Dana Point is a unique treasure of timeless beauty and creative innovation. You're invited to discover the new and classic beauty that makes this community one of a kind. We hope that you enjoy our free arts and culture map with points of interest and events. The maps are available at our community partner stations, including the city of Dana Point, Dana Point Harbor community room, Dana Point Historical Society, Coffee Importers, and more.

Launching on Sunday, June 1 and continuing through June 30, the second annual Dana Point Citywide Scavenger Hunt organized by environmental nonprofit Stand Up to Trash will take participants on an adventure throughout the City of Dana Point on a self-guided tour through history. “The idea was to encourage participants to visit specific locations, learn about their significance, and connect with the sponsors who support the event,” said Stand Up to Trash Founder and President Vicki Patterson. “Last year, we held the Scavenger Hunt during Earth Month, wrapping it up with a fantastic Lunch & Learn talk from the Historical Society. As Baba Dioum said in 1968, ‘In the end, we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught.’ ”   With the city growing significantly since Patterson was a child in Dana Point, she wanted to bring people to locations with a deep, rich history through its development. “When I was growing up in Dana Point, the population was only around 7,000, but today it’s about 32,000. This increase made me wonder whether all these new residents and visitors were aware of our town’s rich history and unique qualities that I had the privilege of learning about,” Patterson said.  “During our summer cleanups, I noticed an uptick in waste, especially as more people came to enjoy Dana Point. That sparked the idea for the Scavenger Hunt. Inspired by the ‘Find the Whale Tail’ game at the Festival of Whales, I wanted to create an interactive way to engage people with the town’s historical and environmental landmarks.” Each stop along the way was specifically chosen to highlight key landmarks and raise awareness of the city’s origin and the parts of history that have made Dana Point what it is today. “The locations chosen for the Scavenger Hunt are selected based on their historical, cultural, or environmental significance to Dana Point,” Patterson said. “We aim to highlight key landmarks that tell the story of our town’s rich history, including iconic spots like the Richard Henry Dana Statue, Salt Creek Beach, and Pines Park. Each stop on the hunt is carefully chosen to represent a piece of Dana Point’s past or a natural treasure that deserves attention.” With her primary focus being environmental wellness with the nonprofit Stand Up To Trash, Patterson also chooses stops with essential ties to the community’s overall health. The scavenger hunt brings fun with a mix of education. “We also focus on sites with environmental importance, like our local parks and beaches, which are home to diverse wildlife and play a crucial role in preserving the area’s natural beauty,” Patterson said. “The goal is to make the Scavenger Hunt a fun and educational journey where participants can discover both the history and the environmental importance of the places they visit. By weaving together history and conservation, we hope to foster a deeper appreciation for the town’s legacy and encourage more sustainable practices within the community.” While this scavenger hunt only takes the participants a little time to complete all the stops, the planning takes over a year of work to put together and organize. “My dad always said an idea is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration! And it’s true, while the concept for the Scavenger Hunt came easily, bringing it to life takes months of planning, coordination, and collaboration,” Patterson said.  “From selecting the stops and creating the descriptions to coordinating with sponsors, local businesses, and partners, it’s a team effort every step of the way. We start organizing the year before, to ensure everything is in place. It’s a process that involves a lot of behind-the-scenes work, including gathering historical information, designing promotional materials, and working with community partners to ensure the stops are accessible and informative. So, while it may take a lot of hard work, the outcome is always rewarding, and it’s a joy to see the community come together and engage with Dana Point in a deeper way.” With the help of the event’s sponsors – Young’s Beach Shack, Visit Dana Point, City of Dana Point, Killer Dana Surf Shop, Dana Point Harbor Partners, Dana Wharf, Vicki Patterson Realtor, Doho Cafe, El Caminante Bar & Bungalows, and Stand Up To Trash – the scavenger hunt is able to bring together the community and make it a free event in which to participate. “We’re proud to offer the Scavenger Hunt as a free event, and there’s no need to sign up in advance. Our mission is to provide accessible environmental education to everyone, and the Scavenger Hunt is a perfect example of that,” Patterson said. “Like our other programs and cleanups, we believe that education should be inclusive and available to all, regardless of background, age, or experience level. By offering the hunt for free, we make it easy for families, visitors, and locals alike to engage with the town’s history and environmental significance.  “This event is just one of the many ways we’re working to raise awareness about sustainability, history, and the importance of preservation in a way that’s fun, interactive, and open to everyone. So whether you go by yourself, with family, or as part of a group, we’re excited to have you join us for this free educational opportunity.” As the kickoff day nears, Patterson and her team are beyond excited to be able to give this to the community and get everyone involved in history, whether a visitor or a longtime resident. “The Scavenger Hunt is more than just a fun activity; it’s an opportunity for participants to connect with Dana Point on a deeper, more meaningful level,” Patterson said. “As they journey through the town’s historic and natural landmarks, they’ll not only uncover the stories behind the places they visit but also gain a renewed appreciation for what makes this town so special. It’s an experience that fosters a sense of pride, community, and a renewed commitment to protecting the natural and historical treasures that make Dana Point a special place to call home.” There is not one designated starting spot for the tour, according to Patterson. You can start any day and at any stop. You can visit all 10 stops in one day or  take your time visiting all of them over a month. All of the stops are listed on Stand Up to Trash’s website ( standuptotrash.com/scavenger-hunt ), along with instructions on how to participate and post photos on social media. Get ready to explore history.

