Your Little Monsters Could Get in the Maritime Aquarium/AquaScarium for Free Oct 27-28

Kids in costume can get free admission to the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk on the weekend before Halloween, when the popular family attraction transforms into the AquaScarium.

Children age 3 to 12 who come to the AquaScarium in costume on Sat., Oct. 27 and Sun., Oct. 28 will get free admission (a $17.95 value) with each paying adult. Adult admission is $24.95. (The offer requires one paying adult for each free costumed child.)

— an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium

“There’s no trick about this treat,” said Dave Sigworth, the aquarium’s spooksperson. “The AquaScarium weekend offers a fun chance to try out your kids’ costumes, show off your kids’ costumes, and even earn some savings through your kids’ costumes — all in one of the best family attractions in Connecticut.”

Photo from Maritime Aquarium

Strange creatures observe strange creatures.

The AquaScarium itself will be ghoulishly decorated for Halloween, with jack-o’-lanterns, seasonal accessories, and staff dressed in costume. Sigworth stressed that the celebration is an AquaScarium in name only, with no frightening aspects for young children.

Also, during the AquaScarium weekend (and every weekend in October), members of the volunteer dive team will carve pumpkins while submerged among the large sharks in the 110,000-gallon “Ocean Beyond the Sound” exhibit.

The carvings will occur during the divers’ regular plunges — at 12:15 and 2:15 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday. The purpose of the interpreted dives is to dispel myths about sharks; notably that they are all blood-thirsty man-eaters. The shark dives — and bonus underwater pumpkin carvings — are free with Aquarium admission.

Photo from Maritime Aquarium

The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is offering free admission to children in costume – one with each paying adult – during the AquaScarium Halloween celebration, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 27 and 28

Maritime Aquarium admission includes a daytime IMAX movie. Film choices during AquaScarium include “Oceans: Our Blue Planet,” “Pandas,” and “Backyard Wilderness,” which recently swept the Giant Screen Cinema Association’s 2018 Awards (the equivalent of the Oscars for IMAX movies).

For more details about AquaScarium, and the Maritime Aquarium’s exhibits, programs and IMAX movies this fall, go to the aquarium website or call (203) 852-0700.