mongoose Cup tee, delicious BBQ lunch and chance to paddle with surf legend Mickey Muñoz. Save money by reg-istering online at www.mongoosecup.eventbrite.com. Beach registration will open Saturday, March 12 at 7:30 a.m. The BBQ is open to the public as well. For more info, email [email protected].

E17 Whale of a Beach Cleanup 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Festival of Whales Toast to the Coast! Bring your work gloves and a recyclable bag or bucket and help clean up Doheny State Beach. Meet Ranger Vicki at the Lifeguard Headquarters and learn more about how you can help maintain our precious coastal resources. FREE shuttle service from most Harbor parking lots.

E17 Festival of Whales Grunion Run Featuring a 10K, 5K Run/Walk and Kids’ 1K Run. 10K begins at 7 a.m., 5K begins at 8:30 a.m. followed by the Kids’ 1K at 9:15 a.m. Awards are scheduled for 9:40 a.m. Proceeds to benefi t the Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association, a non-profi t organization which supports interpretive, educational programs at Doheny State Beach. Pre-registration and more information is available online at www.festivalofwhales-grunionrun.com. FREE pre-run shuttle service will begin at 6 a.m. and will have pick ups from the Ocean Institute, OC Sailing & Event Center and Dana Point Harbor Drive at Golden Lantern.

After the run enjoy a Whale of a Pancake Breakfast from 8 a.m.–10 a.m. inside Doheny State Park. Adults $6, Children under 12 $3. Bring your racing bib and receive $1 off breakfast! Proceeds from the breakfast will benefi t Doheny Longboard Surfi ng Association and our local State Lifeguard Association.

E10 Kids Free Fishing Clinic and Trip 12 p.m.–12:30 p.m./ 12:45 p.m.–5:45 p.m. Dana Wharf Sportfi shing invites children to come to their dock side fi shing clinic and learn hands on techniques from the experts. Prizes will be raffl ed off at the end of the clinic. After the clinic, Dana Wharf will be run-ning a fi shing trip. Adults are $39 plus license and equipment, children 12 and under fi sh for FREE (includes equipment). Call 949.496.5794 for reservations.

E15 Whale of a Concert and BBQ 12 p.m.–4:30 p.m. In honor of the whales migrating by Dana Point Headlands “sing-ing their song” the Festival of Whales festivities will include a FREE outdoor concert at Baby Beach with bands performing on the water on a specially designed stage. Bring your beach chairs, towels and blankets and enjoy an afternoon of musi-cal entertainment. Concert will begin with “Steel Parade”


all weekend

*All events are weather permitting

E4 Captain Dave’s Kids Carnival 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Fun for the whole “pod”! Bring the kids by the Dolphin Deck (near Baby Beach and OC Sailing and Events Center) for FREE fun, educational games and awesome prizes. Win or purchase an autographed copy of Capt. Dave’s new family book, “Tales From The Pod: The Lily The Whale Story.”

E10 Marine Mammal Lecture Series 10 a.m.–11 a.m. at Harpoon Henry’s. Marine mammals are among the most beloved icons of the California coast and yet much of their life history and biology remains a mystery to us. Enjoy a con-tinental breakfast as special guests (March 12: Alisa Schulh-man-Janiger, American Cetacean Society, March 13: Doug Thompson, marine naturalist) present recent fi ndings on local whales, dolphins and other marine mammals. Following the lecture, go on a whale watching trip aboard the OCean Adventures Catamaran to get up close and personal with these magnifi cent creatures. The lecture is free with purchase of the whale watching cruise aboard the OCean Adventures Catamaran and includes a continental breakfast. To attend the lecture only (with breakfast), $5 per person will be col-lected at the door. To purchase tickets, visit www.danawharf.com or call 949.496.5794.

E8 Sailing Rides 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Westwind Sailing takes you on a sailing ride to learn how to steer and sail a Capri 14! $15 per boat, three people max. Ages 5 and up. Call West-wind Sailing, 949.492.3035 for details.

