Oh, Fish-mas Tree! A Winter Wonderland at the Virginia Aquarium

(VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.) – The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is decking the halls and transforming into a winter wonderland during Holi-Rays! Come dressed in your holiday best or festive pajamas for an evening of family fun on December 16 and 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. Meet Santa and Mrs. C…

Threatened Crocodile Species Hatches at Virginia Aquarium

(Virginia Beach, VA) – Two Tomistoma hatched at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center on September 1, 2022. In May, 16-year-old Sommer laid a clutch of 19 eggs. Two babies hatched after being closely monitored by the Aquarium’s husbandry team during a 113-day incubation period. This is …

Fins & Frights at the Virginia Aquarium (2022)

(VIRGINIA BEACH, VA) – It is almost time for a devilishly fun family-friendly Halloween event at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center! Fins & Frights will take place on October 21 and 22 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Dress up in a costume and join us for a spook-tacular journey through the A…

Virginia Aquarium Mourns Loss of Beloved Komodo Dragon

(Virginia Beach, VA) – Staff at the Virginia Aquarium are mourning the loss of Sanchez, a 17-year-old Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis). Sanchez was an active and precocious dragon. He loved resting in the sunlight, overlooking Owls Creek, and coming nose-to-nose with guests who visited him. He w…

Mural Painting to Transform the Virginia Aquarium’s Façade

(Virginia Beach, VA) – A marine-inspired mural will soon adorn the façade of the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. Artist Sarah Gallahan, a Virginia native, was commissioned for this mural project and will begin work on the 2,508-square-foot canvas, approximately 66 feet wide by 38 fee…

Virginia Aquarium Honors New Conservation Center and Darden Family in Dedication

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – A ceremony was held to dedicate the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center’s Darden Marine Animal Conservation Center (DMACC) on Thursday, August 25. This is a state-of-the-art facility for the Stranding Response Program, and the first of its kind on the east coast. The …

New Low-Riding Dolphin Boat Tour at the Virginia Aquarium

(Virginia Beach, VA) – A brand-new dolphin-watching boat tour experience is now offered at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center! The first of its kind on the east coast, the 70-minute excursion brings guests even closer to wildlife in the new low-riding vessel called the Atlantic Scout…

Virginia Aquarium Experiences Record-Breaking Hooked Sea Turtle Season

(Virginia Beach, VA) – 2022 is a record-breaking year for the most hooked sea turtle responses in the history of the Stranding Response Program at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. Hooked sea turtle season, referring to a time when sea turtles are caught by hooks on fishing lines d…

Vulnerable Crocodilian Species Lays Eggs at Virginia Aquarium

(Virginia Beach, VA) – Sommer, a 16-year-old Tomistoma (freshwater crocodilian species), has laid 19 eggs at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. Native to Malaysia and Indonesia, the species is at high risk of extinction. Therefore, the prospect of this reproduction marks a commemora…