Holidays at the Aquarium of the Pacific

December 3rd and 4th, Santa dons a special SCUBA suit as he dives with sharks. Witness snowfall at the Aquarium, and watch as sea otters and sea lions savor delicious treats and surprises. Meet a lemur and alligator visiting from the wildlife rescue and outreach organization Conservation Ambassadors during the Holiday Treats for the Animals festival at the Aquarium

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In celebration of the holiday season, Santa Diver will dive with the sharks and deliver festive treats for the animals at the Aquarium of the Pacific during the Holiday Treats for the Animals weekend on Saturday and Sunday, December 3 and 4, 2022. Throughout this festival, Santa Diver’s helpers will share these gifts with the sea otters, sea lions, and other animals. The sea otter habitat will be decked out for the “sea”son with holiday ice treats, and visitors can watch a special presentation with the sea lions. The Aquarium will host Kwanzaa and Hanukkah storytelling throughout the weekend.

Look for holiday décor throughout the Aquarium, including underwater. During the Holiday Treats event families can experience holiday music, crafts, special presentations by the Elf Magician, photo opportunities, and shopping. To top it all off, snow will fall in the Aquarium’s Great Hall and kids can take photos with Santa. The Aquarium will also host special guest animals from wildlife rescue and outreach organization Conservation Ambassadors. Festival attendees will be able to meet a lemur and alligator in the Aquarium’s Ocean Theater at 10:45 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:45p.m., and 3:15 p.m. on both days of the festival. Advance reservations are required.

December 3rd through the 23rd, see Santa SCUBA dive, explore underwater décor in habitats, play in snow and take photos with Santa on weekends, help others with a toy drive, and more during Aquarium Holidays

There’s an ocean of ways to celebrate the “sea”son at the Aquarium of the Pacific. Visitors can watch Santa Diver swim with sharks, look for holiday décor underwater with the fishes, witness snowfall, and go shopping all at the Aquarium of the Pacific during its holiday celebration from December 3 to 23. The Aquarium will have photo opportunities with Santa and a snow play area during Aquarium Holidays on weekends through December 18. The Aquarium will host Kwanzaa and Hanukkah storytelling during the first weekend of Aquarium Holidays on December 3 to 4.

Throughout the celebration, you can see a display of gingerbread houses and holiday themed art projects created by Aquarium staff, a nearly three-story-tall holiday tree, and a sign with various holiday greetings in the Great Hall. While viewing the animals, look for seasonal décor in and around the Aquarium’s habitats from Shark Lagoon with its stockings for the sharks and rays to fish swimming by underwater holiday decorations.

TOY DRIVE: From Saturday, December 3 through Friday, December 23, you can bring in an unwrapped toy valued at $15 or more to donate to the Spark of Love toy drive and will receive a coupon for $7 off a regular adult or child admission (limit one coupon per toy received). There is a maximum of six discounts per party for six or more toys received.

HOLIDAY TREATS: Aquarium Holidays kicks off with Holiday Treats for the Animals on the weekend of December 3 and 4. In celebration of the holiday season, Santa Diver will be delivering an ocean of gifts to the Aquarium for its animals, and staff will present them to the sea lions and sea otters during the Holiday Treats for the Animals event.

COST: Included with general admission: $36.95 per adult (ages 12+), $26.95 per child (ages 3-11), $33.95 per senior (ages 62+), and free for Aquarium members and children under age three

Advance reservations are required.

INFO: (562) 590-3100 or aquariumofpacific.org/events/info/aquarium_holidays/