Upcoming Events
Beach Wrack Walk with Sue Magoo
You can learn a lot about the ocean by studying what washes up on shore! All that stuff is collectively called Beach Wrack and once you know what to look for, the beach becomes a treasure trove of fascination.
Post Beach Walk Pizza Party
Gather with fellow KelpFest! explorers after the Beach Wrack Walk for a relaxed and festive evening at the beautiful Larry Spring Gardens in Fort Bragg. Hang out with friends and ocean lovers, swap stories from the beach, and ease into the weekend.
KelpFest! Storytime
Children ages 0 to 6 and their families are invited to join us at the Fort Bragg Library for a special storytime to celebrate KelpFest!
Town Hall Presentations: Culture of Collaboration
Learn about successful and inspiring collaborations between conservation organizations, agencies and other groups on the north coast that are working together to restore, protect and strengthen our ocean ecosystems.
Surf Rock Dance Party
Celebrate the opening night of KelpFest with live music from The Seismics, a four-piece instrumental surf band from Ocean Beach, San Francisco.
Ocean Keepers Pledge
Ocean Keepers Pledge Ceremony
Pre Parade Gathering
Saturday, October 10 • 11:00am - 11:15am
Portuguese Beach • Main St & Heeser St, Mendocino, CA
Stand on the bluff above the Pacific and make a promise that will last a lifetime.
Before the Seaweed Spectacle Parade winds through downtown Mendocino, KelpFest invites children and adults alike to take the Ocean Keepers Pledge. Together, facing the water, participants will repeat the pledge aloud, committing to protect the ocean, speak up for their ocean friends, and keep our shores and rivers clean.
The gong will sound. The parade will begin. But first — the promise.
Free and open to the public. Children welcome. Sea creature costumes encouraged.
Hosted by: KelpFest!
Seaweed Spectacle Parade
Don’t miss the second annual KelpFest! Parade! Seaweed Spectacle in Mendocino is a vibrant celebration of our ocean’s kelp forests, community creativity, and coastal stewardship, featuring pre and post parade entertainment and programming.
Post Parade Fun
The Kelp Parade on Saturday morning will end at the Mendocino Art Center, where the fun continues with a host of family-friendly activities, food, art and education.
Gallery Tours, Arts & Craft Vendors
The Mendocino Art Center becomes KelpFest’s creative hub for the weekend, featuring hands-on workshops, artist demonstrations, gallery tours, and exhibitions inspired by California’s coastal ecosystems.
Kelp Recovery Demonstration
Kelp Recovery Demonstration
Saturday, October 10 • 2:30pm - 4:30pm
Mendocino
Come and learn about the kelp recovery efforts led by the Big River Kelp Recovery team and the Pacific Coast Ocean Restoration Initiative (PCOR).
For years, this team has been monitoring and working to restore the kelp forest habitat at Big River. Learn about the techniques being employed, including purple urchin suppression and kelp outplanting, and how the team monitors the site for changes and growth year over year.
Hosted by:
Senescence Ceremony on the Beach
As the tide turns and the afternoon light softens, gather on the beach for a closing ritual inspired by the rhythms of the ocean.
Second Saturday Art Walk
Experience Mendocino’s monthly Second Saturday Art Walk with a KelpFest twist at galleries, shops, restaurants, and businesses throughout downtown.
Community Dive at Caspar Cove
Get a firsthand look at one of Northern California's most successful community-led kelp restoration efforts.
Caspar Beach Sand Sculpture Party
Celebrate the creativity of the coastline by helping build an ever-growing village of sand sculptures on beautiful Caspar Beach.
Update on the Kelp Restoration and Management Plan
Update on the Kelp Restoration and Management Plan
Sunday, October 11 • 11:30am - 1:00pm
Location TBD
Hosted by: California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)
Picnic & Dock Walk with the Harbormaster
Picnic & Dock Walk with the Harbormaster
Fisheries and Fishing Policy, + BEVRI Plan
Sunday, October 11 • 12:30pm - 2:00pm
South Noyo Harbor • 19101 South Harbor Drive, Fort Bragg
Grab some food from one of the many harbor restaurants and hop across the harbor to join us on the South shore for a picnic lunch in Grader Park.
After lunch, Harbormaster Anna Neumann will lead a Dock Walk as she points out various types of fishing vessels and explains the specific fishery they participate in, the current health of that fishery, how that fishery is managed, how that management affects the fishermen, and how that ripples out into our community economically and culturally.
Hosted by: KelpFest!
Ocean Aquaculture Panel Discussion: Red Abalone
Dive deep into the topic of regenerative aquaculture with a panel discussion hosted by the Noyo Center. The program will include scientists involved with current research and recovery programs focused on red abalone.
Urchin Low Tide Walk & Sunset Celebration
Join local naturalists for an exploration of Van Damme Beach during one of the weekend’s lowest tides.
Short Films Screening ~ Exploring Kelp Forests along California’s Coast
Dive under the surface with three short films exploring the relationship between humans and kelp.
Noyo Harbor Icehouse Opening
Join us for the Ribbon Cutting for the Noyo Harbor Icehouse with California Jobs First.
Super Moon Urchin Harvest at Sunset
A magical sunset walk and gathering of purple urchin at low tide on the rise of the Super Full Moon.
Film Screenings: Sequoias of the Sea and The Last Forests Project, + a report from the Big River Kelp Recovery Project Team
Sequoias of the Sea tells the story of Mendocino County’s disappearing kelp forests and the devastating impact on coastal communities.
Gray Whale Mural Celebration
Join in the celebration as the Alleyway Art Project and North Coast Brewing Company celebrate Fort Bragg's newest, largest mural yet, The Gray Whale.
Regenerative Aquaculture Panel Discussion and Seaweed Happy Hour Reception
Dive deeply into the topic of regenerative aquaculture with a panel discussion hosted by the Noyo Center.
Kelp RISES Research Group Presentation
Learn about the Kelp RISES research into the question: how might different kelp restoration approaches account for ongoing climate change?
Field Station Open House
Tour the Urchin Ranch, a 40-foot shipping container where overabundant yet starving purple urchins are being fed in a recirculating aquaculture system to create delicious uni.
Indigenous Food Festival and Market
Sample Indigenous foods from land and sea plus browse an Indigenous market with local Pomo arts and crafts.
Tour of Big River Kelp Recovery Project
A dramatic chapter in coastal recovery—scientists, drones, and divers unite to bring bull kelp back to Mendocino’s shores.
Senescence Celebration
Celebrate the completion of another year’s growth of the kelp forests and the beginning of a new season of renewal, which we hope will be even more robust than the last.
Mómim Wené: Medicine Water Gallery Tour
Join Curator Meyo Marrufo for a gallery tour of the Mómim Wené: Medicine Water exhibit, organized by the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians' Exhibits and Collections Center.
Post Parade Fun outside The Mendocino Art Center
Kelp art, science, and dance converge outside of Mendocino Art Center—join the celebration and Move Like a Kelp!
Seaweed Spectacle Parade!
Join us for the Kelpfest Parade, a vibrant celebration of our ocean's kelp forests, designed especially for families and children!
First Friday Art Walk
Join your friends and neighbors in downtown Fort Bragg to peruse local art galleries, many with kelp-themed shows, that are open late for the occasion.
A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats: Mobilizing the Blue Economy in Fort Bragg
Explore Noyo Harbor’s vision for a resilient coast with presentations, community stories, and a kelp-themed First Friday.