Huge whale balloons and marching bands kicked up the energy on Saturday, March 5, in Dana Point Harbor during the Magical Migration Parade.
The parade kicked off the 51st Festival of the Whales, featuring two fun-filled days in the harbor.
The festival celebrates the migration of gray whales past Dana Point as they travel from Alaska’s Bering Sea to the warm lagoons of Baja, Mexico.
A Festival of Whales Parade participant wears a festive hat just prior to the start of the parade in Dana Point on Saturday, March 5, 2022.The parade is part of the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Festival of Whales Parade participants make their way over the Island Way bridge in Dana Point Harbor to the start of the parade in Dana Point on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The parade is part of the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Festival of Whales Parade Grand Marshall Jean Pierre Van Swae waves to the crowd from the back of a pickup truck along Island Way in Dana Point Harbor in Dana Point on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The parade is part of the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A large whale balloon is inflated just prior to the start of the Festival of Whales Parade in Dana Point on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The parade is part of the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A large shark balloon is held close to the ground due to high winds as it makes its way over the Island Way bridge in Dana Point Harbor during the Festival of Whales Parade on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The parade is part of the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Christine Fiene of Dana Point watches the Festival of Whales Parade from along Island Way in Dana Point on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The parade is part of the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dana Hills High School Band performs in the Festival of Whales Parade as they march over the Island Way bridge in Dana Point on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The parade is part of the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A large turtle balloon is held close to the ground due to high winds as it makes its way over the Island Way bridge in Dana Point Harbor during the Festival of Whales Parade on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The parade is part of the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Festival of Whales Parade participants wave from a float during the parade in Dana Point on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The parade is part of the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Parade participants make their way along Island Way in Dana Point Harbor during the Festival of Whales Parade on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The parade is part of the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A large shark balloon is held close to the ground due to high winds as it makes its way over the Island Way bridge in Dana Point Harbor during the Festival of Whales Parade on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The parade is part of the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A crowd gathers for the start of the Festival of Whales Parade along Island Way in Dana Point Harbor in Dana Point on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The parade is part of the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A float makes its way along Island Way in Dana Point Harbor during the Festival of Whales Parade on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The parade is part of the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Members of OC Gilr Scout Daisy Troop 1487 wave to the crowd as they make their way along Island Way in Dana Point Harbor during the Festival of Whales Parade on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The parade is part of the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A stuffed toy shark puppet greets parade watchers from a vehicle traveling along Island Way during the Festival of Whales Parade in Dana Point on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The parade is part of the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Festival of Whales Parade participants have their photo taken just prior to the start of the parade in Dana Point on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The parade is part of the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
An inflatable shark rides on top of a vehicle during the Festival of Whales Parade in Dana Point on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The parade is part of the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A large whale balloon is held close to the ground due to high winds as it makes its way over the Island Way bridge in Dana Point Harbor during the Festival of Whales Parade on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The parade is part of the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Parade participants carry surfboards as they make their way along Island Way in Dana Point Harbor during the Festival of Whales Parade on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The parade is part of the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Classic cars pass by the crowd as they make their way along Island Way in Dana Point Harbor during the Festival of Whales Parade on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The parade is part of the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A large turtle balloon is held close to the ground due to high winds as it makes its way over the Island Way bridge in Dana Point Harbor during the Festival of Whales Parade on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The parade is part of the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
An inflatable whale rides in the back of a vehicle during the Festival of Whales Parade in Dana Point on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The parade is part of the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A large whale balloon is held close to the ground due to high winds as it makes its way over the Island Way bridge in Dana Point Harbor during the Festival of Whales Parade on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The parade is part of the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A stuffed toy octopus rides on the front of a vehicle during the Festival of Whales Parade in Dana Point on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The parade is part of the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Parade participants wear whale hats during the Festival of Whales Parade in Dana Point Harbor in Dana Point on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The parade is part of the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Festival events continue Sunday in the harbor with a beach cleanup, art shows, a car show and live music. Information: festivalofwhales.com.
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- on March 6, 2022