Get Your Glow On as Halloween Aglow Returns!
Celebrate the wonders of the ocean after dark with family-friendly fun.
Photo by: Jordann Tomasek, Birch Aquarium
La Jolla, CA (September 5, 2025)—The ocean comes alive after dark as Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego casts a spell of science and seasonal fun with Halloween Aglow! This year’s event takes place on October 24 and 25 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. for two nights of Halloween festivities with an educational twist. From unusual animals to eerie illuminations, Halloween Aglow celebrates the wonders and mysteries of the ocean in a family-friendly atmosphere.
Enter through a vibrant display of hay bales and pumpkins and dive into fall fun featuring ocean science and hands-on exploration. New this year — trick-or-treat in Adam R. Scripps Living Seas Gallery as it transforms from day-to-night with special lighting and glowing surprises around every corner. Plus don’t miss the science of slime as you embrace your inner scientist!
“The ocean is filled with unique, alien-like — but most importantly, slimy — creatures!” said Matthew Arrollado, Public Programs Coordinator. “In the Boo and Goo Lab, young scientists will get a chance to play in some sensory slime, explore the science of Oobleck and touch some slimy ocean animals.”
Don’t miss the chance to show off your Halloween costume during the parade through the aquarium or watch as Birch Aquarium divers demonstrate their underwater pumpkin carving skills! Other activities include live music from Billy Lee and The Swamp Critters, pop-up science stations, classic arcade games and more!
Tickets for Halloween Aglow are separate from general admission and go on sale September 26 to the general public, with a member presale from September 22 – 25. Tickets are $45 for adults and $40 for children, with members receiving 50% off admission. Children 2 and under are free.
About Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Birch Aquarium at Scripps is the public exploration center for Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Birch Aquarium features the groundbreaking work of Scripps Oceanography and UC San Diego scientists as well as conservation breeding programs and interactive exhibits. Birch Aquarium’s mission is to connect understanding to protecting our ocean planet, which it achieves through engaging hands-on learning opportunities for more than 500,000 guests and 40,000-plus pre-K-12 students each year. Visit aquarium.ucsd.edu for more information.