Playbill Presented by the City of Dana Point Powered by Rivian William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night Fri & Sat July 11 & 12 5:00 pm Festival opens with music, kids activities, food trucks and drink vendors 7:00 - 8:30 pm Play performance Love, disguise, and laughter collide in Shakespeare’s hilarious romantic comedy set in a world of pirates! Follow Viola through mistaken identities, unexpected romance, and clever pranks. Will love triumph amid the chaos? Come join us at Sea Terrace Community Park  for food, fun, music, and of course, Shakespeare ! Located on the beautiful Pacific Coast Highway in Dana Point, CA, this event is perfect for festival enthiusiasts and Shakespeare fans alike. Enjoy a variety of beer and wine, food trucks, live music, and a world class presentation of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.  Don't miss out on this unique blend of culture! Grab your friends and enjoy the Dana Point Shakespeare Festival. Event is FREE, however PLEASE RSVP (walk ins welcome) Bring your low back lawn chair. Picnics permitted. Click the links below for more information: Support our volunteer actors! Just click "Reserve a Spot" to donate to our Actor Fund. Follow us on Instagram: @dpshakespeare Play program Click here Interested in Volunteering? Click here

The OC Register published an article titled Love art? These must-see murals bring added color, history to Orange County on March 5, 2025. It featured Dana Point. You can read the entire PDF article here and see the Dana Point feature below: An Orca is part of the whale walk at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, CA. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG) Whale Walk, Dana Point There’s no shortage of whale paintings splashed across the coastal parts of Orange County. The likely most well known found in Laguna Beach, marine artist Wyland’s first-ever Whaling Wall, recently recreated  at the Pacific Coast Highway home of his gallery to depict the original painted in 1981. But head down to Doheny State Beach in Dana Point to find a lesser-known whale mural, not on a wall, but on the sidewalk of the popular beach boardwalk just steps from the ocean. Former State Parks ranger Jim Serpa, volunteers and art students have been maintaining the Whale Walk since it was first painted 1995, showing up every few years when the marine mammals fade and need touchups. All the whales that pass by in nearby waters – the gray whales, blues, orcas and humpbacks – are depicted on the walkway. “The blue whale is the best we’ve ever done, it looks phenominal,” Serpa said last week following a spruce up of the whale paintings. The whales are painted life-size on the ground, so beachgoers can see just how large the sea creatures can grow to become.

