Join A Frightfully Fun Fishy Fest at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium

Santa Monica, California - Get into the spirit of the season on October 26th and 27th at Heal the Bay’s Santa Monica Pier Aquarium when the marine science center celebrates Halloween and Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). The Aquarium, beach level at the Santa Monica Pier, has spooky, family friendly activities planned both days from 12:30 to 5:00 p.m.

Visit the glow-in-the-dark deep sea laboratory, tip toe (if you dare!) through the marine animal graveyard and create colorful Dia de los Muertos crafts and masks.  Both days will feature a family-friendly, bioluminescent deep-sea experience at 1:30 p.m. Face painting and spooky story times are scheduled throughout the weekend as well. All ghosts and goblins are invited to join a 3 p.m. parade on Sunday Oct. 27, stepping off in front of the Aquarium at 1600 Ocean Front Walk. The spooky procession will make its way along the Pier to gather tricks and treats from Pier businesses, including Rusty’s Surf Ranch and Pacific Park, where Inky the Octopus will pass out the treats.

Guest author and yoga instructor Valerie Pike will combine yoga and meditation for kids with the 3:30 p.m. Saturday story time, reading Ozzy the Octopus Learns about Tingshas. Author David Derrick, will read his new children’s book, I’m the Scariest Thing in the Jungle! at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Shark-themed Sunday will also feature spine-tingling facts about these misunderstood marine creatures and a 3:30 p.m. feeding at the shark exhibit. An Aquarium-staffed photo booth on the Santa Monica Pier is the picture perfect place to snap a shot in costume.

More information is available by calling 310-393-6149 or check out a detailed listing of the weekend’s events at http://www.healthebay.org/event/fishy-fest-santa-monica-pier-aquarium-day-one. Children under 13 are admitted free with an adult; for all others, there is a suggested donation of $5 or a $3 minimum admission fee. For groups of 10 or more, the entry fee is $2 per person. Come celebrate the season - come in costume or make your own Dia de los Muertos calavera mask once you get here and join in the fun!

About the SMPA
The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is Heal the Bay’s marine education facility located beach-level, just below the Carousel, at the Santa Monica Pier. The Aquarium is open to the general public http://www.healthebay.org/smpa/visitor/hoursfees.asp and attracts more than 85,000 visitors per year. Since Heal the Bay acquired the Aquarium in 2003 from UCLA, more than half a million visitors have been welcomed during public hours and approximately 150,000 students have been educated during in-house education programs.

About Heal the Bay
Heal the Bay is a nonprofit environmental organization making Southern California coastal waters and watersheds, including Santa Monica Bay, safe, healthy and clean. We use science, education, community action and advocacy to pursue our mission.