All events are subject to change. Please confirm with the event organizer before attending.
Maritime Festival at Ocean Institute in Dana Point
September 12-14: Celebrate California's rich maritime history with a fun-filled weekend featuring visiting Tall Ships, cannon battles, mermaid swim shows, pirate school, re-enactors and sailor camp, local vendors, live music, food trucks and more.
Sea Shanty Sunday at Ocean Institute in Dana Point
July 27 & August 24: Climb aboard a tall ship to sing sea shanties, learn sailor talk, and hear pirate stories during this maritime-themed sing-along. Costumes welcome!
Founder’s Day at Ocean Institute in Dana Point
August 23: Enjoy hands-on activities, tide pool touch tanks, and more during Founder's Day.
Sail on ‘Spirit of Dana Point’ with Ocean Institute
2nd Saturdays, May-December: Set sail aboard the Spirit of Dana Point and experience California from the perspective of an early tallship explorer. Join the crew to help raise sail, handle lines, and steer the ship, or simply sit back, relax and enjoy the majesty of sailing the seas aboard a tallship.
Sharks After Dark at Ocean Institute
July 11 & August 8: Guests explore interactive spaces and activities that indulge curiosity, observe nightโactive sharks and rays, and catch an exciting shark feeding session, with beer, wine, food trucks and live music on site.
Tidepool Hike at Ocean Institute
January 25 - March 1: Join the Ocean Institute for a tidepool hike led by an expert naturalist. Families can explore the are and search for snails, crabs, sea stars, and other animals. The winter months are the best time to explore these magical marine ecosystems.
Girls in Ocean Science Conference with Ocean Institute
February 22: Middle and high school girls will spend the day conducting research with leading scientists inside labs and at sea aboard the research vessel.
Whale and Marine Life Tour at Ocean Institute
NOW - DECEMBER 30: Join the crew of the Research Vesselย Sea Explorer for a Whale Watching experience. See whales, dolphins, sea lions, and more as your explore the Pacific Ocean.
Sharks After Dark at Ocean Institute
EVERY TUESDAY, JUNE - AUGUST: Visit Ocean Institute after hours to learn about sharks, bioluminescence, plus create a glow-in-the-dark craft, enjoy a tide pool touch tanks, and more.
Hลkลซle’a Arrival Ceremony to Dana Point Harbor
NOVEMBER 4: Join Dana Point OC Sheriffย and Ocean Institute as they welcome the Hลkลซleสปa with a water salute, then watch it be escorted by canoe clubs to the Ocean Institute's dock. The public is invited inside the Ocean Institute for a welcome ceremony in the courtyard with speeches, cultural tributes, and ceremonial dances.
Bioluminescence Night Cruise at Ocean Institute
SELECT DATES, MAY 20, JUNE 15-17, JULY 13-15, AUG 17-19, SEP 14-16, OCT 12-14: Come aboard the R/V Sea Explorer and join the Ocean Institute at night off the coast of Dana Point to explore the nocturnal world of marine birds, sea lions, and bioluminescent plankton.
Spooky Seas at Ocean Institute in Dana Point
OCTOBER 29: Visit the Mad Scientist Lab, play bioluminescence laser tag, trick-or-treat throughout the night, check out the Artifact Graveyard, and enjoy aquarium access, music, plus food and drinks for purchase.
Tall Ship Sail at Ocean Institute
TUESDAY, MARCH 22 & 28: Discover California from the perspective of an early tall ship explorer. Join the crew to help raise sail, handle lines, and steer the ship, or simply sit back, relax, and enjoy sailing the seas during sunset aboard a tall ship.
Tall Ship Tour at Ocean Institute
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23: Go on a dock side educational tour of theย Exy andย Irvine Johnsonย tall ships. Tours are happening every 15 minutes.
Festival of Whales Activities at Ocean Institute
MARCH 4-6: Ocean Institute is participating in the Dana Point Festival of Whales with a series of special events and activities. Join them for the sunset welcoming ceremony, go on a whale and marine life boat tour, learn about whales, and become a junior whale researcher.
Yule-Tide Holiday Market at Ocean Institute
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2021: This holiday market will bring local makers, artists, and craftspeople together with the community for a unique holiday shopping experience filled with high quality one-of-a-kind handmade goods.
Ocean Institute Annual Maritime Festival
SEPTEMBER 10-12: Three-day event includes cannon battles, Mermaid Breakfast, ship tours, live music, food trucks, educational demonstrations Mermaidย Stories and Swim Shows, vendor booths and lots more.ย
Free Admission Day at Ocean Institute
JUNE 27: Free admission on Sunday. Get tickets online and use code: FREEDAY at checkout.ย
Free General Admission to Ocean Institute for Active Military & Veterans
MEMORIAL WEEKEND, MAY 29-30: Active Military & Veterans get free general admission all weekend. Learn about Moon Jellies, encounter live animals and sharks in the touch tank, and join in on hands-on activities.
Kayak Harbor Tour with Ocean Institute
SATURDAY, APRIL 10 & 24: Join the Ocean Institute for a 2-hour interactive kayak tour around the Dana Point harbor. Learn about the history of the harbor and its unique ecosystem from one of their expert Naturalists.
Neptuneโs Mysteries Spring-Break Camp at Ocean Institute
APRIL 5-9: Ages 5-7 become scientific investigators to unravel the mysteries of the ecosystems in Dana Point!
Weekend Tours at Ocean Institute
WEEKENDS, THROUGH FEBRUARY: Ocean Institute offers a Harbor Geology Tour on Saturdays, and Native Plant Garden Tour on Sundays. Book online.
Inside Out: Dissections at Ocean Institute
Learn about a squidโs internal and external anatomy in this outdoor, socially distanced dissection. After, participants will be able to observe animals at the ocean institute including swell sharks, variety of fish and a California spiny lobster. Each booking willย receiveย their own individual squid to dissect.
Weekend Wonderland at Ocean Institite
WEEKENDS, DECEMBER 12-27: Join in the Reindeer Games Lab to race reindeer and squid, learn about and make your own snow inย The More You Snow Lab, build a miniature sand snowman in CA White Christmas Lab, and build your own holiday cards and chromatography ornaments in ourย Workshop.ย
Thanksgiving 3-Day Camp – Ocean Institute in Dana Point
NOVEMBER 23-25: Join Ocean Institute for three days of fun and adventure! Camps are available for ages 5-12. A 2-hour whale watching cruise can be added on to any camp.
Capture the King Tide Nature Walk in Dana Point
Join the Ocean Institute to learn about tides and how sea level rise is impacting our local coastline, then head to the local marine protected area to document the effects of the King Tides as a citizen scientist for the California King Tide Project.
Harbor Walking Tour in Dana Point
This family friendly tour teaches about the history and development of the harbor, from Native Americans to the recreational harbor there is today.
Disclaimer:ย The Kidsguide team does their best to keep event details accurate at the time of posting, but information can change without notice! Be sure to double-check with the event organizer before heading out. Kidsguide is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or changes on our calendarโwe’re just here to help you find the fun!
