A Whale of a Good Time in San Pedro

The Whale Fiesta is the Cabrillo Marine Museum’s way of saying fond adieu to the whales for another year. Now that they have left Southern California shores and returned home to northern waters, the museum will celebrate the cult of the whale with today’s free beachside and museum activities.

Everyone is invited to join in sand-sculpting the traditional 70-foot blue whale on the beach just across the parking lot from the museum. Volunteers are welcome to come anytime during the sculpting, from 10 a.m. to approximately 2:30 p.m. Nearby, the Black Label String Band will serenade everyone who joins in another sand-sculpting contest. This one, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., is for individual and group entries.

From 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., there will be children’s activities at the museum. Kids can have their faces painted as whales (no tigers today), make “whale” windsocks and color whale pictures.

Whale artist Robin Agoes Makowski will demonstrate whale-drawing from 12:30 to 1 p.m. At 1 p.m., Dave Levine will lecture on whale physiology. Here’s your chance to see whale blubber and learn how a whale “moves its nose to the top of its head.”

Once the 70-foot blue whale sculpture is finished, a helicopter will fly overhead to photograph it and a second “whale”--this one being all the whale-builders--will stand in a whale formation for another shot. The day will end with a watermelon feast.

The museum is at 3720 Stephen White Drive in San Pedro. There’s a grassy area adjacent to the museum and the beach is a few steps away. Both spots are great for picnicking. Hot dogs and soft drinks will be for sale, but museum officials suggest bringing your own picnic food and drinks. Information: (213) 548-7562. Fiesta hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.