28th Annual Fort Bragg Whale Festival Takes Place March 20 & 21

FORT BRAGG, Calif., Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Microbrew tasting and whale watching will be the featured attractions of the 28th Annual Fort Bragg Whale Festival March 20th and 21st. Along with dozens of microbrews provided by the Fort Bragg Rotary Club, the area's top chefs will produce their favorite chowders. A marine mammal art exhibit and crafts fair are also part of the two-day festival. With some 20,000 gray whales migrating north from birthing grounds in Mexico to their winter home in Alaska, there will be plenty of whales to view from the Pomo Bluffs Park in Fort Bragg and miles of beaches in MacKerricher State Park just north of the city.

Major events include:

14th Annual Fort Bragg Beer Festival: March 20, Eagles Hall, 210 N. Corry St. Sample award winning Belgians, porters, stouts, IPA's, ales and more.

Jughandle Creek Nature Center: Naturalist guided whale-watching walks by reservation. Spotting scopes, educational materials provided. Contact: Helene Chalfin, 707-964-4630 or email: [email protected]

Town Hall Chowder Tasting: Saturday 11am until the chowder runs out. Corner of Main (Hwy 1) & Laurel St. T-shirts and tote bags available during event. Arrive early to avoid long lines for chowder. Tickets $10.

Whale Cruises from Noyo Harbor: Call Fort Bragg Chamber of Commerce for details, 707-961-6300

Pt. Cabrillo Lighthouse: Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4pm. Tide pool exhibits, lighthouse history, 1850 shipwreck artifacts from The Frolic, whale watching, information from Audubon Society and Marine Mammal Center of Sausalito.

Whale Walks at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens: Sat and Sun, 1pm, Hwy 1, Fort Bragg

Guided Whale Walks at MacKerricher State Park: Sat & Sun, call 707-964-8898 for details

6th Annual Marine Art Exhibit at the Mendocino Art Center: Featuring the original work of late, honored marine artist JD Mayhew and others, Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4pm, Little Lake St., Mendocino

Whale Watching by horseback: Call Chamber of Commerce for referrals, 707-961-6300 between 9-5 on weekdays, 9-3 on Saturday

26th Annual Whale Run & Walk: Saturday, 8:30 am start time (In front of the Skunk Train Depot) W. Laurel St - Pudding Creek Trestle - Haul Rd. Fort Bragg 10k & 5k run; 5k competitive walk; 5k fun walk. Register on-line at theschedule.com

SOURCE Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce