All events are subject to change. Please confirm with the event organizer before attending.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Hōkūle’a Arrival Ceremony to Dana Point Harbor
NOVEMBER 4: Join Dana Point OC Sheriff and Ocean Institute as they welcome the Hōkūleʻa 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 the Exy and Irvine Johnson tall ships. Tours are happening every 15 minutes.
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.
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 Mermaid Stories and Swim Shows, vendor booths and lots more.
Free Admission Day at Ocean Institute
JUNE 27: Free admission on Sunday. Get tickets online and use code: FREEDAY at checkout.
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.
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.
Neptune’s 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 squid’s 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 will receive their own individual squid to dissect.
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 squid’s 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 will receive their own individual squid to dissect.
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 squid’s 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 will receive their own individual squid to dissect.
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 squid’s 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 will receive their own individual squid to dissect.
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 squid’s 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 will receive their own individual squid to dissect.
Inside Out: Dissections at Ocean Institute
Learn about a squid’s 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 will receive their own individual squid to dissect.
Disclaimer: 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 calendar—we’re just here to help you find the fun!
