Ocean Institute’s three-day celebration will bring maritime history, marine science, pirates, mermaids, live music and plenty of activity on the water to Dana Point Harbor Sept. 11 through 13.
DANA POINT—For one September weekend, Dana Point Harbor will turn back the clock to an era of towering masts, canvas sails and cannon fire, while mixing in a few mermaids, pirates, local brews and plenty of modern marine science.
The Ocean Institute’s 42nd annual Maritime Festival returns Friday, Sept. 11 through Sunday, Sept. 13, continuing a community tradition that celebrates Dana Point’s maritime heritage while inviting families to experience the ocean from just about every angle.
Tall ships will take center stage, but the weekend extends well beyond the docks. Visitors can expect local vendors, food trucks, beer gardens, children’s activities, sailor reenactors, live music, marine life encounters, pirate adventures and educational programs throughout the Ocean Institute campus at 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive.
After months of planning, Ocean Institute Growth Marketing Manager Isabela Farinella said the team is especially looking forward to seeing those individual pieces come together and the harbor fill with visitors.
“We’re most excited to see the harbor come alive,” Farinella said. “There’s something really special about seeing the tall ships arrive, families filling the waterfront, cannon battles out on the water, and pirates and mermaids telling stories.”
The Ocean Institute team works on the Maritime Festival for much of the year, she added, making the opportunity to finally watch guests experience the event particularly rewarding.
About The Ocean Institute- The Maritime Festival may be one of the Ocean Institute’s most visible annual events, but the nonprofit’s work in Dana Point Harbor continues throughout the year.
Founded in 1977, the Ocean Institute uses the ocean as a classroom, providing hands-on marine science, environmental education and maritime history programs for children, families, teachers and visitors. Located on 2.4 acres beside a Marine Protected Area in Dana Point Harbor, the organization serves approximately 100,000 people annually through its educational programming.
A major part of that mission takes place with school groups. Students can participate in field trips ranging from science labs and maritime history programs to overnight experiences and trips aboard the institute’s oceanographic research vessel. The campus includes teaching laboratories, the Maddie James Seaside Learning Center, the historic tall ship Spirit of Dana Point and the R/V Sea Explorer.
The institute also gives the public opportunities to experience the waters surrounding Dana Point firsthand. Programs include whale and marine life excursions, bioluminescence cruises, tall ship sails, kayak tours, guided snorkeling and tide pool hikes. Weekend admission provides another way for families to explore marine science and maritime history without participating in a scheduled school program.
Young ocean enthusiasts can go even deeper through summer camps and teen programs. Camps introduce participants to activities such as tide pooling, marine mammal observation, sailing, catch-and-release fishing, animal interactions and marine science. Older students can explore potential careers through programs focused on marine science, research and internships.
Together, those programs make the Ocean Institute more than the home of one weekend festival. It serves as a year-round connection between Dana Point Harbor, the Pacific Ocean and the next generation learning how to understand and care for it.
For programs and visitor information, visit Ocean Institute.
For the nonprofit Ocean Institute, the festival is also a fundraiser for its year-round mission. The organization is a 501(c)(3) educational facility that uses the ocean as a classroom to inspire children to learn, and 100% of proceeds from the weekend will support its operations and educational mission.
Farinella said the festival also serves as an introduction to the Ocean Institute for families who may not have experienced its programs before.
“Many guests first experience Ocean Institute through an event like Maritime Festival and then come back for our educational programs, public programs, sails, whale and marine life tours and other experiences throughout the year,” Farinella said.
As a nonprofit, she said attendance, ticketed experiences, sponsorships and community partnerships help the institute continue providing hands-on programs in marine science, maritime history and environmental education.
The festivities begin Friday evening with two experiences that put the maritime in Maritime Festival.
Cannon Battles will be offered Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m., giving guests an opportunity to board a historic tall ship and head offshore for a mock battle under sail. Passengers can learn about maritime history while experiencing towering rigging, busy decks, sails filled with wind and, of course, booming cannons.
Those who want to participate can work alongside the crew hauling sail, while others can simply enjoy the demonstration and the experience of being aboard a traditional sailing vessel off Dana Point.
For Farinella, experiences like the Cannon Battles are part of what connects the modern-day festival to Dana Point’s history on the water.
“Maritime Festival weekend is really a celebration of Dana Point Harbor’s rich maritime heritage and history,” she said. “For more than four decades, the festival has brought that history to life through tall ships, traditional sailing, cannon battles and hands-on experiences that connect guests to Dana Point’s deep roots on the water.”
