FORT BRAGG, Calif., Dec. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Whale Festivals featuring wine, beer and chowder tasting, whale watching walks, a run/walk, crafts fair and wildlife art displays are planned during the first three weekends of March 2013 on Northern California's ruggedly beautiful Mendocino Coast. Details of the Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce-sponsored events at MendoWhale.com.
The festivals celebrate the 12,000-mile roundtrip migration of an estimated 20,000 Gray Whales from Alaska to the warm lagoons of Mexico where pregnant females give birth.
31st Annual Mendocino Whale Festival, March 2 and 3:
Wine Tasting (Saturday only). Purchase Advance Tickets. $35 advance tickets and $40 at the door. Taste some of Mendocino County's finest varietals in shops, inns and galleries throughout the town of Mendocino. Chowder Tasting: $10; also docent-led whale watch walks; Marine Life Exhibit: Mendocino Art Center, Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park: lighthouse and 1909 Fresnel Lens tours; docent-led whale watching.
Little River Whale Festival, March 9 & 10
Whale of a deal: Stay at two nights during the Little River Whale Festival at any Inn in Little River and get the third night free! Taste of Little River: (Saturday only, 1-4 pm) Discover the many flavors of Little River as local gourmet chefs show off their specialties paired with local wines. Advance tickets: Little River Inn, $25. Kayak Mendocino Sea Cave Tours: Paddle through sea caves and meet the harbor seals, sea stars, algae and shorebirds.
Annual Fort Bragg Whale Festival, March 16 and 17
Chowder Tasting: $10 (Saturday only). Sample chowders from some of the best chefs on the coast! Tasting will be held at Town Hall, 363 N Main Street, between 11am-1 pm or until chowder runs out, so get there early! Microbrew Beer Tasting: $30 (Saturday only). Passport Wine Tasting Event (Saturday only): Purchase Advance Tickets. $25 advance tickets and $30 at the door. 29th Annual Whale Run & Walk (Saturday, 8 am). Details at http://www.soroptimistfortbraggca.org. Crafts Fair: Discover treasures handmade by local crafters. Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park: lighthouse Fresnel Lens tours; docent-led whale watching. MacKerricher State Park: Scavenger hunt, paint the whale skeleton and more. Whale slide show 7 pm (3/15) at the Mendocino Coast Photography Guild and Gallery in Fort Bragg.
SOURCE Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce
