Dana Point Times Guest Opinion

Parade is Just the Beginning of the Festival of Whales Celebration

Lisa Bartlett, Mayor — City of Dana Point

Dana Point is celebrating our 38th annual Festival of Whales beginning with the Festival of Whales parade on Saturday, March 7th.  I am pleased to announce that Don Hansen will be the 2009 Parade Grand Marshal. Don Hansen is founder of Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching and was instrumental in starting the Festival of Whales. Once again this year, the parade will be announced by Gene Burris, who was recognized as the 2008 Parade Grand Marshal. The parade begins at 10:00 am at Selva and continues along PCH through Town Center, ending at the Street Faire at La Plaza Park.

The Festival of Whales celebrates the migration of the Gray Whales, which use Dana Point’s coastal bluffs and Headlands as a landmark.

New this year, the Chamber of Commerce is planning an exciting Restaurant Week. Several restaurants will be participating by offering special menu items.  Restaurant Weeks are held in cities everywhere, and it will be an enjoyable adventure to have our own Dana Point Restaurant Week as a reason to visit our favorite dining spots.  Restaurant week is a great way to promote shopping locally as well.

The Festival of Whales Grunion Run 5K Run and Kids’ 1K Run is a new event to be held on Sunday, March 15th and I will be welcoming participants and sounding the air horn to start the races.  The Ocean Institute is offering a special program for children of Grunion Run participants on the morning of the race.  For more active options, there are also Interpretive Hikes and Historical Walking Tours.  All of that exercise will prepare us for the Whale of a Pancake Breakfast hosted by the Dana Point VFW and Ladies Auxiliary Post 9934.

Other new events include car shows with Retro Metropolitans and Surf-vibe Woodies, special Ocean Institute presentations, free fishing clinics, and a Volleyball Tournament.

The Whale of a Concert and BBQ will close out the Festival on Sunday afternoon, March 15th with free music by Tijuana Dogs and Garratt Wilkin & the Parrotheads.

The Festival of Whales has grown into a citywide celebration recognized far beyond our borders.  It is a true partnership with the Festival of Whales Committee of harbor merchants, the Chamber of Commerce, the City of Dana Point, and many individuals, clubs, non-profit groups and sponsors. 

I encourage the community to take advantage of the many exciting activities during the two weeks of Festival of Whales activities.  For more detailed day-by-day event listings, to pre-register for the Grunion Run, or to see the Free Shuttle route, visit www.festivalofwhales.com.