Check-in for Cannon Battles begins at 3:30 p.m., followed by boarding at 4 p.m. Ships depart the dock at 4:30 p.m., with sailing and cannon battles scheduled from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The vessels will reenter Dana Point Harbor around 7 p.m. and return to the dock at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Tall ship passengers must be at least 4 years old. Tall Ship Sail tickets are $80 and include a Festival Adventure Pass.
Those who prefer to watch the action rather than join the battle can board the R/V Sea Explorer Escort Cruise for $60. The escort cruise is open to all ages and includes complimentary beer and wine for passengers 21 and older. All Cannon Battle tickets are 15% off Friday, Sept. 11, with the discount automatically applied at checkout.
Back on shore Friday night, the festival will officially get underway with Sails ‘N Ales: Brews and Stews Kick-Off Party from 6 to 10 p.m.
The 21-and-older waterfront event combines craft beer, food, music and tall ships. Guests can sample brews and hearty stews from local breweries and restaurants while enjoying live music and views of the visiting vessels.
This year, Sails ‘N Ales also will introduce a new Pilgrim Stew competition, with local restaurants putting their own interpretations on a dish with longstanding ties to sailors and the Ocean Institute.
Stews historically offered sailors and coastal communities a practical meal because they could be prepared in large quantities using relatively simple and readily available ingredients. At the Ocean Institute, however, Pilgrim Stew carries another layer of nostalgia.
“For generations, students have made it aboard the Pilgrim and now Spirit of Dana Point as part of our overnight maritime programs, a field trip that has become a rite of passage for so many Dana Point and Southern California students,” Farinella said.
Bringing the dish into Sails ‘N Ales, she said, provides a way to celebrate that tradition while allowing longtime Ocean Institute visitors to revisit a familiar memory.
Sails ‘N Ales activities also include a tide pool touch tank and the Ocean Institute’s shark exhibit, with additional food available for purchase. General entry is $15.
Brew and stew tasting tickets can be purchased in advance or at the event and can be used for either category. Five tastings cost $12; 10 tastings, $20; and unlimited tastings, $35. Five- and 10-tasting packages may be shared among a group, while unlimited tasting tickets are limited to the individual ticket holder. Wine and nonalcoholic beverages also will be available for purchase.
Saturday and Sunday bring the full daytime festival experience.
The Festival Adventure Pass provides admission for both days, Sept. 12 and 13, with festival activities scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The weekend pass costs $20 for adults, $18.50 for seniors 55 and older, $17 for children 19 months through 13 years old, and is free for infants and toddlers through 18 months.
The pass opens the door to hands-on activities focused on marine science and maritime history throughout the Ocean Institute’s main campus.
Families can explore marine life artifacts, learn about the history of whaling, participate in a scrimshaw activity and visit local aquaria and marine life exhibits. Other activities include gold panning, tide pool and shark touch tanks and a sea monster scavenger hunt.
Pirate and Mermaid Story Times will add a little fantasy to the science. Pirate Story Times are scheduled for 10:55 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., while Mermaid Story Times will be offered at 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
The pass also provides access to the Maddie James Seaside Learning Center and Historical Wharf, where visitors can explore historic vessels during Tall Ship Tours. Tours close at 3 p.m. each day as crews begin preparing the vessels for the afternoon Cannon Battles.
Active service members and veterans will receive free festival general admission. No advance reservation is necessary; guests can present valid identification at festival check-in. Sea Star, Captain Compass, Ocean Advocate and Sealife Sponsor members also receive complimentary Festival Adventure Pass tickets and can claim them through their household membership accounts.
Festival passes will be available for purchase both online and at the event.
And while some young festivalgoers may arrive knowing plenty about pirates, the School for Scallywags intends to make their education official.
Local favorite Cap’n Will will teach young adventurers what it takes to become a pirate, from learning the ropes to practicing maritime skills. School for Scallywags sessions will be offered Saturday and Sunday from 8:45 to 9:30 a.m., 9:45 to 10:30 a.m., and 12:10 to 12:55 p.m.
Pirates, however, will have some competition for attention.
Mermaid programming will fill both Saturday and Sunday with a combination of swimming performances, character experiences and ocean stewardship education.
Each day begins with a Mermaid Swim Show from 8:45 to 9:30 a.m. The interactive performances are designed for children of all ages and combine underwater entertainment with lessons about becoming ocean stewards.
From 9:30 to 11:15 a.m., the Mermaids & Mateys Breakfast gives guests the chance to dine with mermaids and pirate mateys over a brunch board while watching a mermaid swim show.
