November 19th, 10am-4pm
Come out and celebrate the North Atlantic right whales’ annual return to their only known calving area in the Southeast U.S. as the Right Whale Watch Season begins. Jacksonville Beach will host the third annual Right Whale Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19th, 2011, at the Sea Walk Pavilion. The festival is free to the public and has something for everyone with fun kids’ activities, a beach cleanup, live music, food vendors, a 5K/1.5K run/walk and booths and displays to educate and inspire the community about right whales and their conservation needs.
The waters off north Florida and south Georgia are the only known right whale calving grounds in the southeastern U.S. Every winter, right whales migrate south along the U.S. east coast to give birth and nurture their calves in the warm coastal waters off Jacksonville before returning to their feeding grounds off Cape Cod and the Bay of Fundy in April. Right whales face constant threats, including boat collisions and fishing gear entanglement, from sharing their coastal home with humans. With fewer than 350 of these gentle giants remaining, education serves as a critical component to ensuring their survival for generations to come.
Right Whale Festival Schedule of Events:
9am Beach cleanup (meet at lifeguard station south of pavilion)
Beach Run: 5K Run and 1.5 mile Walk
10am Festival Begins! Kid’s activities, Booths, Exhibits, Obstacle Course, Silent Auction, and More!
10:30am-Noon Live children’s music with Saltwater Cowgirls
Noon-1:30pm Live music with Split Tone1:30-2pm More Live Children’s Music
2-4pm Live music continues with Split Tone on Main Stage
4pm Silent Auction Ends
For more information about the third annual Right Whale Festival, please visit www.rightwhalefestival.org.
