Grey Whales are spouting along Fort Bragg’s coastline every day as they make their annual 5,000 mile northern migration from Baja to the Bering Sea. Each year we celebrate their passage with local festivities along the Mendocino Coast.

Fort Bragg’s 28^th Annual Whale Festival will include many different whale watching opportunities, microbrew tasting and delicious local cuisine. Along with dozens of microbrews provided by the Fort Bragg Rotary Club, the area’s top chefs will produce their favorite chowders. A marine mammal art exhibit and crafts fair are also part of the two-day festival.

With some 20,000 gray whales migrating north from birthing grounds in Mexico to their winter home in Alaska, there will be plenty of whales to view from the Pomo Bluffs Park in Fort Bragg and miles of beaches in MacKerricher State Park just north of the city.

Fort Bragg Whale Festival Events:

• 14th Annual Fort Bragg Beer Festival on March 20th, 2010 at the historic Eagles Hall 210 N.Corry St. Microbrews come to Fort Bragg proudly serving award winning Belgians, Porters, Stouts, IPA’S, Ales and more. Beer novice or beer expert come experience beer like you never thought possible. Saturday only.

• Jughandle Creek Nature Center on-site naturalist will set up guided whale watching walks by reservations and will provide spotting scopes and educational materials. Contact: Helene Chalfin, 964-4630 or email: jughandle@creek.org

• Chowder Tasting at Town Hall, Saturday from 11am till the chowder runs out, $10 allows you to taste all participants. Corner of Main (Hwy 1) & Laurel St. in Fort Bragg. T-shirts and tote bags available during this event. Get there early to avoid long lines for chowder!

• Fish Dinner at Portuguese Hall
  Bar opens at 4:00 p.m.
  Dinner Servings at 5:00, 6:00, 7:00 p.m.
  Tickets in advance $17
  Tickets at the door $20
  Contact Dolly Guisti (707)-964-4971 or Jose Ornelas (707) 964-0485 for more information

• Whale Cruises from Noyo Harbor. Call Chamber for referrals, (707) 961-6300

• Point Cabrillo Lighthouse Activities and exhibits, Saturday and Sunday from 10am-4pm. See tide pool exhibits, lighthouse history, The Frolic shipwreck artifacts, learn from the Audubon Society and Marine Mammal Center of Sausalito, fun for the whole family! And don’t forget the whale watching. Weather permitting, Docents will also lead walks to nearby Frolic Cove and relate the story of the Boston Owned Clipper Brig “Frolic”, wrecked off the cove in July 1850, bound from China to San Francisco with a valuable cargo of Chinese merchandise for the Gold Rush miners and their families.

• Whale Walks at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens on Sat and Sun at 1pm, Hwy 1, Fort Bragg

• Guided Whale Walks at MacKerricher State Park Saturday and Sunday, call 964-8898 for more information

• 6th Annual Marine Art Exhibit at the Mendocino Art Center, featuring the original work of late, honored marine artist JD Mayhew and others, Saturday and Sunday from 10-4pm, located on Little Lake St., Mendocino

• Whale Watching by Horseback, call Chamber of Commerce for referrals, 707-961-6300 between 9-5 on weekdays, 9-3 on Saturday

• 26th Annual Whale Run & Walk
  Saturday, March 20, 2010 – 8:30 am Start Time (In front of the Skunk Train Depot)

  The 26th Annual Whale Run and Walk starts and finishes in the heart of Fort Bragg on West Laurel St. The race course continues for a short distance on city streets before crossing the Pudding Creek Trestle onto the all-time favorite course-the Ten Mile Haul Road which is within eye and earshot of the sea throughout the run. Runners will be treated to what makes the Haul Road the single most popular outing for Mendocino Coast locals. The course first cuts across coastal prairie studded with wildflowers; sandstone bluffs alternate with beaches and pooling stream-mouths, all flush with waterfowl. Spectacular sea and sky vistas, the freshest ocean breeze anywhere, and an occasional offshore spout make this year’s the classic Whale Run course. The course is mostly level on both paved and gravel roads. Early registration guarantees you a t-shirt. The race is sponsored by Soroptimist International of Fort Bragg. All proceeds benefit local worthy causes. Participants 16 yrs. and under charged $10. For additional information, contact: Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce: (800) 726-2780 or (707) 961-6300.

  Race Information:

  10k & 5k Run
  5k Competitive Walk

  5k Fun Walk
  Race Day Registration: 7 am to 8:15 am
  Laurel Street Deli in the Fort Bragg Depot (corner Hwy 1 & Laurel Street)

  Start Time: 8:30 am
  Further Race Information and Links:
  http://www.soroptimistfortbraggca.org/SIFB/whalerun.html
  http://theschedule.com/EventInfo.cfm?EventID=21340

• Whale Festival Dance:  Fort Bragg Jazz Band Dinner & Dance

Sponsored by The Veterans of Foreign Wars
Saturday March 20, 2010
Deluxe Pasta Dinner at 5:30pm
Dancing from 6:30pm
Veterans Memorial Hall, 360 N Harrison, Fort Bragg
Swing and dance music performed by The Fort Bragg High School Jazz Band
Fort Bragg Middle School Jazz Band plays during dinner from 5:30pm-6pm
$25 per couple, $15 per adult,
$10 per student/seniors
Tickets sold at the door or at FBHS (961-2880)
ALL proceeds go to support the FBUSD Band Program
(Dana Gray through High School)

Festival Deals from Local Businesses:

Emerald Dolphin Inn & Mini Golf:  Special Discounted Whale Festival Package

This amazingly affordable Fest package includes:

Two nights lodging
Complimentary Continental Breakfast each morning
Two tickets for a fabulous half day Whale Watching Excursion on the Trek II
and…
Unlimited Mini Golf tickets for your entire stay!

This package starts at only $220.00 total, plus tax for two people!
Room upgrades available.  The savings can’t be beat!

Make your reservations today:  toll free 866-964-6699
Local phone: 707-964-6699
Contact Name:  Kim Queen
email:  stay@emeraldddolphin.com
website:  www.emeralddolphin.com

Address: 1211 S. Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437

Posh Pauper
Find the hidden whales – for discounts up to 50%!

145 E. Fir Street @ Franklin

707-964-7781
laura@poshpauper.com
www.poshpauper.com

Andrea Luna Boutique:

Shopping Bags 25% OFF for Whale Weekend

Shopping Bags made locally by Marzel from recycled grain bags from the North Coast Brewery and HWY 20 Feed will be 25% off at ANDREA LUNA  Boutique  Gallery

107 Laurel St., Fort Bragg. 707-962-9180. aluna@mcn.org.
Open 11-5 M-Sat, 11-3 Sun.

American Repair Company: Is your boat ready for the coming season?

American Repair Company has your Yamaha outboard engine to get you up & running for whale watching or the upcoming Salmon Season!

We have new stock of 2010 engines as well as a few last season prices left on the showroom floor at crazy savings for you and your vessel.

So come on by and scope out our Yamahas as well as all the accessories for your boat to get you ready for the fishing and boating season up here on the beautiful North Coast.

1031 S. Main St. #B
Fort Bragg, CA. 95437
PH: 707-964-3505

For information about other Whale Festivals on the Mendocino Coast, visit the Chamber of Commerce website.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 19th, 2010 at 6:00 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.