Welcome the Whales Day Festival & Parade

Saturday, April 19, 2008
10 am - 5 pm
Langley, Whidbey Island, WA.

Orca Network, the Langley Chamber of Commerce, and South Whidbey Rotary sponsored the fifth annual Welcome the Whales Day in Langley, Whidbey Island. This event honors and celebrates the spring arrival of resident gray whales to Whidbey Island with fun and educational activities, music, presentations, and a parade of species featuring the handsome 20 foot Gray Whale, Gary.

The day began with hands-on educational displays, costume-making, and kid's activities at the Methodist Church Fellowship Hall (3rd and Anthes St.), beginning at 10 am. The Whale Museum brought their Gray Whale Skeleton project, so kids of all ages could help put the bones together while learning about these amazing whales. The "critter parade" began at 1:30, down the hill on Cascade and First Streets, ending at the Langley Waterfront Park for music and celebration. Gray whales were reported, but not seen, swimming nearby.

At 3 pm, educational slide shows were presented at the Methodist Church by Erin Falcone of Cascadia Research, and by Orca Network staff and Cindy Hansen of the Whale Museum. Erin discussed our local gray whales and the overall population of gray whales along the Pacific Coast.

Veronica Van Allworden's amazing aerial photos of gray whale feeding pits along Saratoga Passage generated much interest, and Orca Network and Cindy Hansen presented a slide show on our recent wonderful trip to Baja to visit the gray whales in their mating and birthing lagoons, where we were honored to meet a few of the "Friendly" gray whales of Baja.

We hope you joined us in this fun celebration, to strut your fur, fins, or feathers with us as we welcomed home our favorite spring visitors, the majestic Saratoga Gray whales.
Photos by Howard Garrett except where otherwise noted.

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Two baby bear cubs and an Eagle. Photo by Lynda Imburgia.



Face painting by Martha Murphy. Photo by Lynda Imburgia.



Setting up displays and meeting friends.



The day was filled with meeting and greeting.



Bears came out of the woods.



The Seattle Aquarium's display spilled onto the floor.



The Whale Museum's gray whale skeleton drew in many small people.



Critters appeared that had never been seen before.



The skeleton inspired much curiosity.



Interpreters were always ready to explain the bones.



Meanwhile more critters got ready for the parade.



Some amazing face designs were sighted.



Beach Watchers' microscopes made tiny things look very big.



Anatomically correct orcas were stretched from cheek to cheek.



Just before the parade -blue sky!.



Banners unfurled, the parade rolled down Cascade Street.



Gary nodded his respect for the hearty parade watchers.



Gary asked around to find the best ghost shrimp in town.



The soggy assortment of critters strolled down to the waterfront.



Gary starts a long dive.



Singing, chanting and praying our appreciation for the return of the whales.



The rhythm section kicks in.



Some revelers needed a boost to see better.



Jim Freeman gave voice to events.



The whales were welcome everywhere.



This is how to get close to a whale.



And a digereedoo for you, too.



Been looking all over for those whales.



She didn't find any whales, but it sure was exhileratin'.



Windwalker Taibi called for oneness with spirit guides...



...North, West, East and South.



Adornements flowed with the elements.



Fred Lundahl gonged the bell for the whales.



Followed by great talks back at the church.