Monarch Bay Plaza is sponsoring an Amateur Photography Contest which is free to enter and  open for entries through July 1, 2025 .  If you are an amateur photographer, 18 years or older at the time of entry, and a legal resident of the State of California, you are invited to enter. Submit one (1) photo showing California's natural beauty, including animal life, coastal scenes, mountains, and deserts. All images must be of nature, landscapes,  and California's vast scenery and bio-diversity only to qualify.  Any images with identifiable people are not allowed and will be disqualified. This contest will award the following cash prizes: $1,000 First Place; $500 Second Place; $250 Third Place; and ​$100 Popular Vote Winner. First, second and third-place winners will be notified on or about August 1, 2025. The Popular Vote Winner will be notified on or about August 22, 2025. CONTEST EXHIBIT On August 15, the competition will culminate in a public photography exhibit of our winning submittals and top contenders from 2:00-5:00pm. It will be held at Monarch Bay Plaza located at Pacific Coast Highway and Crown Valley Parkway in Dana Point, CA. During this event, attendees can vote live for their favorite top contender, resulting in a "Popular Vote Winner", who will be awarded $100.00. Join us for this special event and enjoy our FREE Ice Cream Social that will take place simultaneously (while supplies last). MEET OUR JUDGES Our expert panel of judges features three well-known art ambassadors active in the Dana Point art community. They will review, evaluate and rank our submissions to determine our three winners. Karin Schnell has her M.A. in Exhibition Design/Museum Studies. She began her career in the arts at Newport Harbor Art Museum (now Orange County Museum of Art). She taught Museum Education at California State University, Fullerton and University of California, Irvine Extension program. Schnell helped facilitate the building of the current site of OC Center of Contemporary Art (OCCCA) in Santa Ana. She also worked in the initial years at Arts Orange County collaborating with county-wide arts organizations, arts educators, cities, and individual artists. Schnell has been involved in the annual Dana Point Art Fest for the past 8 years, which exhibits 80 local artists on Del Prado Ave. in Dana Point. She also served as an Arts & Culture ambassador for the City of Dana Point. Jennifer Keil earned her M.A. in Public and Oral History. As a Founder of 70 Degrees, she archives, preserves, and exhibits. Keil has curated the Laura Davick Crystal Cove Historic Archive Collection and the Taiwanese American History Museum. She is the Founding Director of Balboa Island Museum and Moulton Museum. She has collaborated with CSU Fullerton, Cal Poly Pomona, UC Irvine. ​Keil has served as an art judge for Young Kim's office and the Festival of Arts Festival. She is an Arts & Culture Ambassador for the City of Dana Point. Jennifer is the Past President of the Southwest Oral History Association. Dana Yarger Dana Yarger started his career as an environmental scientist before delving into the world of art collection from national galleries in the mid-1970s. His passion for art led him to begin opening art galleries in California during the 1980s. Throughout the 1990s, he began representing artists and curating exhibitions in various cities across the United States, Russia, and Japan. As the new millenium approached, Dana expanded his reach by representing street artists in national and international mural development in the US, South America, and China. Through collaboration with artists and sponsors, he successfully brought the renowned Elephant Parade exhibitions to Dana Point in 2013. ​Since 2014, Dana has served as the cultural manager for acclaimed author, poet, singer, songwriter, visual artist Bernie Taupin.  Dana continued coordinating exhibitions and events, curating his first museum exhibition in 2019. ​Today, along with partner Laura Seeley, Dana operates two galleries in Dana Point – Laura Seely Studio and Gallery Dana Bay.

🎨 Call for Artists: Outdoor Mural for the Dana Point Community Center! 🎨 The City of Dana Point is seeking talented artists to create an outdoor mural at the Community Center (34052 Del Obispo). This project aims to enhance the beauty of the facility and add character to the space, creating an inviting atmosphere for residents and visitors alike. The mural should reflect the community values, natural beauty, and cultural history of Dana Point. 🗓 Key Dates: •Design Submission Deadline: March 31, 2025 •Evaluation: April 2025 •Project Start: Early May 2025 •Completion: By June 30, 2025 Eligibility: Open to artists or artist teams from Dana Point or surrounding areas (City will not pay travel or lodging costs). Artist or artists teams should conduct research to understand the area’s history and current culture, along with any other elements that would be helpful to the creative process. Budget: $60,000 (all inclusive, not limited to artist’s fees, materials, design, lift, studio costs, surface preparation, painting process, installation and community engagement.) 📧 Submit to: jrosaler@danapoint.org (Subject: Community Center Mural) 👉 For full details, please visit Bit.ly/DP_Artists

In collaboration with the upcoming Festival of Whales on March 7th to 9th, the City's Recreation Division is holding the Whale of a Kid's Art Contest for children up to 12 years old. This year's theme is " The Magical Migration of the California Gray Whale ."  To enter the contest, take a photo of your creative drawing or painting and email recreation@danapoint.org by  Monday, March 3, 2025 .  Please include the child’s name and age on the entry. The winning submission will receive an ocean themed gift basket and a whale watching trip for a family of four.

We are excited for the third annual Dana Point Non-Profit Symposium on Friday, May 23, 2025 . It will be held at the Community Center with the city of Dana Point and Arts Ambassadors. Our speakers will include our OneOC partners. Stay tuned for RSVP details. We have non-profit resources from prior years, so please explore these materials. The OneOC toolkit covers event planning to grant writing. Please connect with Jaimie To, Senior Management Analyst, with questions at (949) 248-3514 or  jto@danapoint.org . Contact the Arts and Culture Ambassadors to share your ideas at artsandculture@danapoint.org . 2024 Symposium Thank you for your participation. We look forward to seeing you all soon!

