WhaleFest 2013 had plenty of attendance on Sunday, despite the cold weather.

MONTEREY — It seems that no matter the weather before or after, the weekend of the Whalefest is always either cold, rainy or both. This year, Jan. 26 and 27, an icy wind blew through the Monterey Plaza and Old Fisherman’s Wharf, at times knocking over the American Cetacean Society’s display.

This year’s event, sponsored by Old Fisherman’s Wharf Association, BLUE Ocean Film Festival and Monterey Academy of Oceanographic Science scheduled the event to coincide with the migration of the Gray Whale. This was a fundraising event, geared to bring public awareness to our local marine non-profits that work within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The emphasis is on ocean sustainability through public education.

There were also discounts offered on Whale Watch trips, and yes, the Gray Whales have been sighted every day. Despite the blustery weather, the event was well-attended, with a steady

stream of people stopping at the booths or enjoying the music, and the MOM theater was over half filled. If you missed it this year, pencil it in for next winter.