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Beach Cleanup

Adopt-A-Beach Cleanup

Monday, June 23, 10am – 12pm

Join us for a beach cleanup and help keep debris out of our waterways. We’ll meet at the Aquarium and walk to Wendy Park to pick up litter. All ages are welcomed, but please dress for the weather and be prepared for a 2.5-mile walk (roundtrip).

You can also explore the Aquarium following the program. Each participant will receive one (1) complimentary ticket for free, same-day Aquarium admission.

Presented in partnership with Splash Fund of Greater Cleveland Aquarium, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Alliance for the Great Lakes and Great Lakes Educators of Aquatic and Marine Science.  

Partners

Details

Free with advance registration through Alliance for the Great Lakes. Includes Aquarium admission. Questions? Call 216.862.8803 x7715.

Monday, June 23, 10am – 12pm

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Waves of Appreciation Weekend

Free for Military & First Responders

Fourth of July Weekend, Friday, July 4 – Monday, July 7
Labor Day Weekend, Friday, August 29 – Monday, September 1
Veterans Day Weekend, Friday, November 7 – Tuesday, November 11

In appreciation for their dedication to the wellbeing of our communities, general admission and parking (with validation) is FREE for active duty military, veterans and first responders* on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day and Veterans Day Waves of Appreciation Weekends.

Eligible guests must present appropriate ID. Appreciation offer is only available in-person. Please do not purchase tickets online if you intend to take advantage of this offer. It cannot be combined with other discounts or offers.

*Eligible guests include active-duty military, veterans or reservists, police officers, sheriff/sheriff’s deputies, correctional officers, state troopers, federal law enforcement officers, career or volunteer firefighters, physicians, nurses, EMTs, paramedics and 911 dispatchers. (Does not apply to accompanying family members or guests.)

Middle School Career Day

Middle School Career Day:
Oceans of Opportunities

Discover the wonders of working underwater! Middle School Career Day at the Aquarium is an exciting, hands-on introduction to the many fascinating jobs that keep an aquarium running. Students meet real-life marine educators, aquarists, divers and animal care experts while learning what it’s like to work with ocean animals every day. Through fun, age-appropriate activities, students explore different roles on an aquarium team and imagine themselves in those careers.

The program includes interactive experiences like feeding stingrays, touring the animal food prep kitchen and interviewing members of the Aquarium dive team. Students will even get to try out tasks from a “day in the life” of Aquarium staff, sparking curiosity and excitement about future possibilities in marine science, animal care and conservation.

This program is for students entering grades 6-9. If you are a high school student interested in career programs, check out the High School Career Day. Parents and siblings are welcome to purchase regular admission tickets for the same day and are invited to self-tour the Aquarium exhibits during the program.

Available Dates

Tuesday, July 8, 2025 @ 9am – 12pm

Friday, August 15, 2025 @ 9am-12pm

Friday, January 2, 2026 @ 9am-12pm

$35 General Middle School/Junior High Student
$25 Passholder Middle School/Junior High Student

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Fin Fest

Fin Fest

A Celebration of Sharks & Stingrays

Tuesday, July 8 – Tuesday, August 5, 10am – 5pm

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

Tuesday, July 8 – Tuesday, August 5, 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 a 4-page 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. (Fridays & Saturdays @3pm)

Show us what you know. Identify sharks and rays at our Discovery Cart and get an animal trading card or other prizes. (daily, 10:45am & 4:15pm)

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)

Catch a Broadcast Feed. Find out what the stingrays, moray eels, angelfish and other residents of the shark habitat eat. (Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday @3:45pm)

Ask our scuba team your questions about diving with sharks and stingrays during an interactive, in-person, underwater Q&A. (daily @1:30pm)

Dive into an experiment, game or topic with our community partners including Cleveland Water (July 8, 10, 15, 22, 24, 28 & 31), Cuyahoga County Board of Development Disabilities (July 8, 15 & 31), Drink Local. Drink Tap. (July 17 & 31), Great Lakes Science Center (July 10) and Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (July 10 & 22).  (Tuesdays & Thursdays, 11am – 2pm)

Go nose-to-nose with other interesting animals during daily encounters. (daily, 10am & 4pm)

Shark-Related Videos & Activities

Aquarium diver Stephanie goes over some of the small species and details she sees diving in the shark habitat every week!

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.

Fin Fest

Unless otherwise noted, Fin Fest 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.

Reel vs Real World Shark Quiz
Now – August 5, 4:59pm

Did you learn everything you know about sharks from the movies? Answer 5 questions about sharks’ real-world behavior and importance for a chance to win a Greater Cleveland Aquarium Family Pass (or a 1-year extension your current Aquarium membership), a shark tracking bracelet and a 6″ shark plush.

Stingray Art Mornings
Tuesday, July 15 & Sunday, August 3, 8:30 – 10am
$40 general, $10 Passholder; advance registration required

Help cownose stingrays create an original piece of art. This memorable artistic adventure includes same-day Aquarium admission, an opportunity to ask questions about stingrays and animal enrichment and a one-of-a-kind artwork you can take home.

Wake Up With Sharks
Tuesday, July 22, 9 – 9:30am
$10 general (per screen, up to 4 guests per screen), free for Passholders 

Observe shark adaptations and discover the vital role sharks play in the ocean ecosystem from the comfort of your home anywhere in the world. Bring your questions, this interactive experience allows for Q&A throughout.

