EVENT GUIDE
Dana Point Times February 25-March 3, 2022
MARCH 5 & 6, 2022
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Dana Point Times February 25-March 3, 2022
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WELCOME TO THE 51ST ANNUAL DANA POINT FESTIVAL OF WHALES By Dana Point Mayor Joe Muller It’s wonderful to welcome back Dana Point’s Festival of Whales. For two days, we will celebrate what makes our city special and the reason it is a globally recognized destination for whale watching. Our community takes great pride in its distinctive role in the migration of thousands of whales as they pass along Dana Point’s beautiful coastline. And we can’t wait to officially mark the occasion on March 5-6. It was more than 50 years ago that Don Hansen founded the first Festival of Whales, now recognized as the longest-running whale festival in the world. He created the Festival of Whales as an annual seaside event that celebrates the gray whale migration, with an emphasis on education and environmental responsibility. Don brought communities together with his passion and vision, and his contribution to Dana Point is immeasurable. Don opened Dana Wharf Sportfishing &
Whale Watching in 1971 at the Dana Point Harbor. Today, his operation continues to provides accessibility to whale watching and fishing to residents, visitors, and underserved youth under the guidance of Hansen’s daughter, Donna Kalez, and son, Michael Hansen, who continue to work with other stakeholders making Dana Point the premier location to see whales, dolphins and other marine life. Sadly, Don Hansen passed away earlier this year, but we can all appreciate the vast legacy he has left here in Dana Point. I encourage you to take advantage of the many wonderful events planned throughout the Festival weekend. There really is something for everyone, from the Saturday morning Festival of Whales Parade to street fairs, art shows and many ocean-related adventures and educational presentations. In addition to celebrating the magnificent whales that visit our shores, visitors will be able to share in the music, art and talent of our local residents and businesses. See you at the Festival!
With Dana Point officially trademarked as the Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World®, we are committed to saving our oceans, starting by reducing plastic waste via our new boxed water cartons. Learn more at danapointwhalewatching.com.
LOGO FOR 2022 FESTIVAL OF WHALES ANNOUNCED By Breeana Greenberg Living by the ocean his entire life, and having the desire to do something for the community, was all the inspiration that Matt Rinehart needed before using his artistic abilities to design a logo that he submitted for the Festival of Whales. “I always admired the event art from local artists in San Clemente and Dana Point and knew one day I would like to make something, as well,” Rinehart, a San Clemente resident, explained to Dana Point Times. Since graduating from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in graphic design, Rinehart, a graphic designer at Starfish Signs and Graphics in San Clemente, hoped to produce a design worthy of an event. Those hopes were realized this past fall, when the 2022 Festival Foundation Board named Rinehart as the logo artist for the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. “I am super excited to have finally made that a reality,” Rinehart said. The board chose this year’s designer from among its favorites of past entries. Rinehart was runner-up in the 2021 Festival of Whales logo design contest. “Matt’s logo was a favorite that lived on in our minds over the past year, and
Dana Point Times February 25-March 3, 2022
we couldn’t be happier to announce his design will be the official logo for the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales,” Event Coordinator Andrea Swayne said.
FESTIVAL MERCHANDISE Logo merchandise will be available for purchase at booths near Dana Wharf and at Baby Beach on both days of the Festival, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
••• Read the full story at festivalofwhales.com.
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MUCH TO CELEBRATE By Andrea Swayne, Event Coordinator The awe-inspiring sight of California gray whales as they cruise the shores of Dana Point each spring, making their way back to their feeding waters in the Bering Sea from the birthing and calving waters in Baja Mexico, is truly something to celebrate. Just as whales pass Dana Point during their annual 10,000-mile, round-trip journey, generation after generation, the gathering of our human community to witness the spectacle has become a parallel tradition also spanning generations. As we celebrate the Festival’s 51st year, this time without the late Don Hansen— Festival founder and the originator of whale watching in Dana Point—let us reflect on his impact and the important legacy he leaves behind. What Hansen set into motion as owner of Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching sparked the growth and recognition of Dana Point into a world-renowned destination for witnessing the planet’s largest mammals in the wild. For this reason, the 2022 Dana Point Festival of Whales is being dedicated in his honor. As a result of the hard work of Hansen’s daughter, Donna Kalez, at the helm of the family business, along with Gisele Anderson of Captain Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Safari, Dana Point was named in 2021 by the World Cetacean Alliance (WCA) as the first and only Whale Heritage Site (WHS) in the Americas. We’re happy to report that before his passing, Hansen got to witness this important honor being bestowed upon the city. The WHS program grants formal recognition and accreditation to communities that actively demonstrate the importance of respecting and protecting cetaceans and their ocean habitats by fostering a culture of respect through research, education and conservation. We encourage you to learn about the WCA and the WHS Program by visiting worldcetaceanalliance.org. Better yet, find out more by joining us on March 4 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Ocean Institute for a Welcoming of the Whales sunset beachside ceremony by members of the indigenous Juaneño Band of Mission Indians Acjachemen Nation. Afterward, there will be a kickoff reception with guest speakers, including research scientist Dr. Ari Friedlaender, as well as food, hands-on all-ages educational activities and more. We’re looking forward to welcoming you to our cetacean celebration here in our little slice of paradise, Dana Point, the Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World®.
