Save the Date!
Gulf Coast Whale Festival 2025
Celebrate whales and the Gulf of Mexico in Pensacola Beach.
Join for a whale of a good time for the second year in a row!
Following an exciting inaugural event in 2024, the Gulf Coast Whale Festival is back!
Join us Saturday, April 12 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 Casino Beach Pavilion with live music by Pensacola singer-songwriters, including the debut of “Ode to the Rice’s whale”.
Gulf Coast Whale Festival Details
Saturday, April 12, 2024
9 am to 3 pm
Casino Beach 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.
- Detailed event schedule to be revealed in 2025.
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 of Mexico’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 of Mexico. 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!
- Vendors to be revealed in 2025!
Become a vendor
Application for vendors interested in sharing environmental and marine life education will be made available in 2025.
