A 12-foot skeleton is part of Birch Aquarium’s seasonal October display, standing in the Giant Kelp Forest tank among moray eels, horn sharks, Garibaldi and a giant sea bass. Visitors can see the display at the La Jolla aquarium or remotely through its live Kelp Cam.
Fox 5 San Diego has also covered the aquarium’s seasonal skeleton display.
NBC Los Angeles reports that the skeleton is built each year by the Birch Aquarium team and appears for a few weeks in October. Kayla Strate, curator of birds and ambassador programs at Birch Aquarium, told the outlet Halloween is one of her favorite times of year; the aquarium also shares unusual facts about its animals as part of its seasonal programming.
Two Halloween Events, Two Different Crowds
Birch Aquarium is marking the season with a pair of ticketed events this month. The adults-only Oceans at Night: Halloween runs Thursday, October 22, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., according to the aquarium's own announcement at aquarium.ucsd.edu. The 21-and-over event has a different program from Halloween Aglow. Guests can also meet Scripps Oceanography scientists and view real specimens from the Scripps Collections during the evening.
NBC Los Angeles describes Halloween Aglow as the aquarium's annual party for children and adults alike, featuring trick-or-treating inside the aquarium and the Boo & Goo Lab alongside its own underwater pumpkin-carving demonstration. The aquarium's official newsroom post states the family-friendly event runs October 23 and 24 from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Ticket Prices Also Diverge Between Reports
The aquarium’s newsroom announcement lists Halloween Aglow at $59.95 for adults and $49.95 for children, with members saving 20% and admission free for children age two and under. NBC Los Angeles reports that Oceans at Night tickets are expected to sell out quickly; check the aquarium’s current listings before planning a visit.
A Tank Built for Everyday Viewing, Too
The Giant Kelp Forest habitat is also available to view remotely through Birch Aquarium’s Kelp Cam.
A Local Kelp Forest, and a Recurring Halloween Event
Birch Aquarium describes the Kelp Cam as a view into a local Giant Kelp Forest habitat, where viewers may spot an endangered Giant Sea Bass, according to Birch Aquarium at Scripps. The aquarium’s September 2024 announcement described Halloween Aglow as returning for two nights at its La Jolla location, on October 25 and 26 that year. The announcement called it Halloween fun with an educational twist, documenting the event as part of the aquarium’s recurring seasonal programming, according to Birch Aquarium at Scripps.
Birch Aquarium’s October program pairs the skeleton display with seasonal events that include trick-or-treating, hands-on science and underwater pumpkin carving. Between the costumed crowds, diving pumpkin carvers and the kelp forest installation, the aquarium offers visitors several ways to mark Halloween in La Jolla.
