Welcome to the Whales Festival and Parade

Don't miss the annual "Welcome the Whales Festival and Parade" in Langley to honor and celebrate the arrival of gray whales to Whidbey Island. Welcome the Whales Festival is sponsored by Orca Network and the Langley Chamber of Commerce.

Saturday April 13th, 11 am at the Langley United Methodist Church (3rd/Anthes) will be hands-on educational displays, costume-making, face painting, and children’s activities, followed by the Whale and Critter Parade in downtown Langley, beginning at 1:30 pm at the US Bank parking lot (2nd/Anthes). The parade will end at the Waterfront "Whale Bell" Park on First St. with a blessing for the whales, music, and celebration on the beach, while watching for Gray whales in Saratoga Passage. The Langley Whale Center at 105 Anthes will be open from 11 am - 5 pm, with special activities and displays about Gray whales and staffed by Orca Network/Whale Center docents.

In the afternoon presentations will begin at 3 pm back at the Langley Methodist Church. Invited presenters include Ray Fryberg of the Tulalip Tribes and John Calambokidis of Cascadia Research Collective.

Sunday, April 14th – Help protect important gray whale feeding habitat and join us for a Langley beach cleanup at 10:00 am. Then browse the Langley Whale Center's Exhibits, displays and gift shop from 11 am to 5 pm.

In the afternoon from 3 to 5 pm take to the water to see the Gray whales, on Orca Network's Gray Whale Fundraising Cruise with the Glacier Spirit. Cost is $75/person and includes appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks. Tickets are available at www.orcanetwork.org.

Please contact Cindy Hansen at cindy@orcanetwork.org for more information about Welcome the Whales weekend.