Flying Fish Festival Taking Off May 31-June 3
May 10, 2012
Byline: Taylor Hill
AVALON — Catalina Island’s fifth annual Flying Fish Festival, a four-day family event celebrating the island’s famous flying fish, is set for May 31-June 3.
The Flying Fish Festival starts with the Taste Around of Avalon event. The yearly culinary celebration gives participants a chance to explore many of Avalon’s eateries and taste their most popular menu items — all in one night.
Participants can purchase “taste cards” for $3 each and try samples from each participating restaurant. Tasters will then vote on their favorite appetizer, main dish and drink, and awards will be presented to the top-vote getters. The event is expected to run from 5-9 p.m. May 31, and tickets can be purchased at the Wrigley Stage on the day of the event.
Activities are plentiful throughout the rest of the weekend as the events and entertainment roll out to celebrate the flying fish. Previous years’ festivals have included Flying Fish Boat Tours aboard Blanche W, a 98-passenger wood vessel built in 1924, originally made for the island’s flying fish tours.
Other weekend events include a professional sand sculpture creation, a boat-building competition and races, free live music concerts, theatrical entertainment, a waterfront street fair, live touch tanks, a kids’ fishing derby, a variety of fish and ocean craft activities for kids, and the annual Flying Fish Parade with Gil, the Flying Fish Festival mascot.
From late May to September every year, flying fish appear off the coast of Catalina Island. The fish soar out of the water at heights of up to 30 feet and glide for distances as long as a quarter-mile. Flying fish are most easily spotted at night when lured with lights.
The Flying Fish Festival is sponsored by the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce. For more information, call (310) 510-1520 or visit catalinachamber.com.
Schedule of Activities
May 31
5-9 p.m. — Eighth annual Taste Around of Avalon event
June 1
9 a.m.-5 p.m. — Sand Sculpture at Wrigley Stage
Noon-4 p.m. — Marine Touch Tanks at the Tuna Club
10 a.m.-7 p.m. — Gil the Flying Fish welcomes visitors and strolls through town
3:45-5 p.m. — Family Kayak Relay Race, Descanso Beach (advance sign-ups are required for this free event)
4-7 p.m. — Bowling Strike O’Rama, Three Palms Avalon Arcade
7:30p.m. — Private Boat Flying Fish Tour (each guest is given a high-powered hand-held beam to cast light and launch the flying fish from the water), $45 per person; Afishinado Charters (310) 510-2440
8:30 p.m. — Movie on the Beach
8:45 p.m. — Flying Fish Tour; Catalina Expeditions; (310) 510-8687
June 2
7-9 a.m. — Kids Fishing Derby at the Mole, prizes awarded to winners
9 a.m.-5 p.m. — Sand Sculpture at Wrigley Stage
10 a.m. — Grand opening of Red Beard’s Rapids X4D ride, Three Palms Arcade
10-11 a.m. — Pedal Boat Races at the Green Pier, Avalon Boat Stand
10 a.m.-1 p.m. — Boat-Building Competition
10 a.m.-4 p.m. — Marine Touch Tanks at the Tuna Club
10 a.m.-4 p.m. — Street Theater: Charles Frederick Holder and his boatman
10 a.m.-5 p.m. — Gil the Flying Fish welcomes visitors and strolls through town
10 a.m.-5 p.m. — Street Fair, Crescent Avenue
10 a.m.-6 p.m. — Bubble Rollers
11 a.m.-2 p.m. — Flying Fish Crafts and Ocean Science Activities, Crescent Avenue
11 a.m.-4 p.m. — Beer Garden at Landing Bar & Grill
Noon-4 p.m. — Sidewalk Chalk in front of library and courthouse
1:45 p.m. — Boat-Building Competition Race at Avalon Beach
2:30 p.m. — Guided tour of the Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden with Blanche Traske
3 p.m. — Segway Races
4 p.m. — Golf Ball Drop, tickets $5
6-7 p.m. — Beach Bingo, South Beach
6 p.m. — Beer Garden opens near Wrigley Stage
7:30-9:45 p.m. — Street Dance/tribute to country rock, Wrigley Stage, Crescent Avenue
7:30 p.m. — Private Boat Flying Fish Tour, $45 per person, Afishinado Charters; (310) 510-2440
8:45 p.m. — Flying Fish Tours, Catalina Expeditions; (310) 510-8687
June 3
9 a.m.-noon — Sand Sculpture completed at Wrigley Stage
10 a.m. — Bring It On Basketball Tournament, Three Palms Avalon Arcade
10 a.m.-4 p.m. — Marine Touch Tanks at the Tuna Club
10 a.m.-6 p.m. — Gil the Flying Fish welcomes visitors and strolls through town
10 a.m.-6 p.m. — Bubble Rollers
10 a.m.-4 p.m. — Street Fair, Crescent Avenue
11a.m.-2 p.m. — Flying Fish Crafts and Ocean Science Activities, Crescent Avenue
2:30 p.m. — Guided tour of Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Gardens with Blanche Traske
7:30 p.m. — Private Boat Flying Fish Tour, $45 per person, Afishinado Charters; (310) 510-2440
7:45-9 p.m. — Flying Fish Kayak Tour, Descanso Beach, $45 per person (reservations required)
8:45 p.m. — Flying Fish Tours, Catalina Expeditions; (310) 510-8687
