Halloween Aglow Lights Up Birch Aquarium
Halloween Aglow illuminates the wonders of the ocean after dark with family friendly fun
Photo by: Jordann Tomasek, Birch Aquarium
La Jolla, CA (September 17, 2024)—Halloween Aglow will once again light up Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego this October for two nights of Halloween fun with an educational twist. The event takes place October 25 and 26 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Modeled after Oceans at Night, the aquarium’s popular adults-only event, Halloween Aglow celebrates the wonders and mysteries of the ocean after dark in a family-friendly atmosphere.
Enter through a vibrant display of hay bales and pumpkins and dive into festivities featuring live music from Billy Lee and the Swamp Critters. Explore the Living Light Experience to see the ocean's bioluminescence and fluorescence up close, and get hands-on at activity stations like the slime station where you can discover the science behind goo. Marvel at the underwater pumpkin carving, join a costume parade, catch a shark feeding, and more!
“There is so much to learn and explore when the oceans are dark!” said Matthew Arrollado, Public Programs Coordinator at Birch Aquarium. “In the Living Light Experience you will see the beautiful fluorescence of our tropical corals and touch the stunning bioluminescence of a similar dinoflagellate as the one that makes our local waves glow. Halloween Aglow has activities that are engaging for the whole family!”
The new Riveropolis water-play feature will dazzle as you design and race glowing boats down the river. Enjoy classic games like Skeeball and Wac-a-Mole, grab some tasty treats from Splash! Café, and sparkle with glitter temporary tattoos. Don’t forget to wear your best costume for the photo booth and trick-or-treating throughout the aquarium. It’s a Halloween bash you won’t want to miss!
Tickets for Halloween Aglow are separate from general admission and are on sale now. Adult tickets are $40 for the general public, $36 for members, and child tickets are $35 for the general public, $31 for members. Children 2 and under are free. For more information or to purchase tickets visit the aquarium website.
The Hall of Fishes will close on Sept. 30 to make way for Living Seas, a reimagined Pacific Ocean experience that is slated to open next summer. Fan favorites including Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins, Seadragons & Seahorses and the tidepools will be open during Halloween Aglow along with new additions Embodied Pacific: Ocean Unseen and Riveropolis.
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.