Fin Fest

A Celebration of Sharks & Stingrays

Now – Tuesday, August 6

We’re putting the spotlight on sharks and stingrays to build a broader appreciation for the diversity, importance and plight of these FINcredible elasmobranchs.

Now – Tuesday, August 6, 10am – 5pm (in-person)

Sport shark gear! Fin Fest-goers who visit the Aquarium dressed in shark gear (shirt, shorts, socks, tie, cap or costume) will be entered for a chance to win a shark-and-ray-themed $125 Gift Shop prize pack. (daily @10am – 5pm)

Get involved. Pick up an activity booklet with jaw-some word searches, animal facts and more. (daily @10am – 5pm)

See if you can spot 4 species of shark and 5 types of stingrays. When you find the brownbanded bamboo, nurse, sandtiger and sandbar sharks or the ocellate river, hybrid, cownose, southern and Atlantic stingrays, snap a photo and tag @cleaquarium on social. (daily @10am – 5pm)

Meet our mascot, Finn! Snap a photo with a very friendly landshark. (Dates and times vary)

Show us what you know. Identify shark and stingray teeth, learn about deadly animals and get the scoop on biodiversity at our Discovery Cart and get an animal trading card or shark finger puppet. (daily, times vary)

Feed the Stingrays. Stingrays, like sharks, are cartilaginous elasmobranchs. Feed these shark relatives. (daily @3:30pm)

Watch a Shark Feed. (Monday, Wednesday & Friday @2:30pm)

Ask our scuba team your questions about diving with sharks and stingrays during an interactive, in-person, underwater Q&A. (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday @11:30am)

Dive into a craft, experiment or topic with our community partners including Cleveland Museum of Natural History (July 11), Cleveland Water (July 9 & 18, August 1), Drink Local. Drink Tap. (July 16), The Community for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing (July 25 & 30, August 1) and Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (July 11 & 30). (Tuesdays & Thursdays @11am – 2pm)

Learn something new about sharks and stingrays during weekly Instagram Live Q&As with educators and the animal care team. (Friday mornings on the @cleaquarium IG page, August 2)

Saturday, July 27, 8:30am (in-person)

Dive into serenity with this exclusive yoga class ! Open to all levels and ages 13+, this intimate class of 10 offers you the unique opportunity to strike a pose directly in front of a 230,000-gallon shark and stingray habitat. Enjoy a 60-minute session with Susan, who felt called to start her yoga instructor journey in 2022. Her goal for practice is that you find yourself connected with your mat, your body and your soul. Advance registration required. ($25 general, $6 Passholders; Saturday, July 27, 8:30am)

Shark-Related Videos & Activities

Life Support Systems Director Brenton walks us through maintaining the Aquarium shark habitat.

Do you know how long a brownbanded bamboo shark can tolerate low oxygen? Watch the video below to find out!

Aquarist Lando M. tells us all about the 4 species of sharks at Greater Cleveland Aquarium in Español.

People always notice the big sandtiger sharks swimming through their habitat, but what about the smaller sandbar sharks they coexist with? Check out this video to learn 5 interesting facts about these fascinating animals.

Ever wondered what goes into being an Aquarium diver? Learn from a few of the dive team members about their day-to-day responsibilities.

It’s Ray on Rays! Our Curator Ray P. discusses the different species of stingrays here at the Aquarium and what sets them apart.

Did you know sharks and stingrays are related? Both are elasmobranchs. Find out how the dive team and aquarists collaborate to check the weight, growth and barbs of the Touchpool stingrays.

Have you ever wondered how we feed sharks? Head behind-the-scenes to see how it’s done!

You might have a baby shark swimming around your cupboard. Here’s how to turn those unused paper cups into a tiny, finned friend.

Take those old toilet paper rolls and turn them into colorful stingrays!

We may not have hammerhead sharks at the Aquarium, but you can always make your own.

Make a smiling shark with things you probably have at home: scissors, markers, glue, construction paper and of course a paper plate.

Make a tented rocking shark in minutes.

Make a shark puppet with minimal art supplies.

All you need for this shark picture frame is a photo, marker, scissors, glue, construction paper and a manila folder.

Grab some construction paper, scissors, glue and tape so you can create a piece of custom headgear that will let everyone know you are a big fan of sharks.

Transform a toilet paper tube into a shark.

Learn how to make a smiling paper plate shark.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to making a construction paper shark with a moving mouth. The materials are simple. We suggest watching the entire video once before diving in. Knowing the steps ahead of time makes the whole process that much easier and more fun.

Look up at sharks and rays as you head under the ocean in a 175-foot seatube.

Unless otherwise noted, all activities are included with general Aquarium admission ($0 – 19.95). Tickets available online and can be purchased in advance of your visit. Questions? Call 216.862.8803 x7700.

Buy Tickets

Your chance to win!

Think you know your sharks and rays? Answer 5 shark questions and you’ll be entered for a chance to win 5 Greater Cleveland Aquarium general admission tickets and a shark-tracking bracelet ($125 total package value). Must be a U.S. citizen age 18 or older to participate. Limit 1 entry per person/email address. One (1) winner will be selected randomly on 8/7/24 and notified by email.

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