It’s back: Plans for Hervey Bay Whale Festival 2021

The Hervey Bay Whale Festival is back. Here’s a lineup of events.

The Hervey Bay Whale Festival is back, filled with new events and fun celebrating the mammals’ ritual return to the Bay.

The annual Hervey Bay Whale Festival is back, with events running from the end of this month into August.

Kicking off the festivities, the Song to the Ocean - “a magical orchestral performance live under the stars” will be at the Seafront Oval in Pialba from 6pm until 7.15pm on June 29 and 30.

The Blessing of the Fleet will be on July 30 followed by the Whale Parade and Family Day on August 1.

Organisers hope this year’s festival celebrating Hervey Bay’s Humpbacks will be a lot more than fun, especially for the youngsters.

Oceania Project Founder Scientist Wally Franklin. Picture: Isabella Magee

After founding the Oceania Project when he learnt whales were close to extinction in the mid-70s, Scientist Wally Franklin will speaking at the Creating Waves event on August 7, at Hervey Bay’s University of Sunshine Coast from 6pm until 8pm.

“I’m very privileged to be able to begin to share what I’ve learned and give that knowledge back to these young people who are going to be coming along and getting involved in the festival,” he said.

The Seafood Festival, previously held in Urangan, will now be expanded and brought to the Seafront Oval on August 8, from 10am until 5pm.

Fraser Coast Tourism and Events Event Manager Robyn Peach. Picture: Isabella Magee

Fraser Coast Tourism and Events Events Manager Robyn Peach said the popular Paddle out for Whales event would be held on August 7 at Torquay Jetty and Ernie Organ Park in Torquay from 9am.

“It’s one of the big favourites here, where everyone can join in and celebrate and commemorate our relationship and how far we've come as humans in protecting and preserving the whales,” she said.

A former Paddle out for Whales day on the Fraser Coast.

Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said even after being whale watching about “30 times”, it never gets old.

“(The festival) is an opportunity for the community to celebrate our connection to whale watching and humpback whales, humpback whales have been really central to our identity for decades and this is an opportunity for everybody to get together, whether it‘s (at) the Blessing of the Fleet (event), the scientific lecture at the university, or the musical performances.”

Harvey the Whale. Picture: Isabella Magee

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