Gulf Coast Whale Festival
Celebrate whales and the Gulf on Pensacola Beach.
Join us for a whale of a good time!
Every year we and our partners host the Gulf Coast Whale Festival on Pensacola Beach. Models and images of Gulf whales will be on display, including the Rice’s whale—one of the world’s rarest and most endangered animals. Educational exhibits and activities will tell the story of Gulf whales and marine life, and a puppet parade led by local artists will showcase the ecology of the Gulf. Sweet sounds will flow from the Gulfside Pavilion with live music by Pensacola singer-songwriters, including the debut of “Ode to the Rice’s whale”.
Festival Details
Join us in the Spring of 2027!
Gulfside Pavilion
Pensacola Beach, FL 32561
Read about last years festival here – Whale Festival Brings “Whale Culture” to the Gulf!
Event Activities
A variety of activities will excite and inspire people of all ages during this event!
- Educational exhibits and activities
- Gulf marine life puppet parade
- Live music
Event Host
Event Sponsors
Interested in supporting whale conservation and education? Contact info@healthygulf.org to inquire about sponsorship opportunities.
Species Spotlight: Meet the Rice’s whale
The Gulf’s Only Resident Baleen Whale
You can learn even more during the Gulf Coast Whale Festival
Where they live
Rice’s whales live only in the Gulf. They are most commonly found in the northeastern Gulf, off the west coast of Florida.
One of the rarest whales on Earth
Less than 100 of these whales remain, although it may be less than 50.
Learn more
Learn more about Rice’s whale from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Threats
Human activities in the Gulf region negatively affect the Rice’s whale, such as:
- Vessel strikes
- Noise from vessels and energy exploration
- Oil spills and other pollutants, including lingering effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
- Ingestion of and entanglement in marine debris
- Climate change and its effect on prey
- Entanglement in fishing gear
Event Vendors
Be sure to visit these exciting local vendors during the event!
- Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge
- FloridaCorps
- Audubon FL
- Finley Mermaid Co.
- Marine Mammal Research Program–Dauphin Island Sea Lab
- Escambia County NRM
- Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center
- Melissa Nobles
- Center for Biological Diversity
- Tin Can Coffee & More
- Tommy and the Whales
- 350 Pensacola
- Pensacola Lighthouse & Maritime Museum
- 4-H Camp Timpoochee
- Possum and Palmetto
- FL Nomad
- Birds of a Feather
- Navarre Beach Marine Science Station
Become a vendor
Application for vendors interested in sharing environmental and marine life education: CLICK HERE
