5th Annual Flying Fish Festival

CATALINA ISLAND’S 5th ANNUAL FLYING FISH FESTIVAL
May 31st – June 3rd 2012

In celebration of the annual return of Catalina Island’s famous flying fish, Catalina announces the 5th Annual Flying Fish Festival, May 31st – June 3rd, a four day festival of family fun.

Not to be out-done by the swallows of Capistrano, Catalina’s flying fish return to the island every year in the early summer when the waters warm up. From May to September every year, the famed flying fish soar out of the Island waters to heights of up to 30 feet and glides for distances as long as ¼ mile. The flying fish visits the Island for only a few months a year and best shows itself at night when lured with lights. It is only fitting that Catalina celebrates their arrival by honoring them as special guests with a four day long weekend of family-fun festivities.

The Flying Fish Festival kicks off on Thursday, May 31st with the Taste Around of Avalon from 5:00 – 9:00pm. It’s a chance to explore some of Avalon’s finest eateries and taste their most delectable menu items – all in one night! Activities are plentiful throughout the rest of the weekend as the events and entertainment roll out to celebrate the fantastic flying fish.

Flying Fish Festival event highlights include evening Flying Fish Boat Tours aboard the Blanche W, a 98-passenger solid wood vessel built in 1924, originally made for the flying fish tours. Other weekend events include a professional sand sculpture creation, kayak races, a free Friday night Movie on the Beach, the Flying Fish Street Fair along the waterfront, a “Tribute to Country Rock” Street Dance by Xceptional Productions on Wrigley Stage from 7:30pm to 9:45pm on Saturday night with an accompanying Beer and Wine Garden, a boat building competition and races, Wrigley Garden tours, theatrical entertainment, live touch tanks, Arcade events, kids Fishing Derby, Beach Bingo, various flying fish and ocean craft activities for kids, nature talks, Gil, the Flying Fish and Much More! A new addition will be the Bubble Rollers, a fun-for-the-whole-family activity happening along the waterfront. For a schedule of activities, please go to www.flyingfishfestival.com.

For information about Catalina Island’s Flying Fish Festival and other Island events, contact the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau at (310) 510-1520 or visit www.CatalinaChamber.com/flyingfish.