Celebrate The Holidays With Birch Aquarium

The magic of the holidays meets the magic of the underwater world at Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego during Seas ‘n’ Greetings, a month-long holiday celebration featuring SEAsonal activities for the whole family.

From December 1 to 31, Birch Aquarium is transformed into a holiday wonderland. Deck the Hall of Fishes and get into the holiday spirit every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and check the schedule for special appearances by Scuba Santa as well as themed animal encounters, a scavenger hunt, and fun photo opportunities.

“The holidays are a time for family, friends, and the community to come together,” said Danny Beckwith, manager of public engagement at Birch Aquarium. “We invite you and yours to share in the magic of the natural world in this celebration of everything merry and bright in the ocean.”

On Saturdays and Sundays things are even more festive with live music, coloring stations, and two daily dive shows featuring Scuba Santa. Scuba Santa and his elf assistant chat with guests and discuss important conservation topics as they feed the creatures in the two-story, 70 thousand gallon Giant Kelp Forest. From December 26-December 31 only elves will participate in the dive show. The Seas ‘n’ Greetings schedule changes daily, so visit the website for a full schedule of events.

All holiday activities are included in admission, which is $19.50 for adults, $15 for children ages 3 to 17. Children 2 and under are free. Annual memberships are also available and make great holiday gifts. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit aquarium.ucsd.edu or call 858-534-FISH.

See you there!