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Greater Cleveland Aquarium to host Fin Fest July 9-17

The week-long celebration will take place from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day

CLEVELAND — EDITOR’S NOTE: The video above previously aired on 3News on Aug. 9, 2020, during the 2020 Fin Fest.

Fin Fest is returning to Cleveland this summer. 

The Greater Cleveland Aquarium will host its annual festival from Saturday, July 9, until Sunday, July 17 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day. 

This year’s shark week celebration will give visitors unique opportunities to feed the sharks on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. 

Admission to the festival is included with general admission tickets to the Greater Cleveland Aquarium.

Prices: 

  • Greater Cleveland Aquarium members: Free 
  • Children under 2 years old: Free 
  • 2-12 years old: $13.95 
  • 13 years old and up: $19.95 

Tickets must be purchased in advance and can be bought HERE

“There are more than 540 known shark species, but they’re disappearing from the oceans at an alarming rate,” Curator Ray Popik. “About one-third of them are now threatened with extinction largely as the result of human interactions.” 

The Greater Cleveland Aquarium is also giving guests an incentive to dress up in shark attire. Anyone sporting a shark-themed outfit at the festival will be entered into a raffle for a $125 certificate to the aquarium’s gift shop. 

The festival hopes to provide attendees with fun activities as well as education on sharks.

“We provide information about how diverse sharks are, the critical role they play in maintaining balance in the aquatic ecosystem and how important it is to protect them, but it seems like nothing creates connection quite like the impact of seeing one up close and in-person,” said Popik, “Looking directly into a sand tiger shark’s mouth filled with jagged teeth as you stroll underwater through a 230,000-gallon Shark Seatube inspires a certain reverence for these ‘jaw-some’ animals.”

Full schedule of events: 

  • Prove you’re a shark fan. Answer four shark questions online and be entered for a chance to win four Greater Cleveland Aquarium vouchers and a 6” shark plush! (daily, now – July 17, 2022)
  • Sport shark gear! Show your shark shirt, shorts, socks, tie or hat in the Gift Shop and you can enter to win a $125 gift certificate. (daily, 10am – 5pm) 

  • Show us what you know. Pick up an activity booklet with jaw-some word searches, animal facts and more. (daily, 10am – 5pm)

  • Spot 4 species of shark. When you find them, snap a photo and tag @cleaquarium on social: brownbanded bamboo, nurse, sand tiger and sandbar. (daily, 10am – 5pm) 

  • Meet the mascot, Finn! Snap a photo with a very friendly landshark. (Wednesday – Saturday, 12 p.m.)

  • Can you tell the tooth? Identify shark teeth and get a shark temporary tattoo or sticker. (daily, 11am & 1:30pm)

  • Feed the Stingrays. Stingrays, like sharks, are cartilaginous elasmobranchs. Feed these shark relatives. (daily, 10:30 a.m.)

  • Watch a Shark Feed. (Tuesday, Thursday & Sunday, 2:30 p.m.)

  • Learn from shark-sperts. Join #cleaquarium aquarists for weekday @CLEAquarium Instagram Live mini shark talks.

    • Monday, July 11 @ 9:30 a.m. – Shark Gallery Overview

    • Tuesday, July 12 @ 9:30 a.m. – Shark Pole Feed Food Prep

    • Wednesday, July 13 @ 9:30 a.m. – Stingrays, Sharks’ Elasmobranch Relatives

    • Thursday, July 14 @ 2:30 p.m. – Behind-the-Scenes of a Shark Pole Feed

    • Friday, July 15 @ 9:30 a.m – All Things Shark 

More information on the festival can be found HERE

EDITOR'S NOTE: The video above previously aired on 3News on Dec. 20, 2021. 

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