Whale festivals left to right: Dana Point Festival of Whales Parade; San Pedro Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Whale Fiesta child’s duct tape whale; and whale watchers at Whale of a Day at Point Vicente Interpretive Center in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Even though whale watching ocean tours have become increasingly popular and have gone from seasonal winter boat rides to year round viewing opportunities, whale festivals and fiestas are generally held January through March.