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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Purple locations and numbers correspond with the map on the following page.
Friday, March 4 OCEAN INSTITUTE WELCOMING OF THE WHALES 4:45-9 p.m. Beachside Sunset Ceremony by members of the indigenous Acjachemen Nation and Dana Point Surf Club paddle out, followed by a free reception inside the Ocean Institute, with guest speakers, interactive displays and activities, non-alcoholic beverages and food truck cuisine for purchase. 5
Saturday, March 5 ISLAND WAY/DP HARBOR DRIVE FESTIVAL OF WHALES PARADE 10 a.m. Parade starts on the island side of Island Way bridge, heads north over the bridge and then east onto Dana Point Harbor Drive toward Golden Lantern. View from the bridge and DP Harbor Drive. See giant parade balloons, marching bands, military units, floats and more. For more information, call the City of Dana Point Recreation Division at 949.248.3536. 1-8-2
ANTIQUE & CLASSIC BOAT SOCIETY SHOW 10 a.m.-4 p.m. See antique and classic boats on display in the parking lot directly east of Harpoon Henry’s. Display includes vintage mahogany and fiberglass models. 13 MARINE MAMMAL LECTURE SERIES— ALISA SCHULMAN-JANIGER 10-11 a.m. Enjoy a continental breakfast accompanied by a fascinating talk by Alisa Schulman-Janiger on the California Orca and Gray Whale Census. Admission is $10 for adults, children are free. 13
HARBOR WALKWAY AND COURTYARDS
CAPT. DAVE’S VIRTUAL SAFARI Can’t get out on the water? Log in for a free, fun and educational virtual dolphin and whale watching safari with live narration from experienced marine wildlife naturalists. High-speed internet connection and Zoom required. Space is limited. Sign up at dolphinsafari.com.
DANA POINT FINE ARTS ASSOCIATION SHOW & SALE 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. A variety of art will be on display under the pergola on the Harbor Walkway just east of Harpoon Henry’s. Watercolor, oil, acrylic, colored pencil, pastels and photography by award-winning local artists will be available for purchase. 10
Sunday, March 6
CLASSIC CAR SHOWS 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Car clubs display classics and antiques along the Harbor Walkway. On Saturday see automobiles from the SoCal Woodie Club, Pacific Coast Corvettes, Just Havin’ Fun Car Club, Cool Runnin’ Camaros and Hot Rods Unlimited. On Sunday the Corvettes return and will be joined by a “British Invasion” of motorcars from the Austin Healey Association of SoCal and the Jaguar Owners Club of LA. 9, 10, 11, 12
WHALES, TAILS & ALES (STREET FAIR) 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy craft beer, delicious eats, dog costume contests, local artisans, dog-friendly vendors and much more. 2
DIAMOND DIG 9 a.m.-noon. Dig for treasure. Buy a shovel for $10, dress like a pirate and start digging at 11 a.m. Shovel sales begin at 9 a.m. 15
BABY BEACH
SAILING RIDES & SUP CLINICS 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Learn to steer and sail a Capri 14 (ages 5 and up) or find out why stand-up paddling is the fastest growing sport on the water (12 and up). $10. Visit westwindsailing.com for details. 7
DANA WHARF WYLAND ‘ART LESSONS IN THE WILD’ 9-9:45 a.m. Kids get a video art lesson from the artist Wyland and then create their own work of art aboard the OCean Adventures catamaran for $10. Enter the art contest to win great prizes. Kids get a free ticket for a two-hour whale watching adventure (accompanied by a paying adult). 3 HARBOR WALKWAY DANA HILLS HIGH SCHOOL YOUNG ARTISTS SHOW AND SALE 10 a.m.-4 p.m. High school students from DHHS / SOCSA present artworks in various mediums. See pottery, photography, drawing, painting and more. Booth is on the walkway just west of Island Way. 8 DOHENY STATE BEACH DOHENY STATE BEACH VISITOR’S CENTER OPEN HOUSE TOUR 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Take a tour of the Center and Dana Point Times February 25-March 3, 2022
Both Days of Festival
VIRTUAL
BABY BEACH
CLAM CHOWDER COOK-OFF 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sample all entries for $10 and vote for your favorites from over a dozen local restaurants. The event also features a beer and wine garden (drinks $5), and live music by the RetroFits. 15
