The New York Aquarium’s Ascarium Halloween event returns with a new illusion-themed exhibit, glowing ocean-inspired displays, animal encounters, and family-friendly fun for all ages.
At a Glance:
- A family-friendly Halloween event returns to the New York Aquarium this October with ocean-themed activities and seasonal fun
- Explore a new illusion-inspired experience that highlights some of the amazing ways sea creatures adapt and survive
- Enjoy returning favorites, including live shows, crafts, and interactive activities
- A fun fall outing for kids who love animals, science, and Halloween without getting scared
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Coney Island has a lore all its own (if you’re a native Brooklynite, you know), and the New York Aquarium taps into that spirit every fall with Ascarium, its annual Halloween event. On October 10, it’s back for another season.
If you haven’t been before, Ascarium is basically the Aquarium’s way of turning Halloween into a fun interactive science class. Instead of outright jump scares, it focuses on the wild ways ocean animals do their own version of costumes with camouflage, color-changing, and glowing in the dark.
What’s New This Year at Ascarium at the New York Aquarium
The big addition this year is called the Sea of Illusions, where the aquarium’s Sea Change exhibit gets transformed into five different themed areas kids can wander through: a bioluminescent zone, a dark abyss, an enchanted kelp forest, and a couple of others built around how animals hide and shift their appearance.
There are also new giant pumpkin sculptures shaped like sharks and octopuses, plus a costumed performer doing interactive bubble play.
Family Favorites Return
The family favorites are all back:
- A costume parade with performers and aquatic puppets
- Face painting for kids 3 and up
- A magic show with an ocean twist
- The Aquatheater sea lion show
- A scavenger hunt built around animals that get an unfair “spooky” reputation — think spider crabs, wolf eels, and piranhas
- A hands-on sand dig for shells and beach finds
- A texture-based “Marine Mystery Wall” for the sensory-seekers in your crew
- Fall crafts, lawn games, treats, and low-key storytelling
The Ascarium is designed so kids of very different ages and attention spans can all find something they will enjoy; for toddlers, bubbles and face paint, and older kids get the scavenger hunt and the strange things ocean-oddities station.
Ascarium runs October 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 24, 25, and 31, from 10 am–4:30 pm. It’s included with regular admission and is free for WCS members. If you’re not a member, you can book tickets online ahead of time.
Check the full activity schedule and get tickets at NYAquarium.com/Ascarium.
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