Five o’clock strikes, and the last daytime guests trail out of the Aquarium, their cars streaming out of the parking lots. Instead of closing for the day, the Aquarium prepares for a fun evening event. Inside the North Building, staff begin tidying up the exhibit galleries, setting up tables full of animal biofacts, yard games, and science activities. Caterers from Trolley House file in and arrange their own stations with trays full of freshly made finger foods, along with drink bars serving wine, beer, spirits, and non-alcoholic options like sodas and juice. At 6PM, Sharks After Dark begins, with eager guests arriving through the doors and making their way through the galleries.
Sharks After Dark is an exclusive monthly evening for patrons 21 and older, held every first Thursday except in December. Adult attendees meander through the exhibits after hours to view the animals, while sipping on cocktails and sampling from plates laden with heavy hors d'oeuvres.
Over the past year, Sharks After Dark has evolved to enhance the menu and offerings. At the beginning of 2025, the event focused on allowing adults to enjoy alcohol and snacks in the exhibit galleries after hours in an adult-only setting. Throughout the year, the Aquarium expanded the bar and menu options, inviting a variety of special guest entertainers for a more memorable evening.
Ellen Alt is the Aquarium’s Conservation, Learning & Engagement Specialist, tasked with overseeing special events and programs such as Mermaids, Holi-Rays and Sharks After Dark. Ellen came to the Aquarium in 2025, after a seven-year career as a classroom teacher, with the hope of educating the wider population about conservation and environmental issues.
“I was really excited about Sharks After Dark,” Ellen said of her first impression of the event. “Being from Virginia Beach, it’s really cool to hear about different adult experiences that aren't just necessarily going to the bars. I just thought it was a great opportunity to get people into the Aquarium.”
The event’s transition was already underway when Ellen joined the team. As part of the evolution, the team brainstormed new gallery experiences to complement the exhibits. Earlier this year, the team began hiring DJs to play a stream of upbeat music throughout the night. Aquarium educators and animal care experts were positioned throughout the exhibits to show biofacts like animal bones, as well as include live animal ambassador programs with terrapins and skinks. The special events team enhanced the nights even more with special performers like stilt walkers.
Ellen’s team also worked with Trolley House to develop new menus for the experience. In previous years, guests were limited to beer and wine with some small snack options. Now, the menu includes a full bar with spirits and a more filling selection of food. Recent events have served up empanadas, lobster rolls, brisket sliders, truffle boxes, street tacos, pigs in a blanket, loaded fries, and other treats. Each month also features a new specialty cocktail from the bar like margaritas, martinis and Dirty Shirleys.
To make their efforts count, Ellen’s team pushed for an expanded marketing strategy as well to spread the word locally and highlight the newly transformed event – with great success. In February and March of 2026, Sharks After Dark averaged between 40-80 guests per event. However, attendance rose sharply in spring during these marketing pushes, and 123 guests attended April’s event, followed by 231 guests in May and 294 guests in June.
“People were coming in just wanting to learn and see the Aquarium” regardless of the activities happening, Ellen said. “They hadn't been since they were young, and it was really nice to be able to be welcomed in and not be running over strollers.”