Bottoms Up! Yoga (& Sharks)
Thursday, July 10, 8:30 – 9:30am
Thursday, July 24, 8:30 – 9:30am
$25 general, $5 Passholder 

Join us for a unique one-hour yoga session in front of the shark habitat. Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or just dipping your toes into the world of downward-facing dog, a Bottoms Up! Yoga instructor will guide you through a rejuvenating morning practice suitable for all levels. Prepare to stretch, strengthen and find your inner peace while our finned friends glide by.  

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Sensory Hour
Saturday, August 2, 8:30 – 9:30am
$19.95 (ages 13 and older), $13.95 (ages 2-12), free for children younger than 2 & Passholders of any age

We are opening early exclusively for guests with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and sensory processing differences to provide an opportunity celebrate sharks and stingrays in a comfortable, accepting environment. Not only will there be fewer guests but for that hour the Aquarium team also will limit the use of microphones, soften lighting and reduce noise to ensure a comfortable environment for all participants.

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Our Partners

Bottoms Up Yoga (& Sharks)

Bottoms Up! Yoga (& Sharks)

Thursday, July 10, 8:30 – 9:30am
Thursday, July 24, 8:30 – 9:30am

Join us for a unique one-hour yoga session in front of the shark habitat. Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or just dipping your toes into the world of downward-facing dog, a Bottoms Up! Yoga instructor will guide you through a rejuvenating morning practice suitable for all levels. Prepare to stretch, strengthen and find your inner peace while our finned friends glide by, providing the ultimate Zen backdrop.

Registration includes same-day Greater Cleveland Aquarium admission.   

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Cost

$25 general, $5 Passholders  

Cost per session. Registration includes same-day Greater Cleveland Aquarium admission.

Stingray Art Morning

Stingray Art Morning

Help our stingrays create an original piece of art!

Details

This memorable artistic adventure includes:

  • Same-day Aquarium admission
  • Opportunity to ask questions about stingrays and animal enrichment
  • One-of-a-kind artwork to take home

*Stingray art participants handle raw seafood. Let us know at the beginning of the program if you have any shellfish allergies.

PLEASE NOTE: Space is limited. Advance registration required. Art project takes approximately 10 minutes per participant.  

Cost

$40 general; $10 Passholder (must be logged into your online account to access discount pricing)

Dates

Tuesday, July 15, 8:30 – 10am
Sunday, August 3, 8:30 – 10am

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Sensory Hour

Sensory Hour

Saturday, August 2, 8:30 – 9:30am 

We are opening an hour early exclusively for guests with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and sensory processing differences to provide an opportunity exploring nearby lakes and faraway oceans in a comfortable and accepting environment. Not only will there be fewer guests but for that hour the Aquarium team also will limit the use of microphones, soften lighting and reduce noise to ensure a comfortable environment for all participants.

Greater Cleveland Aquarium is certified sensory inclusive by KultureCity, an internationally recognized organization that promotes an accommodating and positive experience for guests with sensory issues. KultureCity sensory bags outfitted with noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools and verbal cue cards are now available to borrow as needed on a first-come, first-served basis. Dedicated areas also have been identified for those who may require a quieter environment.

KultureCity
Cost

$19.95 (ages 13+), $13.95 (ages 2-12), Passholders, children younger than 2 and working caregivers FREE

Passholder Back-of-House Tour

Passholder Back-of-House Tour

Friday, June 6, 8:30am, 9am, 9:30am or 10am

Get a new perspective on the Aquarium when we open our “staff-only” doors for Passholders. This exclusive behind-the-scenes sneak peek offers members a glimpse at a few back-of-house areas including life support systems, a food prep station and the Shark Gallery dive deck. You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of the tech, time, resources and expertise it takes to care for 235 species!

Passholders-Only – Guests ages 14+ – 30-minute tour – Advance registration required  

Cost

Space is limited, so register now.

$2 per guest; you must be logged into your Greater Cleveland Aquarium Passholder account to secure your spot.

8:30am, 9am, 9:30am or 10am

High School Career Day

High School Career Day:
Aquarium Career Quest

Dive into the world of aquatic careers at our High School Career Day at the Aquarium! Students meet a variety of aquarium professionals—from aquarists to educators and guest experience staff—who share their career journeys, educational paths and tips on building resumes and preparing for college. This is a unique opportunity to explore the many roles that keep an aquarium thriving and to ask questions about what it takes to work in this exciting field.

The day features hands-on, interactive experiences including feeding stingrays, playing Aquarium Jeopardy, taking a biodiversity tour and watching an animal enrichment demonstration. Whether you’re passionate about marine life, curious about science careers or just love the ocean, this event offers inspiration, insight and fun for every student.

This program is recommended for students entering grades 9-12.  If you are a middle school student interested in career programs, look here. Parents and siblings are welcome to purchase regular admission tickets  for the same day, and are invited to self-tour the Aquarium galleries during the program.

Available Dates

Wednesday, November 26, 2025 @ 9am-12pm

Monday, January 19, 2026 @ 9am-12pm

$35 general high school student
$25 Passholder high school student

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