The Mermaid Grotto: Meet and Greet follows from 11:00 to 11:45 a.m., allowing children to meet a mermaid up close, ask questions and take photos.
Additional Mermaid Swim Shows are scheduled Saturday and Sunday from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 12:15 to 1:00 p.m. A fourth Saturday show is scheduled from 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.
Saturday’s mermaid festivities continue with Mermaid Tea by the Sea from 2:15 to 4:00 p.m., featuring an afternoon selection of finger sandwiches, scones and teas.
Not every experience requires a ticket.
Several free areas will operate Saturday and Sunday, making it possible to enjoy part of the Maritime Festival simply by heading down to the harbor.
The Live Music & Beer Garden will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days with live bands, games and a beer garden.
Peddler’s Village also will operate from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., bringing together food trucks, vendors, local businesses and handmade goods. The marketplace gives the festival a distinctly community-oriented component and offers visitors a chance to support businesses and makers while spending the day along the waterfront.
That community component is central to the festival, according to Farinella. Thousands of people are expected to come into the harbor over the weekend, creating an opportunity for residents and visitors to explore the waterfront and support surrounding businesses.
“It’s also an opportunity for Ocean Institute to bring together so many different partners, organizations, vendors, performers and maritime groups,” Farinella said. “It really feels like a community event rather than simply an Ocean Institute event.”
History comes to life at Sailor Camp, open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The reenactment camp will feature living-history demonstrations and a beer garden, providing a glimpse into the lives and traditions of sailors from an earlier era.
The Pirate Adventure Show will take place aboard the Spirit of Dana Point at 10:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. both days. The live show is designed for all ages and adds another dose of swashbuckling fun to the weekend.
With the Dana Point Harbor revitalization underway, getting to this year’s festival will require a little additional planning.
Farinella said the Ocean Institute has been particularly mindful of transportation, parking and guest access while organizing the 2026 event.
“The harbor revitalization is obviously a major project, so we’ve been very thoughtful about transportation, parking and guest access as we plan this year’s festival,” she said. “Our goal is to make getting to and from the event as easy as possible while construction continues.”
Organizers are encouraging visitors to use the new Dana Point Harbor parking structure at Golden Lantern and Dana Point Harbor Drive. The first four hours of parking are free, with each additional hour costing $6. The daily maximum is $24, and the fee for a lost ticket also is $24.
From there, festivalgoers can ride the free Dana Point Trolley and exit at Stop N7B for Baby Beach and the Ocean Institute.
The trolley will operate Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., providing transportation throughout the harbor during festival weekend.
Visitors also can avoid parking altogether by using Uber or Lyft and requesting drop-off at the Ocean Institute and Maritime Festival entrance. Parking is particularly limited for Friday’s Sails ‘N Ales celebration, and organizers are encouraging carpooling or rideshare use for the evening event.
Farinella said the institute is working closely with its harbor partners and will continue sharing updated parking, transportation and access information as the festival approaches.
After 42 years, the Maritime Festival has become more than an annual lineup of activities. It is a weekend that brings together many of the things that define Dana Point: its harbor, sailing heritage, marine life, waterfront businesses, educational organizations and generations of families who have grown up around the sea.
Farinella believes that distinctly local identity is a major reason the event has endured.
“I think Maritime Festival has lasted for more than four decades because it feels authentically Dana Point,” she said. “The harbor, the tall ships, our maritime history and our connection to the ocean are all part of this community’s identity.”
That history is now spanning generations. Farinella said Ocean Institute staff hear from adults who attended what was formerly known as the Tall Ships Festival when they were children and now return with children of their own.
“That generational connection is something you can’t manufacture, and it’s a huge part of what makes the festival so special,” she said.
The tradition also is preparing to evolve alongside the waterfront where it has grown up. As the Dana Point Harbor revitalization moves forward, Farinella said the Ocean Institute sees the Maritime Festival remaining part of the community’s next chapter rather than becoming simply a reminder of its past.
“There is a lot of excitement around the future of the harbor, and we want the festival to remain one of those traditions that connects Dana Point’s maritime history with where the community is headed next,” Farinella said.
That connection is particularly fitting for the Ocean Institute, where learning about the ocean often means touching a tide pool animal, stepping aboard a ship or heading out onto the water rather than simply reading about it.
From the first cannon blast Friday afternoon to the final pirate, mermaid and tall ship adventures Sunday, the 42nd Maritime Festival will once again turn Dana Point Harbor into one big maritime classroom, with plenty of room for a little make-believe along the way.
