Sitka WhaleFest is a festival to celebrate marine life through science education, community and storytelling! Sitka WhaleFest raises awareness, educates, and creates enthusiasm for the marine environment. Our goal is to bring a deeper understanding of the marine environment to a diverse and inclusive audience in a way that all participants feel welcome and engaged.
Through a community-based festival we celebrate the marine world and our connection to it. We seek to convey that science is not just for scientists; it is a part of our everyday lives. The core of the festival is a unique science symposium for all that blends local knowledge and scientific inquiry of the rich marine environment of our oceans. Join Sitka WhaleFest virtually and celebrate with this unique tradition with our community!
The 2020 WhaleFest is donation only. If you are able to support our mission financially, we greatly appreciate any contribution.
Important Dates:
- Oct. 1 – Marketplace Vendor Registration CLOSES!! Click here to register
- Nov. 1 – Sitka WhaleFest Online Marketplace opens.
- Nov. 5-7 – Ocean Connections Presentations, 11:00am – 1:00pm each day
- Nov. 6 – Maritime Grine, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
- Nov. 7 – Don Sineti’s Sea Shanty, close of Ocean Connection
This year’s festival will include some fabulous speakers and events. The theme for our science symposium presentations is Ocean Connections: Culture and Communication. “Ocean Connections” will explore the many forms of culture and communication that are tied to the marine environment. Through the lens of Indigenous knowledge and scientific discovery, we will examine the web of interconnections that makes up the world’s oceans. We have an exciting group of speakers that will be presenting on sperm whales, dolphins, Northwest Alaska subsistence practices, killer whales and leatherback sea turtles.