The Ocean Institute is gearing up for its 41st Annual Maritime Festival, set to take place at Dana Point Harbor from September 12 to 14, 2025. This year’s festival promises a revamped experience with a range of new attractions aimed at engaging visitors of all ages while preserving the beloved traditions of Southern California’s maritime culture.

A highlight of this year’s festival is the debut of the Californian, the Official Tall Ship of the State of California. This majestic vessel, a replica of a Gold Rush-era cutter, was built in San Diego in 1984 and offers festivalgoers a unique opportunity to step aboard and explore California’s maritime heritage, further enriching the event’s historic atmosphere.

In an enchanting twist, the festival will also feature a Mermaid and Mateys Breakfast. This whimsical ticketed event invites guests to enjoy a curated brunch alongside real mermaids and pirates. The experience includes a live mermaid swim show, sword fighting lessons, engaging story time, and photo opportunities with costumed characters. Every ticket purchased also includes a Festival Adventure Pass, which allows access to additional activities throughout the festival.

Adding to the excitement is the U.S. debut of the American Burger Cup, an international food competition that originated in Spain. On Friday at 12 PM, local food trucks will go head-to-head, tempting attendees with their unique burger creations and inviting them to vote for their favorite. This flavorful competition will take place in a designated free area of the festival, promising to add a culinary highlight to the weekend.

Returning favorites will include the interactive School for Scallywags, where children can immerse themselves in pirate life, and the delightful Mermaid Tea, where guests can sip specialty teas in the company of mermaids. The festivities will kick off with the Sails N’ Ales party on Friday evening, featuring live music, craft beers from nine local breweries, stunning harbor views, and thrilling cannon battles.

Visitors can look forward to cannon battles aboard historic tall ships, mermaid swim shows, pirate performances, artisan shopping, and family-friendly activities like gold panning in the Maritime Village. The festival aims to provide a weekend filled with entertainment while also benefiting the Ocean Institute’s Adopt-A-Class program, which delivers hands-on STEM education to students from underserved schools across California.

With its blend of novel offerings and cherished traditions, the 41st Annual Maritime Festival is poised to be a standout event this year. Tickets, schedules, and detailed event information can be found at maritime-festival.org.

About Ocean Institute:

The Ocean Institute, established in 1977, is a community-based 501(c)(3) organization that educates 100,000 children, teachers, parents, and visitors each year through over 60 marine science and maritime history programs. Located on 2.4 acres in Dana Point Harbor, adjacent to a Marine Protected Area.

The facility serves as a center for ocean education, offering in-depth marine science and maritime history programs. It features state-of-the-art teaching labs, the stunning Maddie James Seaside Learning Center, a historic tall ship, and an oceanographic research vessel.

Immersive field trips, ranging from one-hour science labs to multi-day programs at sea are provided. All programs are designed to maximize engagement, spark curiosity, and inspire a lasting commitment to learning.

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