Events
Join us aboard the Western Flyer and throughout the community for upcoming tours, festivals, film screenings, and special events.
Final Weekend: Seas the Summer | September 5 & 6
Join the Western Flyer Foundation and our Moss Landing partners for the final weekend of Seas the Summer, a free community celebration featuring ocean science, art, local history, and family-friendly activities.
Saturday, September 5
- Cyanotype art activity
- Tours of Sunflower Star Laboratory
- Science and art activities and local vendors
- Free talk aboard the Western Flyer with Chanel Robles of Sunflower Star Laboratory at 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 6
- Free docked tours of the Western Flyer until 2:30 p.m.
- Tours of Sunflower Star Laboratory
- Science activities and local vendors
Date and time: Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Location: In front of Woodward Marine Market, 10932 Clam Way, Moss Landing
Admission: Free; no registration required
Presented with Sunflower Star Laboratory, Monterey Bay Eco Tours, Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust, The Ship’s Store, and Woodward Marine Market.
Hopkins Marine Station Open House | September 12
Join the Western Flyer Foundation at the Hopkins Marine Station Open House for a family-friendly day of science and discovery.
Explore ocean science through hands-on activities, demonstrations, and conversations with Stanford researchers. Stop by the Western Flyer Foundation’s education table for an interactive activity and learn about the historic Western Flyer and our education programs.
Date and time: Saturday, September 12, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Location: Hopkins Marine Station, 120 Ocean View Boulevard, Pacific Grove
Admission: Free and open to everyone
From the Gulf of California to the Edge of The Pacific | Opens September 16
Artist and natural science illustrator Monica Loncola brings art, science, and close observation together in On the Edge of the Pacific at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History.
Inspired in part by her internship with the Western Flyer Foundation and her 2025 journey aboard the Western Flyer in the Gulf of California, the exhibition celebrates the often-overlooked life found along the Pacific tideline through pencil, watercolor, ink, and oil.
On view: September 16, 2026–January 3, 2027
Meet the Artist: October 10, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Art on Tap: November 12, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Location: Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History
Doors Open California| September 19 & 20
Tour the historic Western Flyer during Doors Open California, the state’s largest celebration of historic places.
Throughout September, Doors Open California invites visitors to explore significant sites associated with California’s architecture, design, and cultural heritage. We are delighted that the Western Flyer is included this year.
Date and time: Saturday and Sunday, September 19–20, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Location: 10928 Clam Way, Moss Landing
Admission: Free; no registration required
See We Simply Liked It at Upcoming Film Festivals
California Seaweed Festival | October 23 and 24
Join the Western Flyer Foundation for a weekend celebrating seaweed, science, and our Monterey Bay community as part of the 7th Annual California Seaweed Festival!
The California Seaweed Festival brings together researchers, ocean advocates, innovators, chefs, artists, and community members to explore the science, culture, and future of seaweed and kelp forests through talks, demonstrations, tastings, hands-on activities, and more. Learn more at californiaseaweedfestival.org
Friday, October 23
Come aboard the historic Western Flyer for free docked tours. Explore the vessel and learn more about its history, legacy of ocean exploration, and continued role in marine research, education, and conservation.
Time: TBD
Location: Moss Landing
Saturday, October 24
Visit the Western Flyer Foundation’s booth for hands-on activities and information about our education and science programs.
Festival time: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Location: Old Custom House Plaza, 20 Custom House Plaza, Monterey
Admission: Free
The festival is free and open to the public. Come celebrate Monterey Bay’s incredible marine ecosystems and the people working to understand and protect them.