STAND UP TO TRASH BEACH CLEANUP 9-11 a.m. Check in at the front of the Ocean Institute to sign up. “BYOB” (bring your own bucket or reusable bag, reusable gloves, water bottle or coffee cup) is encouraged, to help reduce any additional waste, but collection supplies will be available at check-in. After the cleanup, stay for the free Lunch and Learn with a talk by California Sea Grant on the whales of Dana Point. Pre-registration at standuptotrash. com is encouraged. 5
HARPOON HENRY’S
GOLDEN LANTERN/DP HARBOR DRIVE
CARDBOARD CLASSIC & DINGHY DASH 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Cardboard boat building contest and race with voting, food, celebrity emcee, music and awards. It’s serious fun for competitors and spectators alike! 15
OCEAN INSTITUTE
its whale exhibits, followed by a Q&A with a naturalist. 14
HARBOR MUSIC SERIES Noon-3 p.m. Enjoy a variety of musical styles at this music series, in the Dana Wharf Courtyard, Mariner’s Village Clock Tower Plaza in front of El Torito and along the Harbor Walkway in front of The Coffee Importers. 3, 8, 13
CONCERT ON THE WATER AND BBQ Noon-5 p.m. Free outdoor concert with three bands performing atop a floating stage. Bring beach chairs and blankets and enjoy an afternoon of great music. A BBQ and Spirits Garden will be open throughout the concert offering food and beverages for purchase.Band Lineup: Noon-12:30 p.m. Drea Sheva (singer/guitarist) 12:30-2:30 p.m. Neon Nation (’80s music) 3-5 p.m. Who’s Zeppelin—Tribute to The Who and Led Zeppelin 15
OCEAN INSTITUTE OCEAN INSTITUTE ACTIVITIES 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Visit to learn more about whales both on land and at sea with hands-on educational activities in the Institute’s lab spaces, check out their unique exhibits or try your luck at spotting whales and other local marine mammals while helping their crew conduct science at sea on board the Research Vessel Sea Explorer. 5
HARPOON HENRY’S MARINE MAMMAL LECTURE SERIES— KIRSTEN DONALD 10-11 a.m. Enjoy a continental breakfast accompanied by a fascinating talk by the Pacific Marine Mammal Center’s Kirsten Donald on sea lion entanglement, rehabilitation and research. Admission is for $10 adults, children are free. 13
ISLAND WAY / DP HARBOR DRIVE ART IN THE PARK 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Browse through booths of local artisans presenting artwork in a variety of mediums, including painting, photography, gems & fossils, art glass & sea glass, wood, pottery, jewelry, textiles and more. Art in the Park will be held in the west end of the Dana Marina Inn parking lot at Dana Point Harbor Drive & Island Way (the bridge). 8
DANA WHARF KIDS’ FISHING CLINIC AND TRIP 12:15-12:45 p.m. This kids’ dockside fishing clinic will be followed by a fishing trip from 1-5:30 p.m. Adults $59 plus license and equipment. Children 12 and under are $10 with purchase of a full-priced adult ticket. Pre-register at 949.496.5794 ext. 7. 3
PARKING LOT JUST EAST OF HARPOON HENRY’S WYLAND FOUNDATION COMMUNITY ART PROGRAMS 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Kids join in and help paint a community mural. Paint, brushes and aprons will be supplied. Just bring your imagination. Page 4
Parents stop by on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. for the grand reveal of the new “OC Streams of Hope” Public Art and Community Cleanup Campaign featuring Stella the baby whale. 6 PCH & BLUE LANTERN HISTORIC TOWN CENTER WALKING TOUR 2 p.m. Join Dana Point Historical Society historians to see and hear stories of historic landmarks, exteriors of S. H. Woodruff’s original 1920s planned community as well as Bluff Top Harbor views, c. 1818 to 1939. Meet at the corner of PCH and Blue Lantern for the one-mile, 1½-hour walk on mostly flat surface streets. Reserve a spot at museum@danapointhistorical.org or leave a message at 949.248.8121 indicating the desired day and number in your party. A small donation is suggested. 16 GOLDEN LANTERN & DP HARBOR DRIVE FLUKE: A TAIL OF PLASTIC (WHALE TAIL SCULPTURE) Dana Point Harbor Partners commissioned artists Joel Dean Stockdill and Yustina Salnikova to construct Fluke: A Tale of Plastic, a life-sized sculpture of an adult gray whale tail made of reclaimed steel, damaged curbside trash bins and single use water bottles. Stockdill and Salnikova aim to connect the scale of the waste and its impact on the ocean. Trash collected locally via Stand Up to Trash cleanup events will be included in the sculpture. Construction will begin on Saturday.
