If you’re looking for a Halloween event that’s a little different from the usual haunted houses and pumpkin patches, Birch Aquarium has something worth checking out. Halloween Aglow is back, and it’s one of those experiences that manages to blend seasonal fun with actual learning – which sounds like it shouldn’t work, but somehow does.

What Makes It Different

The aquarium transforms after dark, turning its usual exhibits into something more festive and mysterious. This year, the Adam R. Scripps Living Seas Gallery gets special lighting and glowing surprises as it shifts from day to night.

You can trick-or-treat through the space, which gives kids something familiar to latch onto while they’re surrounded by jellyfish and sea creatures.

The “Boo and Goo Lab” leans into the fact that the ocean is full of genuinely slimy things. Matthew Arrollado, Public Programs Coordinator, put it well: “The ocean is filled with unique, alien-like – but most importantly, slimy – creatures!”

Kids can play with sensory slime, explore the science of Oobleck, and touch actual slimy ocean animals. It’s hands-on in a way that keeps younger visitors engaged without dumbing anything down.

Beyond the Basics

There’s a costume parade through the aquarium if you want to show off what you’re wearing, and aquarium divers will demonstrate underwater pumpkin carving, which is genuinely interesting to watch.

Live music comes from Billy Lee and The Swamp Critters, and there are pop-up science stations and classic arcade games scattered throughout.

The whole setup is family-friendly without being sanitized. You’re entering through hay bales and pumpkins, wandering through eerie illuminations, and learning about unusual ocean animals along the way. It’s Halloween with a purpose, which is refreshing when so many seasonal events lean entirely on spectacle.

Worth the Ticket Price

Tickets are separate from general admission – $45 for adults, $40 for kids, with members getting 50% off. Kids 2 and under are free. You get access to the entire aquarium during a special event with extra programming, so the value is there if your family is into this sort of thing.

See You There!

Grab your costume, embrace the slime, and spend an evening exploring the ocean’s spookier side in one of La Jolla’s best settings.

📆 October 24 – 25, 6 PM – 8:30 PM
📍 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla
🎟️ Buy tickets here
ℹ️ More info here

See you there, San Diego!