Events

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Whale Fest Monterey 2026
Saturday & Sunday, April 11–12, 2026

Western Flyer Activities & Open House

  • Dates: Saturday & Sunday, April 11–12, 2026

  • Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday and Sunday

  • Location: Old Fisherman’s Wharf / Custom House Plaza

  • Cost: FREE

Join us on Saturday and Sunday in the Custom House Plaza to create, inspire, and stir curiosity with hands-on educational activities. Then on Sunday April 12th, step aboard the historic research vessel Western Flyer for free open-house tours during Whale Fest Monterey. Meet the Western Flyer Foundation team and crew, explore the deck of this legendary vessel, and learn how the Flyer continues to inspire marine science, education, and ocean stewardship today.

Please note that tours are ONLY offered on Sunday April 12th and are first-come, first-served, and run throughout the day as capacity allows.

Movie Night with the Western Flyer
Two Films. One Legendary Vessel.
April 17, 2026 • Pacific Grove

This community gathering brings together two short films and a live, onstage conversation with the people who made them—and lived the story.

Friday, April 17 | 6:30–8:30 PM

Lighthouse Cinema, 525 Lighthouse Ave, Pacific Grove, CA

Doors Open: 6:30 PM
Mingling, food, and drinks (no-host bar; food available for purchase).

Program Begins: 7:00 PM

What to Expect

  • Welcome remarks from the Western Flyer Foundation and filmmaker Aaron Straight of SoulCraft Allstars

  • Opening Film: The Western Flyer (12 minutes), narrated by Emmy Award–winning actor and comedian Nick Offerman, introducing the vessel’s history and enduring legacy

  • Featured Screening: We Simply Liked It: Steinbeck, Ricketts, & the Return of the Western Flyer (23 minutes), the award-winning short documentary filmed during the Flyer’s 85th Anniversary return voyage to Mexico’s Gulf of California

  • Live onstage conversation and audience Q&A with the filmmakers, expedition crew, and the Western Flyer Foundation team

Get Tickets

Pacific Grove Annual Good Old Days Street Festival & Faire
May 2nd and 3rd, 2026 • Downtown Pacific Grove, CA

Come check out the Western Flyer Foundation’s information and merchandise booth, other local art vendors, music, and more! Learn about how the Western Flyer is stirring curiosity today through education and research, and how to get involved.

Saturday, May 2, 2026: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Sunday, May 3, 2026: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Admission: FREE

Location: Downtown Pacific Grove, CA (primarily along Lighthouse Avenue)

 

Return to the Pacific Northwest May 6 to June 7, 2026

The Western Flyer is traveling to Oregon and Washington this spring, retracing its roots along the waterways where it was built, worked, and restored—this time as a platform for ocean science and education. Public tours and events along the route will invite coastal communities to connect with the vessel’s history and mission.

More Information

Join the Western Flyer in the Gulf of California!
APRIL 21 – MAY 2, 2027

In spring 2027, the Western Flyer is returning to the waters that inspired The Log from the Sea of Cortez. Join a special 10-night voyage aboard the UnCruise vessel Safari Voyager and travel with the Western Flyer as scientists explore the remarkable ecosystems of the Gulf of California.

  • Enjoy daily access to the historic Western Flyer
  • Observe and participate in scientific research
  • Explore tidepools and coastal ecosystems with marine scientists
  • Join conversations with researchers, educators, and artists traveling on the voyage
    and much more!

Learn More & Reserve Your Cabin:
westernflyer.org/gulf-voyage-2027