The Pacific Rim National Park, along with the communities of Tofino and Ucluelet, join together to celebrate the annual return of the whales. Gray whales travel close to shore, pausing to feed in shallow waters. This provides viewers excellent opportunities to observe the whales from strategic locations. The greatest number of whales can be seen March 15 to mid June, but many whales remain in local waters to feed until the October migration.

The Pacific Rim Whale Festival offers daily events for the entire family, which will delight and entertain you. There is a wide range of events to provide entertainment & educational activities for all. A few of the highlights include: the Chowder Chow Down, where a variety of Chefs participate in a cook-off competition, the Parade of Whales, daily Art Shows featuring the talents of our west coast artists, the return of Roy Henry Vickers and his native storytelling, a sand castle building contest, and the Build-a-Whale exhibit where one can assist in the reconstruction of a complete killer whale skeleton. During the festival, most whalewatching tours are running. For more information & an up-todate schedule of events, visit their website at: www.pacificrimwhalefestival.com