2022 Sanctuary Fest
Join us for Sanctuary Fest on September 18th to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the 50th anniversary of the National Marine Sanctuary System!
Sanctuary Fest will take place in Santa Cruz from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. along the Santa Cruz Wharf, Cowell Beach, and at the Sanctuary Exploration Center located across the street. Come enjoy, experience ocean recreation activities, and learn how you can help protect Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. This free, family-friendly event will feature:
- Free kayaking nature tours from the Santa Cruz Wharf with Venture Quest Kayaks (must be pre-registered, limited space available, see “Free Activities Registration” below).
- Free stand-up paddleboarding lessons at Cowell Beach with Club Ed Surf School (must be pre-registered, limited space available, see “Free Activities Registration” below).
- Free guided sanctuary wildlife tours along the Santa Cruz Wharf with knowledgeable NOAA staff (must be pre-registered, limited space available, see “Free Activities Registration” below).
- Partner exhibitor fair with valued sanctuary partners in ocean protection, education, and conservation.
- Speaker’s ceremony with sanctuary superintendent and special guests.
- Virtual scavenger hunt with sanctuary-themed prizes!
- Marine science talks by NOAA staff at the Sanctuary Exploration Center.
- Fish printing, kids art activities, short ocean film festival, and more!
Alongside our partners Pu Pu’O Hawai’i Outrigger Canoe Club, experience the 30th annual Aloha Outrigger Races starting off the wharf beginning at 9:00 a.m!
Stop by the free exhibitor fair featuring our partners: Save The Waves, Marine Life Studies, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, Save the Whales, O’Neill Sea Odyssey, California Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Save Our Shores, and many more!
Free Activities Registration:
All participants must pre-register here for the following free activities using the reservation system. If a preferred activity or time slot is already filled, you can register to be placed on the waitlist.
- Kayak nature tour hosted by Venture Quest Kayaks: 4 tours available, 1.5 hours in duration, limited to 12 participants (see times below)
- Stand-up paddleboarding lesson at Cowell Beach with Club Ed Surf School: 4 sessions available, 1.5 hours in duration, limited to 12 participants (see times below)
- Guided sanctuary wildlife tour along the Santa Cruz Wharf: 2 tours available, 30 minutes in duration, limited to 12 participants (see times below)
Sanctuary Fest full schedule of events:
| 9:00 AM | Aloha Outrigger Races start, please register in advance with City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department. Location: Santa Cruz Wharf |
| 10:00 AM | Sanctuary Exploration Center opens (10:00am – 4:00pm) Location: 35 Pacific Ave (across from Wharf) Partner Exhibitor Fair opens (10:00am – 3:00pm) Location: Santa Cruz Wharf stage area Virtual Scavenger Hunt (10:00am – 4:00pm) Location: Santa Cruz Wharf and Sanctuary Exploration Center Paddleboarding session #1 (10:00am – 11:30am) Location: Club Ed Surf School on Cowell Beach Kayaking nature tour #1 (10:00am – 11:30am) Location: Venture Quest Kayaks on the Santa Cruz Wharf |
| 11:00 AM | Guided sanctuary wildlife tour #1 (11:00am – 11:30am) Location: Sanctuary booth/Santa Cruz Wharf stage area Paddleboarding session #2 (11:00am – 12:30pm) Location: Club Ed Surf School on Cowell Beach Kayaking nature tour #2 (11:00am – 12:30pm) Location: Venture Quest Kayaks on the Santa Cruz Wharf Fish Printing (11:00am – 3:00pm) Location: Sanctuary Exploration Center |
| 11:30 AM | Marine Science Talk (11:30am – 12:30pm) “Large Whale Entanglement Response: A Tail of Two Sanctuaries” with Ed Lyman, NOAA Regional Large Whale Entanglement Response Coordinator, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Location: Sanctuary Exploration Center Theater |
| 12:00 PM | Aloha Outrigger Races end Location: Santa Cruz Wharf Sand Castle Building with the Sandguys (12:00pm – 3:00pm) Location: Cowell Beach near wharf |
| 12:30 PM | Hula Performance (12:45pm – 1:00pm) by Kūhai Hālau O Mehanakealohakalaua'eikapoli Pā 'Ōlapa Kahiko under the direction of Kumu Hula Mehana Thomas Location: Santa Cruz Wharf stage area Paddleboarding session #3 (12:30pm – 2:00pm) Location: Club Ed Surf School on Cowell Beach Kayaking nature tour #3 (12:30pm – 2:00pm) Location: Venture Quest Kayaks on the Santa Cruz Wharf |
| 1:00 PM | Sanctuary Anniversary Speaker Ceremony and Aloha Outrigger Race Award Ceremony Location: Santa Cruz Wharf stage area |
| 1:30 PM | Paddleboarding session #4 (1:30pm – 3:00pm) Location: Club Ed Surf School on Cowell Beach Kayaking nature tour #4 (1:30pm – 3:00pm) Location: Venture Quest Kayaks on the Santa Cruz Wharf |
| 2:00 PM | Marine Science Talk (2:00pm – 3:00pm) "Discoveries in the Deep" with Dr. Andrew DeVogelaere, Sanctuary Research Ecologist Location: Sanctuary Exploration Center Guided sanctuary wildlife tour #2 (2:00pm – 2:30pm) Location: Sanctuary booth/Santa Cruz Wharf stage area |
| 3:00 PM | Sanctuary Fest ends |
This event is in partnership with the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation, the Santa Cruz Wharf, and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.
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Download the event flier here (594K PDF).