by Noella Noelophile®
(Photo courtesy of Aquarium of the Pacific Audio Visual Department, and used with permission.)
This Saturday, December 7th, Long Beach’s Aquarium of the Pacific is hosting a parade. And conditions may be a little snowy.
They’ll also be fun, festive, and filled with gingerbread houses, Santa visits and Hanukkah stories.
From this Saturday, December 7th, through Monday, December 23rd, the Aquarium hosts “Aquarium Holidays”, with all kinds of “sea-sonal” festivities.
(Photo courtesy of Aquarium of the Pacific Audio Visual Department, and used with permission.)
Snow will fall in the Great Hall. Visitors will get to make a snowman in the snow play area on weekends. Aquarium characters, dressed in their Christmastime best, will be on hand.
And of course, Santa will make daily appearances.
But he’s not just any Santa–he’s Santa Diver!
Gingerbread houses will be on display, and on weekends, there will be photo opportunities with Santa. Visitors can hear Hanukkah stories and play dreidel on select dates.
And what happens at 10 am, daily, is not to be missed.
That’s the time of the daily “Penguin Parade”.
Watching these cute black-and-white creatures waddle purposefully by is fun. Even more so if you get one who does a “rock star” turn and shows off for the crowds!
There’s another reason to mark your calendar for this weekend, as well.
“Holiday Treats For the Animals” happens from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, this Saturday and Sunday!
This is a lot of fun to see.
Staffers put out specially-made treats for the sea lions, otters, penguins and other denizens of the Aquarium, throughout the day.
And the gift recipients react very much like their human counterparts on Christmas morning!
(During our visit, the otters didn’t miss one!)
If you, yourself, get a little hungry and wouldn’t mind a “treat” of your own, Cafe Scuba also has some special menu items available. I can personally recommend the gingerbread cookies with hot coffee!
And please consider donating a new, unwrapped toy, with a value of $15 or more, for Long Beach Fire Department’s “Spark of Love” toy drive?
In addition to the fun of making a child’s Christmas special, you’ll get a coupon valid for $10 off adult admission, and $3 off a child admission ticket, from December 7th through December 23rd. Aquarium members receive a free ticket for each toy donated (limit of six admission tickets per membership).
How’s that for giving back? Merry Christmas, Aquarium of the Pacific!