Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Virginia Beach, VA – The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is hosting an indulgent evening event with local live music, drinks, and fresh oysters on Sunday, May 18, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Aquarium’s outdoor amphitheater, located at the South Building. The event, called Hops & Half Shells , is for ages 21 and older.
Attendees will enjoy fresh oysters farmed from local waterways, and live music from local artist, Mike Proffitt . The menu will include an array of oysters, including char-broiled, po’boys, and flights on the half-shell, and an open bar with beer and wine. Fresh oysters will be shucked and prepared in real time at the event.
Representatives from the Virginia Aquarium’s Sensible Seafood Program and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation will be present to share the importance of oysters in our ecosystem and details about the local industry. The Virginia Aquarium’s Sensible Seafood Program educates and collaborates with the local seafood industry to drive positive, sustainable action for the marine environment. The team advocates, with a focus on responsible practices, to sustain fisheries now and in the future.
The oyster shells will be collected and recycled by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation following the event. Recycling oyster shells help sustain local oyster populations. Not only are oysters important to the local economy, but also to the local ecology, helping restore coral reefs, filter water, and protect coastal habitats.
Tickets for this event are available for $125 for the general public and $120 for Aquarium members, with all food and drinks included in the price. Tickets can be purchased at VirginiaAquarium.com .
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center’s mission is to connect people to the marine environment, inspiring a more sustainable future. The Aquarium aspires to be a driver in conservation, education, tourism, and sustainability, leading the charge to save wildlife and their ecosystems. Owned by the City of Virginia Beach, the Aquarium operates as a city department in partnership with the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation. The Aquarium is proud to be an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports the work of the Virginia Aquarium. The Foundation procures and maintains the Aquarium's exhibits, including the animals and habitats. It is also responsible for annual and capital fundraising, administration and funding for the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program, conservation and scientific research efforts, and the Aquarium's mission-related education programs. You can be a part of our mission by making a tax-deductible donation to support our programming.
Sensible Seafood Program
The Sensible Seafood Program’s mission is to educate, collaborate, and advocate with a focus on responsible practices that sustain fisheries now and in the future. The Program inspires action through local and global conservation partnerships and advocating for healthy marine ecosystems and fisheries where people and animals thrive together.
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