E8 Stand-Up Paddling Clinics 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Join the SUP craze and learn fi rst hand why it’s the fastest growing water sport today! Westwind Sailing will host 45 minute on-the-water clinics held each hour on the hour. Ages 12 and up (12–14-year-olds must be accompanied by an adult). $10.

E9 Dana Point Historical Society Walking Tour 2 p.m. Meet at Bella Bazaar (corner of Blue Lantern and PCH) for the historic town center Walking Tour showing historic buildings discussing the early building of the city. FREE– donations gladly accepted. Call 949.248.8121 or visit www.danapointhistorical.org for info.

E10 Harbor Music Series 12 p.m.–3 p.m. Presented by the Dana Point Harbor Association in the Jolly Roger Court-yard, Harpoon Henry Grassy Area and Art in the Park. FREE.

E4 Whale watch from land! FREE Film and Live Whale Watching Broadcast 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Stop by Captain Dave’s Dolphin Deck offi ce (next to Baby Beach), for an exclusive FREE viewing of Captain Dave’s award win-

ning documentary “Wild Dolphins and Whales of Southern California.” Screenings every hour. Throughout the day relax and enjoy their boat’s live whale watching broadcast from WhaleWatchingTV.com right on their deck overlooking the harbor. Sandwiches, snacks, ice cream, and refreshments are available for purchase.

E7 Dana Point Fine Arts Association Show and Sale 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. The Dana Point Fine Arts Association will host an art show and sale along the Harbor Boardwalk in Mariner’s Village. Dana Point Fine Arts will donate a portion of artist’s sales to Dana Hills High School Art Department.

E12 Art in the Park Local artists will be displaying a variety of works on the grassy areas at the corner of Island Way and Dana Point Harbor Drive.

E6 Ocean Institute Whale’s Tale Tallship Sailing Adventure 2 p.m.–4 p.m. Join us for a tallship sailing adventure as you gain new insights into man’s evolv-ing relationship with the ocean and the giants that roam our California Coast. Non-members, $40 adults, $23 children 12 & under. Members, $36 adults, $21 children 12 & under (min. age 4).

E6 Seashore Interpretive Family Hike 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Guided family tidepool hikes through the Dana Point Marine Protected Area with Ocean Institute naturalists. Hikes are available on a fi rst come, fi rst served basis. Space is limited. Sign up at the front desk of the Ocean Institute after admission is paid, no additional charge.

E6 Ocean Institute 10 a.m.–4 p.m. During the festival, a hands-on journey into the mysterious and fascinating world of whales will allow visitors to explore a variety of fascinating phenomena unique to these magnifi cent animals. There will be opportunities to examine how they communicate and eat, to see how pollution can affect them, learn about ongoing re-search, and create fun whale-theme crafts. Admission: $6.50 for adults and $4.50 for children (3 -12 yrs); Children under 2 and members are free.

E10 2011 Festival of Whales Merchandise T-shirts, sweatshirts and notecards will be on sale through-out the Harbor and are available for purchase online at www.festivalofwhales.com.

Dana Point Restaurant Week March 4–13. Try out some of Dana Point’s best restaurants at a bargain price. Turn to page 4 for a list of participating eateries.

Saturday, March 12

Sunday, March 13

performing from 12 p.m.–1 p.m., “The Eliminators Surf Band” from 1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m., and the “Surftunes” from 3 p.m.–4:30 p.m. Concessions for scrumptious BBQ specialties will also be available, including a Spirits Garden for those over 21 years old with a valid I.D.

E17 Doheny State Beach’s Mobile Marine Mam-mal Museum 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Meet at Doheny State Beach’s promenade north of the snack bar at the picnic tables. There will be a variety of genuine marine mammal artifacts for visitors to actively learn and gain an appreciation of these magnifi -cent creatures of the sea. Please Note: Free vehicle parking at Doheny State Beach for Doheny State Beach’s Mobile Marine Mammal Museum is limited to one hour only. FREE

Mickey Muñoz. Courtesy of Dana Point Historical Society

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Documents

Festival of Whales Event Program