Gulf Coast Whale Festival 2026
Celebrate whales and the Gulf on Pensacola Beach.
Join us for a whale of a good time!
Join us Saturday, March 7 from 9 am – 3 pm for the second annual 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
Saturday, March 7, 2026
9 am to 3 pm
Gulfside Pavilion
20 Casino Beach Boardwalk
Pensacola Beach, FL 32561
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 Schedule
Join us from 9 am to 3 pm.
- 8:45 am……Beach Cleanup by Ocean Hour
- 9 am………..Welcome to the Festival with Christian Wagley, Healthy Gulf
- 9:30 am …..Ukuladies Happy Tunes from Local Ukulele Group
- 10 am……….Whale and Marine Life Parade with Birds of a Feather Project
- 10:15 am……Whale Wonderful – Kid’s Stewardship Pledge
- 10:25 am……Clean Water Game with Cristen Weaver, Navarre Beach STCC
- 10:30 am……We Love Whales with Bob Teague and Pat Meusel
- 11:30 am…….Music by Madeline Earth
- 1 pm…………..Music by Love Brynnevere
- 3 pm………….Thank you and farewell
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!
- Healthy Gulf
- Emerald Cost Wildlife Refuge
- Gulf Coast Turtle Watch
- Pensacola MESS Hall
- Marine Mammal Research Program
- The Upper Room Church
- Oyster Corps
- Escambia County Sea Turtle Conservation Program
- Gulf World Marine Institute
- Audubon Florida Coastal Team
- 350 Pensacola
- University of Central Florida Gulf Scholars Program
- Tommy & the Whales
- Mermaid Finley
- Emerald Coast Utilities Authority
Become a vendor
Application for vendors interested in sharing environmental and marine life education: CLICK HERE
