Make a Weekend of It: Hervey Bay Whale Festival 2026
🐋✨ Planning a weekend on the Fraser Coast? Make it a whale of a weekend!
The Hervey Bay Whale Festival returns on 29 and 30 August 2026, bringing two days of family-friendly celebrations, live entertainment, community events and plenty of opportunities to celebrate the magnificent humpback whales that visit Hervey Bay each year.
Located in Australia’s Whale Watching Capital, Hervey Bay is a special place to experience whale season. Between July and October, thousands of humpback whales travel along the ‘humpback highway’ before entering the calm, protected waters of Hervey Bay, where they can spend days resting, socialising and playing.
So, why not make a weekend of it?
Saturday: City and Sea and Tasman Holiday Parks Parade of Lights
Saturday 29 August is packed with things to see and do across Hervey Bay.
Head to City Park from 2:00pm to 5:30pm for an afternoon of family-friendly festivities. There will be live music, face painting, a petting zoo, marine education, touch tanks, food and market stalls, a jumping castle and the chance to meet Harvey the Whale. You can even make your own lantern ready for the evening’s festivities.
Over at Seafront Oval, the celebrations continue from 2:00pm to 8:00pm, with carnival rides, food trucks, markets, entertainment and plenty of activities for the whole family. The evening will feature a spectacular fireworks display at 6:45pm, coinciding with the arrival of the parade, with festivities continuing until 8:00pm.
Then, as the sun begins to set, get ready for one of the festival’s most magical moments – the Tasman Holiday Parks Parade of Lights.
Starting at 6:00pm, the parade will bring Main Street to life with glowing marine-inspired lanterns and costumes celebrating the incredible migration of humpback whales to Hervey Bay. This year’s theme is ‘Magical Migration’. Think shimmering jellyfish, whales, sea turtles, schools of fish and more!
Sunday: Paddle Out for Whales
Start your Sunday by the water at Torquay Jetty and Ernie Organ Park for the much-loved Paddle Out for Whales.
Running from 8:00am to 11:00am, this community event brings people together on the water to celebrate and honour the humpback whales that visit Hervey Bay each year.
Start your day by connecting with the ebb and flow of the ocean with a free 1-hour yoga class hosted by Health Hunter. Breathe, stretch, and move in harmony with the natural rhythm of the sea as you ease into a peaceful and energising start to the day.
Enjoy live music, local stallholders, and free lawn games while soaking up the beautiful coastal atmosphere. Grab a bite from the sausage sizzle hosted by Turtles in Trouble and enjoy a laid-back day of community and connection by the sea.
The highlight of the event is the Paddle Out Ceremony, where paddlers take to the water and form a circle in a moving tribute to the whales. This includes a minute of silence and a flower release, offering a meaningful moment of reflection and appreciation for these incredible marine visitors.
Register Here: Paddle Out & Yoga by the Sea
Bring your family, friends, and beach chairs for a relaxed coastal celebration filled with music, community, and purpose.
It’s a wonderful way to finish a weekend celebrating Hervey Bay’s special connection with the ocean and its visiting whales.
Plan Your Whale Festival Weekend
Whether you’re travelling with the family, planning a weekend with friends or simply looking for an excuse to escape to the coast, the Hervey Bay Whale Festival is the perfect reason to visit.
The Hervey Bay Whale Festival is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland.
