Pumpkins and Piranhas

By: Valery Warner and Laila Schwin

October 21, 2021

Keeping with the theme of Halloween events for this Fall season, the Greater Cleveland Aquarium is about to start hosting their Pumpkins and Piranhas event for this year. 

Between October 27-29, the festivities will be held at the aquarium. They will be highlighting some of the more feared aquatic, reptile, and amphibian species, while, perhaps, fighting some of the negative stigmas around these species, too. 

Arrival times for the event are set in 30-minute increments, starting at 10:00 a.m., to ensure social distancing and a more consistent event experience for anyone who is joining at different points throughout the day.  The last arrival time is at 6:00 p.m. with the aquarium closing soon after, so we advise coming at an earlier time during the day if you want the full aquarium experience. 

This year’s festivities will include underwater pumpkin decorations, costumed scuba divers, a small treat bag for children, pop-up animal enrichment, and “I Spy” trivia activities, as well as the regular aquarium experience. Even if you do not want to participate in the events, you can still have that normal aquarium experience on these days. Patrons of the event are also invited and encouraged to dress up in their Halloween costumes. 

A focal point of the Pumpkins and Piranhas event is showing off some of the often-misunderstood and feared species. Animals like poison dart frogs, piranhas, sharks, and Moray eels may seem scary with fearsome reputations to match, but they are often just a victim of unwarranted fear and caution. The goal is to show people that these “scary” animals are not something to be feared.

The full aquarium experience and the Halloween festivities are all covered under general admission with adult tickets priced at $19.95 per person. General admission for children is $13.95, and those under the age of two are free. The aquarium encourages guests to purchase tickets online ahead of time to guarantee entry as it is first come, first serve with limited capacity.

If you are interested in some educational and fish-based Halloween fun, Pumpkins and Piranhas is definitely worth checking out!