Happy HallowMarine

Are you looking for a different and exciting way to celebrate Halloween with your family this year?

Are you looking for a different and exciting way to celebrate Halloween with your family this year? If you’ve never been to HallowMarine at the Oklahoma Aquarium, this is the year to go and “sea” what it’s all about. A thrilling adventure for kids, teens and adults, HallowMarine is the only place where you can run into a friendly pirate or two, get spooked on a haunted ship, enjoy a huge kids’ carnival and leave with tons of yummy trick-or-treat candy. The annual event will be held October 24, 25, 29, 30 and 31 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the aquarium in Jenks.  

The first thing you’ll see upon entering is the giant carnival filled with carnival games, inflatables and more. Next, turn the corner to the trick-or-treat trail, filled with booths manned by local businesses giving away candy and other goodies such as coupons. The entire aquarium will be decorated with a pirate theme: crates, haunted docks, an old tavern with sailors, and of course, live pirates! Captain Jack Sparrow himself will be wandering around and interacting with the kids.

The amazing Haunted Sunken Ship will be a spooky, thrilling voyage for teens and adults. Not for the faint-hearted or small children, the ship will feature treasure rooms, water effects and lighting effects that will have you gasping, “Shiver me timbers!”

Teri Bowers, COO and Executive Director of the Oklahoma Aquarium, encourages families to come out to the sixth annual HallowMarine. “This is a very family-oriented event. Kids love it,” she said.

All of the aquarium’s normal exhibits will be open during the after-hours event. You can feed the stingrays and stare in awe at the sharks. “The sharks can sometimes be more active at night,” said Bowers.

Area businesses still have time to participate in HallowMarine. Participating companies will connect with thousands of people in a matter of days, at no cost other than the price of the candy they give to trick-or-treaters. For more information, call Sasha Rubey at (918) 528-1513.     

If you simply can’t wait for the fun of Hallow Marine, jumpstart your Halloween celebration at Pirates and Pajamas, October 17 from 6 p.m. until the next morning. Imagine falling asleep alongside a soothing coral reef, or waking up to a bull shark swimming right overhead. The sleepover is a-splash with activities, snacks, movies and maybe just a little sleep. The decorations for HallowMarine will be on display, adding an eerie, spine-tingling touch to the amazing aquatic atmosphere.

Sponsors for HallowMarine 2008 include Bancfirst, Cox Communications and TulsaKids Magazine. Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for children. Members of the Oklahoma Aquarium receive $1 off each ticket. Advanced tickets will be available, or you can simply pay at the door. Another sponsor of the event, QuikTrip, will be offering $1 off coupons while supplies last at Tulsa-area QuikTrips throughout October. For more information about HallowMarine, call (918) 296-FISH (3474) or go online to www.okaquarium.org.

For more information, contact

Oklahoma Aquarium

300 Aquarium Dr.

Jenks, OK 74037

(918) 296-FISH (3474)

www.okaquarium.org