30th Annual Fort Bragg Whale Festival Set for March 17 & 18

FORT BRAGG, Calif., Jan. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- It's time to mark your calendar and book your room for the 30th Annual Fort Bragg Whale Festival March 17 and 18, 2012. Many area B&B's, hotels and motels are offering special packages. Visit www.fortbragg.com/stay for a directory of local accommodations.

With some 20,000 gray whales migrating north from birthing grounds in Mexico to their winter home in Alaska, sightings should be spectacular from the Pomo Bluffs Park in Fort Bragg, miles of beaches in MacKerricher State Park just north of the city, and other locations.

Saturday only activities include sampling dozens of local microbrews provided by the Fort Bragg Rotary Club, tasting chowders by the area's top chefs, and wine tasting. Docent led whale watching at Point Cabrillo Light House, and live music, are also part of the two-day festival.

Major events include:

• Whale Walk/Run sponsored by Soroptimist International of Fort Bragg, Saturday, 8 am. Event starts at the Skunk Train parking lot, downtown Fort Bragg.
• Chowder Tasting at Town Hall (corner of Main and Laurel St.), Saturday only from 11am to 1pm or until the chowder runs out. Call Chamber of Commerce for details, 707- 961-6300
• Wine Tasting begins at Town Hall (corner of Main and Laurel St.). Stop by to purchase your glass and pick up a map of Historic Downtown and wine tasting hosts. Saturday only from 2pm-5pm. Call Chamber of Commerce for details, 707- 961-6300
• Whale Cruises from Noyo Harbor: Whale watching from a charter boat offers a once in a lifetime viewing opportunity. Because whales are close to shore, sightings usually occur within a short 5-15 minute ride.  Call Chamber of Commerce for details, 707- 961-6300
• Whale Watching by Horseback: Miles of visually stunning beach, with migrating whales on the horizon — awesome! Call Ricochet Ridge Ranch for details, 707-964-7669 or 888-873-5777 (toll free).
• Whale Watching at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens: Cozy up and view Gray Whales from the Garden's rustic Cliff House, nestled into the bluff along the ocean's edge — or stroll along the large expanse of ocean-side bluffs for unobstructed views. Hours: 9am-5pm.
• Point Cabrillo Light House: Docents on hand with whale watching binoculars 10am - 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. Other activities: see a tide pool aquarium, light station history presentations, a life-size gray whale jigsaw puzzle for the kids, Audubon Society-led morning bird identification walks. Hot drinks, cookies, lunch available for purchase in the lighthouse lobby.
• Microbrew Beer Tasting and Barbecue at Eagles Hall, 210 N Cory St, Saturday only from 12-5 pm. Local brewers are sampling some of their finest beers, and a few not yet on the market.

For more information: Call 707- 961-6300, or visit www.mendowhale.com

SOURCE Fort Bragg Whale Festival