Do the Right thing!

The second annual Right Whale Festival is being held on November 20 from 10 am to 4 pm at the Sea Walk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach. The inaugural event held last year brought enthusiastic participation from sponsors, local vendors, conservation organizations and the community. The 2010 event is hoping to build on this success by continuing to raise public awareness of this critically endangered species. With as few as 350 remaining, there are many local efforts to protect these critically endangered whales from extinction. The annual Right Whale Festival focused on we can lessen human impacts and bring peace to the right whales that share our coastal waters!
North Atlantic right whales face constant threats, such as boat collisions and fishing gear entanglements, associated with sharing their coastal home with humans. Each year, right whales migrate more than 1,000 miles from their feeding grounds off Canada and New England to the warm, calm coastal waters off South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. From November 15 through April 15, right whales give birth and nurse their young in these waters, which are the only known calving area for the species.
This free, one-day family-oriented festival will feature live music by the Split Tones and Saltwater Cowgirls, children’s obstacle course and educational passport program with prizes, and a beach clean-up at 9 am. Attendees will learn about the importance of this region for right whales, local right whale conservation efforts and protection measures, and the value of protecting these amazing marine mammals. Food, art and nature-themed merchandise will be available for purchase and a silent auction will be held to support the festival. This will also be a unique opportunity to talk face-to-face with local scientists and gain some hands-on knowledge of right whale biology and research activities. Please join us as we celebrate this winter’s return of the right whale! For more information visit: www.rightwhalefestival.org.

● 9- 11 am: Beach cleanup
● 10 am: Festival officially begins! Kids’s activities, booth, exhibits, obstacle course,
silent auction and more
● 10:30 am- noon: Children’s music with Saltwater Cowgirls
● 11 am: Beach run
● Noon- 1:30 pm: Live music with Split Tone
● 1 pm: Steel drum demo (come try it for free)
● 1:30- 2 pm: Saltwater Cowgirls play the kid’s favorites
● 2- 2:30 pm: Live music with Victoria Zarlenga
● 2:30- 4 pm: Live music with Split Tone continues on the main stage
● 4 pm: Silent auction ends – don’t miss your chance to get great deals & help a great
cause!