Beginning on Friday, November 29th, you can dive into holiday fun at the South Carolina Aquarium. Guests can enjoy festive fun including visits from Santa, special animal programs, and more. Kids can even drop off letters for Santa in the Aquarium’s North Pole mailbox and complete a scavenger hunt to receive a prize.
Dive shows featuring festive underwater elves will be happening daily within the deepest saltwater tank in North America, the Great Ocean Tank. Guests will encounter thousands of animals as they walk through galleries decorated for the season. Guests can also meet animals up close during daily animal encounters.
Santa will be at the Aquarium on weekends this December. Guests can reserve a time to meet Santa between 10 a.m.–2 p.m. on December 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and 22. Guests wishing to meet Santa must have a general admission ticket or member entry reservation to the Aquarium. Professional photos will be available for purchase.
Guests can “Feed the RAYndeer” in The Shallows as they give the cownose rays a fishy snack from 10:15 a.m.–4 p.m. daily, while supplies last. Feeding vouchers can be purchased for $5 at Admissions or the Information Desk.
The evening holiday light spectacular, Aquarium Aglow, opens for select nights beginning on Friday, November 21. Aglow features larger-than-life installations, festive photo ops, and the opportunity to see Scuba Claus diving in the Great Ocean Tank! Aquarium Aglow is a family-friendly event. Refreshments, including a selection of alcoholic beverages for those 21+, will be available for purchase.
And for those looking for holiday shopping ideas, check out the Aquarium's Gifts that Give Back, a guide featuring items that are sustainable in nature and support the Aquarium directly. A portion of proceeds from every gift on the list goes directly toward fulfilling the Aquarium’s mission, including caring for sick and injured sea turtles, providing education programming for students and continuing critical conservation work throughout the state.
For more information on holiday fun at the South Carolina Aquarium, visit scaquarium.org/holidays