All Month Long WHALE OF A KIDS’ ART & LITERATURE CONTEST Open to children of all ages. Submit a cute story, poem or artwork themed about the California gray whale and email it to recreation@danapoint.org. Submissions are due March 28. The winning entry will receive a gift card to Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching for a whale watching excursion and a whale/oceanthemed gift basket. WHALE TAIL SCAVENGER HUNT March 5- 27. Eight decorative wooden whale tails will be hidden throughout the Dana Point Harbor area. To enter for a chance to win a whale watching trip for a family of four, and a $300 gift card to local Dana Point businesses, find all eight whale tails, take a photo standing by each, and email all eight photos to recreation@danapoint. org by March 28. And don’t forget to post on social media with the hashtags #DPRecWhaleTailSighting and #festivalofwhales. Please don’t remove any of the whale tails once you have found them. For additional information, contact the City of Dana Point Recreation Division at 949.248.3536. ‘WHALE WORLD CHANGERS’ VIRTUAL EVENTS Tune into Capt. Dave’s YouTube channel for three new discussions premiering March 5: “Make a Difference Wherever You Are,” “Whale and Sea Lion Rescue,” and “Whale and Dolphin Protection,” at youtube.com/c/DolphinsafariDanaPointWhaleWatching.
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Dana Point Times February 25-March 3, 2022
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FESTIVAL OF WHALES
EVENT MAP & SHUTTLE
GETTING AROUND
WHALE WATCHING (Both Days of Festival and Beyond)
DANA WHARF WHALE WATCHING 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Use Dana Wharf’s promo code Fow22 to save $10 off all tickets, excluding special 8 a.m. or 4 p.m. trips. For reservations, call 1.888.224.0603 or visit danawharf.com.
CAPT. DAVE’S DOLPHIN & WHALE WATCHING SAFARI 8 a.m.-4 p.m. For a limited time, save 25% when you book a 2½-hour Signature Safari or two-hour Zodiac Safari. Reservations, schedule, and information: 949.488.2828 or visit dolphinsafari.com. OCEAN INSTITUTE 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. For more information or reservations, please visit oceaninstitute.org or call 949.496.2274.
WHALE WATCHING FROM LAND 8 a.m.-4 p.m. During this peak season, 40-50 whales pass by Dana Point each day, using the Dana Point Headlands’ 200-foot cliffs near the harbor as a landmark to check their migration path. Enjoy blufftop viewing from the Headlands Nature Reserve.
Dana Point Times February 25-March 3, 2022
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Duane Cave of SDG&E The 501(c)3 nonprofit Dana Point Festival of Whales Foundation has long relied on the generosity of its sponsor partners, one of which is longstanding supporter SDG&E, along with SDG&E External Relations Manager Duane Cave. For nearly 20 years, Cave has lent the support of SDG&E via the company’s community grant funding program, as well as lending his personal enthusiasm and upbeat personality to its success.
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His positivity and involvement have been a treasured gift to the Festival and all who have worked to make it such an important and longstanding Dana Point event. April will mark Cave’s 45th year with SDG&E and serving the community as a liaison. “We are all blessed to live in an area that people pay to vacation in. All of this beauty is right in our backyard, and we get to live it every day,” Cave says. “This Festival is such an iconic event, and as a part of the community, it’s important for us, as a company, to participate. A focus on the community is part of the culture SDG&E is built on.”
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Dana Point Times February 25-March 3, 2022
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Dana Point Times February 25-March 3, 2022
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