The Dana Bay Gallery, a vibrant art hub nestled along the stunning coastline of Dana Point on Del Prado, recently hosted a Paint & Sip  event. It brought together art enthusiasts and those simply looking for a fun night out. The event was part of the gallery’s effort to create a welcoming space for the community. Invite your friends and family to create a miniature piece of art and learn about the Elephant Parade . Dana Bay Gallery combines the pleasure of painting with the enjoyment of a glass of wine. Keep an eye on the Dana Bay Gallery’s event calendar for the next Paint & Sip night. You won’t want to miss out on this unique blend of creativity and camaraderie.

Following the close of this year’s Ohana Festival at Doheny State Beach, the signature Storytellers whale sculpture made a short journey to Dana Point Harbor on loan from renowned artist Jeffro Uitto for a limited time. It is now being displayed in Hansen Plaza on the wharf adjacent to Dana Wharf Whale Watching & Sportfishing. As Dana Point continues to embrace its reputation as the premier destination for dolphin and whale enthusiasts – it was recognized as the first Whale Heritage Site in North America by the World Cetacean Alliance and has been trademarked as the “Dolphin & Whale Watching Capital of the World” –  this sculpture is another reason to visit the harbor during the ongoing revitalization.  Crafted by Uitto, a renowned driftwood artist of the Pacific Northwest, the whale sculpture first debuted at the Ohana Festival at Doheny State Beach in 2019. It continues to wow thousands of visitors and locals annually when it appears at the yearly festival.  Uitto, born in 1982, was raised and resides in the small coastal town of Tokeland, Washington. According to his website biography, this is where his creative journey began as a young child when he was fascinated with the organic forms that surrounded him. Some of the Uitto’s most memorable pieces have been displayed for public installations, including Eddie Vedder’s Ohana Festival, Summit 2019, Chimei Museum in Taiwan, and notable galleries across the U.S. and abroad, commemorating the importance of nature and environmental sustainability. The original whale sculpture is made entirely of rescued driftwood along the Pacific Coast. Measuring 18 feet in length, 5 feet in width, and 9 feet tall, it is noteworthy that each piece of driftwood is entirely unmanipulated, constructed from its natural state, which is Uitto’s signature form of expression. This sculpture embodies the rich marine life surrounding Dana Point and allows art enthusiasts, naturalists, and ocean lovers to appreciate its beauty up close. Dana Point Harbor Partners’ revitalization plan contemplates multiple future public works of art throughout the completed project that will celebrate Dana Point’s history, culture, and ocean ecology. Uitto’s whale sculpture joins “Fluke: A Tale of Plastic,” a life-sized depiction of an adult gray whale tail in the acting of “fluking, that was commissioned by Dana Point Harbor Partners and constructed by Joel Dean Stockdill and Yustina Salnikova during the 51st annual Festival of Whales.  For more information, visit Dana Point Harbor at danapointharbor.com .

On Sunday, October 13, 2024, Dana Point welcomed art lovers and history buffs for an inspiring Trolley Art & History Tour, marking National Arts & Humanities Month in style! With all tickets sold out, participants eagerly hopped aboard for an art-filled journey led by the City’s Arts & Culture Ambassadors, alongside knowledgeable docents from the Dana Point Historical Society. The tour spanned a vibrant selection of Dana Point's art and historical highlights, including the picturesque Lantern Bay Park Stairs, the colorful Doheny Village Mural, the iconic Hide Drogher Sculpture, Watermen’s Plaza, and historic Woodruff Homes, among other notable stops. Each location was brought to life through the engaging stories shared by our Art Ambassadors and Historical Society docents, making the city’s rich cultural heritage accessible and exciting for everyone on board. After the tour, guests continued their cultural journey at the Dana Point ArtFest, enjoying fine art displays, live music, delicious food, wine tastings, and beer gardens in the Lantern District. Thank you to everyone who joined us for an unforgettable day celebrating Dana Point’s unique arts and history scene!

The City of Dana Point is the most beautiful, desirable and safest coastal community in which to live, work, visit, play or conduct business. Listen to Laura Smith Hatch  share the vision of the Arts & Culture Ambassadors. The City of Dana Point encourages community involvement and is committed to: Develop and ensure the highest possible quality of life for our residents, businesses, and visitors. Provide a safe and healthy environment within a sound economic atmosphere. Provide an efficient and effective government which is open and responsive to the needs of the community and works for the benefit of all.