The Gulf Coast Whale Festival is being held Saturday, April 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Casino Beach Pavilion on Pensacola Beach. The event features fun and interactive educational exhibits and activities on Gulf whales and local marine life, including a whale oath that encourages kids to be good stewards of local beaches and waters. 

Other events include a puppet parade led by Bread Box Theatre that showcases the marine life of the Gulf, including the Rice’s whale—one of the world’s rarest and most endangered animals. Plus, the Navarre Beach Marine Science Station will lead educational activities at the festival. “My students are really excited to share our work on marine mammals, especially Rice’s whales,” says Charlene Mauro, director of the Center. “We’ll have an inflatable whale to visit, and hands-on activities to make it fun and informative.” Additionally, local singer-songwriter Katie Dineen will perform on the music stage, and real-life recordings of whales in the deep blue of the Gulf will flow.

“We’re excited to launch the Gulf Coast Whale Festival and bring awareness to and celebration of the whales and other natural riches of the Gulf of Mexico,” says Christian Wagley, Florida/Alabama organizer at the nonprofit Healthy Gulf. 

Event sponsors include Healthy Gulf, Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, and Natural Resources Defense Council. Life-sized models of Gulf whales will also be on display, courtesy of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute.