Cucina Verona Ristorante Blue Zones Project Approval Celebration

Cucina Verona Ristorante Blue Zones Project Approval Celebration
January 31st from 5pm – 6pm
To celebrate this exciting milestone, both Blue Zones Project Mendocino County and Cucina Verona Ristorante invite you to join us for a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Friday, January 31st, from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience a free event that includes Wine @ 5, live music, free healthy bites provided by Cucina Verona Ristorante, and fun swag giveaways. This special event will honor co-owners Joe Harris and Kathleen Murray for their dedication to both well-being and community, and it’s the perfect time to enjoy the vibrant atmosphere and delicious fare that Cucina Verona is known for.
Whale Fest 2025


Whale Fest is taking over Downtown Fort Bragg on the weekend of March 14th through 16th and, like the migrating leviathans we celebrate, this year’s festivities will be bigger and better than ever. There’s a Downtown Wine Walk with the return this year of the Chowder Tasting Competition, the Fort Bragg Beer Festival, a 10k/5k Whale Run and Walk, a craft fair, live music, food trucks and much more.
Could there be a better time to visit Fort Bragg?
Of course, the whales will be moving through all winter, so if March 14th-16th doesn’t work out, no worries. Come anytime through April to see the amazing migration of Fort Bragg’s favorite cetaceans
All events take place rain or shine.
Get Whale Fest Updates
Sign up for the Fort Bragg newsletter to stay up to date on Whale Fest and all things Fort Bragg.

Saturday, March 15, 2025
Whale Run 5k & 10k and Fun Walk
Soroptimist International of Fort Bragg and Noyo Sunrise is proud to sponsor and host the ever-popular run and walk along the coast that includes a Kiddie Race, 10k and 5k runs and a Fun Walk.

Downtown Wine Walk & Chowder Competition
Saturday, March 15, 2025
The Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce and Visit Fort Bragg are thrilled to bring back the Fort Bragg Whale Festival Downtown Wine Walk & Chowder Tasting Competition. That’s right, Chowder Tasting is back and you can sample them (and vote for your favorite) along with beautiful wines and hors d’oeuvres from over a dozen Mendocino County wineries at this year’s new location in the City Hall Gymnasium at Laurel and Franklin Streets.
Fort Bragg Rotary Club’s Beer Fest
Saturday, March 15, 2025
Rotary Beer Festival is back. Save the date and join us on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at the Eagles Hall from 12-4pm for an incredible selection of beer and some great live music. Tickets are $40 and food will be available for purchase. So come taste some ales and watch the whales at this benefit for Fort Bragg Rotary Club with proceeds going to scholarships as well as local and international projects.
Symphony of the Redwoods Spring Concert
Saturday – Sunday, March 15 & 16
The theme of water unifies favorite classics with orchestral virtuosic masterpieces and a rhythmic American premiere. Mexican – Japanese flautist Rayó Furuta joins SoR in the American Premiere of Alexis Aranda’s “Acqua.” which explores the water signs of the zodiac with soaring melodies and driving Latin rhythms.
Both Shows at Cotton Auditorium
Saturday, 7:30 PM
Sunday, 2:00 PM
Town Hall Craft Fair
Saturday & Sunday, March 15 & 16
The Soroptimists are hosting a whale of sale at Town Hall from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Treat yourself to a unique shopping experience at two craft fairs — one inside and one outside. You’ll find a wide variety of amazing, handcrafted items, from quilts and toys to iron works, pottery, knits and crochet, jewelry, paintings, tools, and puzzles. You won’t find a better place to get a one-of-a-kind gift for a fan of Fort Bragg.
Noyo Center Whale Events & Exhibits
Friday – Sunday, March 14 – 16
Join the Noyo Center for Marine Science throughout March for a variety of special events and exhibits to celebrate Whale Festival and the annual gray whale migration. Click the link below for the full schedule and remember that your support helps the Noyo Center do its incredible work.
Mendo Park Fort Bragg Weekend
Saturday – Sunday, March 15 – 16
Join MendoParks for three awesome adventures. Join a guided tour along the Whale Tail Trail on Saturday, March at 10:00 AM starting at Laguna Point in MacKeerricher State Park. That night is the MacKerricher Whale Festival Campfire Program across from the park entrance kiosk from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. Then, on Sunday, meet by the visitor center at 11:00 AM for the MacKerricher Whale Skeleton Painting.
Whale Watching Tours
Looking to get up close and personal with Fort Bragg’s migratory whales? Multiple whale watching charters depart out of Noyo Harbor throughout the season. You’ll find them below on the coastal activities page. Be sure to reach out to them directly for current weather conditions and departure times.
WINTER WANDERLAND

WINTER WANDERLAND
Explore these ten great winter activities in Fort Bragg.If you only think of the North Coast as a summer getaway, you’re missing one of the most amazing times of year. Make Fort Bragg your home base for a winter visit, and you’ll find the adventures are endless. There are so many places to go, things to do, explore, sip, taste and enjoy. Sure, the weather can be changeable, but that just makes the fresh chowder a little warmer, the craft beer a bit cooler, the redwoods even more mystical and the beaches all yours.

1. Get A Great Hotel Deal
Multiple Fort Bragg hotels offer special pricing for winter visitors. Click the link below to get the best deals. Once you see how much there is to do, you’ll want to use the savings to spend a few extra days.

2. Wine Your Way Into Town
Mendocino County was recently recognized as Wine Enthusiasts 2024 Wine Region of the Year. And, with a little planning, you’ll be cruising right through the heart of wine country on your way to Fort Bragg. Coming from the east, be sure to take Highway 128 and you’ll pass dozens of great wineries. Have a designated driver and be sure to pick up a couple of bottles for your stay on the coast.

3. Forest Bathe at Russian Gulch State Park
Whatever the weather, Russian Gulch State Park delivers. Hike from the waves to the wilderness. Wander among the redwoods. Find your own private waterfall. Forage for wild mushrooms (bring a good guide!). Explore a rare pygmy forest. Tired yet? You will be. Fortunately, you’re just a few minutes from Downtown Fort Bragg.

4. Chowder Down at Noyo Harbor
At this working fishing harbor near the mouth of the Noyo River you can dine on fresh-off-the-boat seafood as the boats come in and the seals and sea lions frolic right off the dock. Noyo Fish Company has chowder in a bowl or bread and Princess Seafood has chowder, bisques and always something locally caught. Check out specials of the day at Casa del Sol and the fish and chips at Sea Pal Cove.

5. Do the Downtown Fort Bragg Dive Bar Scene
What’s better after a big outdoor adventure than bellying up to a big old mahogany bar and cavorting with the locals. Fort Bragg has a whole host of watering holes at the unpretentious end of the spectrum. Put a put a few songs on the jukebox and rack up a game of pool at Golden West Saloon, Milano Hotel & Bar or Welcome Inn.

6. Get Glass Beach To Yourself
It’s not often that you can get the North Coast’s most well-known beach, with its wave-worn colored glass speckled through the sand all to yourself. But that’s part of the beauty of making Fort Bragg your home base during the off-season. Time it right and you can do some great tide-pooling, too. Just remember to leave the glass, and the sea creatures in their natural habitat.

7. Watch For Whales
The off-season in Fort Bragg is migration season for gray whales and, while you can catch them from the coast, there’s nothing like a whale watching charter cruise. All Aboard Adventures, Anchor Charter Boats, Fort Bragg Fishing, Hooked on Mendo, and Telstar Charters all offer whale watching and fishing charters.

8. Crawl The Downtown Craft Breweries
Fort Bragg has a handful of local breweries all within a few blocks, all with great food and beer. There’s the legendary North Coast Brewing Company with a wide selection of beers, including a few of your favorites. Mosey down a few blocks to Overtime Brewing where the vibe is local-friendly, and the beer is brewed in-house. Tall Guy Brewing, in the heart of downtown, has an open, easy, comfy feel for a cool beer and a warm welcome.

9. Stoll the Botanical Gardens
This time of year at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, the rhododendrons, camellias, and magnolias are just beginning to bloom, but it’s also when some less obvious beauty is revealed. Misty sunbeams stream through the pines. Whale spouts rise in the ocean distance. Dew drops glisten on luscious ferns and wild mushrooms, 160 different species of which can be found on the garden property.

10. Ride the Rails with the Skunk Train
Start in Fort Bragg, and head back in time by riding the famous Skunk Train deep into the heart of the redwood groves in the gorgeous mountains and riverside valleys of Mendocino County. Take the historic train or go pedal power on a rail bike for an even more immersive adventure. Electric rail bikes are now available, too.
Fort Bragg Crab Feed

Saturday, January 25, 2025
12:00 to 6:00 PM
Fort Bragg Fire House – 141 N. Main Street
Fort Bragg Rotary and Mendocino Coast Foundation present the Fort Bragg Crab Feed. It’s an all you can eat feast with crab, bread, clam chowder and salad. Tickets are $85 and benefit Timberwolf Stadium and Fort Bragg Rotary Project.
Fort Bragg Blues Festival
Fort Bragg
Blues Festival
SAVE THE DATE: May 2 – 4, 2025
Plans are underway for the first-ever Fort Bragg Blues Festival. It promises to be an unforgettable three days of blues music, with notable performers appearing at venues all around downtown Fort Bragg. Start making your plans now and follow along to learn more as Fort Bragg Blues Festival gets closer.
Here are a few of the artists scheduled to perform so far.
Look for more to come:
• JC Smith Band – INFO
• Brad Wilson and the Rhythm Drivers – INFO
• Mark Hummel, with Steve Fruend – INFO
• Big Mo and the Full Moon Band + Volker Strifler – INFO
For volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, contact Pam Bell at: pmbell108@gmail.com
Follow Fort Bragg Blues Festival On Social Media