A Community Tradition Returns to Langley
Each spring, the shoreline of Langley becomes more than a view — it becomes a front-row seat to one of the Pacific Northwest’s most remarkable returns.
On April 11–12, 2026, the town will once again gather for the annual Welcome the Whales 2026 Festival & Parade, celebrating the arrival of the beloved “Sounders” gray whales as they migrate through the Salish Sea. It’s a weekend rooted in community, curiosity, and a shared sense of awe.
These gray whales travel thousands of miles from Mexico to Alaska, stopping in Puget Sound to feed just offshore. “Grey whales, or our beloved Sounders, visit the Puget Sound every year, coming as close as 40 to 50 feet from the shoreline as they bottom-feed for ghost shrimp,” shares Trevor Snow of the Langley Whale Center. “It’s an experience that stays with you.”
There’s something quietly moving about seeing a gray whale surface just beyond the shoreline — close enough to remind you how connected these waters truly are.
But gray whales aren’t the only visitors to these waters.
The Salish Sea is home to two distinct types of orcas, each with their own rhythms and behaviors. “We have two types of whale groups that visit the islands and the Salish Sea. We have the transient orcas, which we call Bigg’s, and the southern residents,” Trevor explains.
Bigg’s orcas move with quiet focus, traveling in smaller groups and hunting marine mammals. The southern residents, by contrast, are more vocal and social, traveling in larger pods and relying primarily on chinook salmon. Their presence — when conditions allow — brings bursts of activity visible from shore.
While southern residents have traveled farther north in recent years due to declining salmon populations, Bigg’s orcas now frequent the Salish Sea year-round, making whale sightings an increasingly regular occurrence for island residents and visitors alike.
At the heart of the celebration is the Langley Whale Center, which serves as a gathering place for education and connection. “We act as the front-facing branch of the Orca Network,” Trevor says. “Our goal is to educate visitors and locals alike about the whales in our area, encouraging people to seek out their own opportunities to connect with these magnificent creatures.”
The festival itself is distinctly Langley — creative, welcoming, and deeply local. The weekend includes a community parade, costume-making, a waterside blessing ceremony, and educational presentations that invite both children and adults to learn more about the whales that shape this coastline. Mermaids, pirates, jellyfish, and handmade whale costumes fill the streets as the town comes together in celebration.
More than an event, Welcome the Whales is a reminder of the powerful relationship between these islands and the sea. It’s about migration and return. Observation and protection. Community and coastline.
In Langley, the whales aren’t just passing through — they’re part of the story.
