From September to January, the choppy waters off Sitka, Alaska, teem with some pretty large critters—humpbacks whales. Discover the secrets of these ocean-dwellers during the city’s WhaleFest. On land and sea, cetaceans and other briny water animals take center stage. Join residents and out-of-towners alike for lectures by marine wildlife biologists Mike Castellini and Rolf Gradinger, settle in for music by Don Sineti at the Sea Chantey Concert, and set sail on one of the two-and-a-half-hour whale-watching cruises.