‘Whale of a Day’ celebrants are hoping that the guest of honor spouts off.

If you think you have a long, slow commute, consider the travels of the Pacific gray whale. On their annual migration from the Bering Sea to the warm lagoons of Baja California, gray whales swim for 15 to 20 hours a day at an average speed of 5 m.p.h. A pace like that for 6,000 to 7,000 miles is enough to make an impatient whale blow its stack.

The Point Vicente Interpretive Center in Rancho Palos Verdes celebrates the gray whale migration Saturday with its eighth annual “Whale of a Day” festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“It will be a fun day for all ages, not just for kids,” said Laura Neureither, the center’s assistant director.

Visitors will find games, storytellers, exhibits by local artists, food booths, crafts for sale, a raffle and--with a little luck--whales.

“A lot of people don’t know about the Pacific gray whale migration,” said Nancy Pierce, the center’s director. “We hope a little knowledge will help to protect these giants.”

The gray whale was removed recently from the endangered species list but remains on the threatened list, said Jan Coconis, a staff member at the center. The focus is now on protecting the Mexican bays and lagoons where they give birth and breed.

The best-known and most frequently seen whales in California, gray whales reach 35 to 50 feet in length and around 20 to 40 tons in weight. They are black, mottled with gray, and often covered with barnacles. They have a distinct ridge on their back, followed by a series of bumps.

From December to February, the whales can be seen traveling south along the California coast, often in groups of two to five, as they head for the waters off Mexico. It takes two or three months to make the trip from Alaska.

In March and April, the whales make their way back north, often very close to the shore. The back patio of the Point Vicente Interpretive Center, which looks out on the coast atop a 100-foot cliff, offers a prime vantage point for whale watching.

“The first thing you usually spot is the blow,” Coconis said. The blow, or spout, is a misty spray that reaches 10 feet high as it is exhaled by the whale.

“If they dive, you can see their tail,” Coconis said, “and sometimes they jump out of the water. But usually they’re just busy swimming.”

Point Vicente is the location of a gray whale census conducted by members of the group Whalewatch. Volunteers spotted 49 gray whales on Tuesday and 20 by midday Wednesday, Pierce said.

Visitors may picnic in the park around the center or enjoy the festivities while waiting for a whale sighting, which could happen any time since the whales don’t adhere to a rigid schedule.

If you don’t want to wait for a real whale to swim by, you can have your picture taken petting an enlarged photograph of one. People who have gotten close enough to pet a real gray whale have found them to be “curious and friendly,” Coconis said. “They don’t seem to be afraid of people.”

What: Eighth-annual “Whale of a Day” festival.

Where: Point Vicente Interpretive Center, 31501 Palos Verdes Drive West, Rancho Palos Verdes at the end of Hawthorne Boulevard near the lighthouse.

When: Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission: The outside activities are free; admission to the museum is $1.50 for adults and 75 cents for children and people over 55.

Information: (310) 377-5370.