Aquarium's "Salute Norwalk Day" Means Free Admission to Norwalk Residents

As thanks for the support of its hometown, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is offering all Norwalk residents free Aquarium admission on Sat., Dec. 7, plus discounts on IMAX® movies and gift shop purchases.

Norwalk residents can enjoy their favorite Aquarium animals, touch a live shark and explore three special exhibits, all at no charge. (Proof of residency is required.) Plus, Santa Claus will be on hand from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.


Highlights of a general admission visit include:
• the aquarium itself, featuring more than 2,700 marine animals – including seven-foot sand tiger sharks, harbor seals, river otters, sea turtles and pulsing jellyfish – nearly all of which are native to Long Island Sound and its watershed. Seal feedings are at 11:45 a.m. and 1:45 & 3:45 p.m. daily. The Intertidal Touch Tank and the Shark & Ray Touch Pool bring animals right to 
• the 12th annual “Festival of Lighthouses Contest,” which illuminates Aquarium galleries with 22 large model lighthouses creatively handcrafted out of everything from Twinkies® and Ho Ho’s® to recycled bottles and intricately carved wood. Visitors choose the winners. Be sure to:
• the “Meerkats” special exhibit that is home to a family of active, cute meerkats who dig, 
romp and explore in a re-created African desert landscape.
• and the special exhibit, "African Underwater Safari," featuring some of the unusual aquatic animals native to the African continent, including cichlids, electric catfish and lungfish. 

The Maritime Aquarium also displays two historic Works Progress Administration (WPA) murals painted by Alexander Rummler in 1937. (The WPA was established in the mid-1930s as part of FDR’s “New Deal” to help shake America out of the Great Depression and get people – including artists – back to work.)

“Salute Norwalk Day” gives city residents the free opportunity to view these two local treasures.

Kids will want to bring their wish list – and parents will want to bring their cameras – to meet up with Santa Claus during his special limited appearance.

On “Salute Norwalk Day,” Norwalk residents also can take pride in their hometown IMAX movie theater, the largest in Connecticut. Norwalk residents will receive $1 discounts on the IMAX movies “Great White Shark” at 11 a.m. and 1 & 3 p.m., “Born to Be Wild” at noon and “Tornado Alley” at 2 p.m., as well as on the animated Hollywood holiday film “The Polar Express” at 4:00 & 7:30 p.m.


The deals reach into the Gift Shop, where Norwalk residents will receive 10 percent discounts on Dec. 7 – just in time to do some holiday shopping.
“Salute Norwalk Day” is just one of many contributions The Maritime Aquarium makes to Norwalk and its citizens.

The Aquarium offers dozens of educational programs and other marine science opportunities that supplement the education of Norwalk's students, sometimes at no cost to the schools. And the Aquarium and its 500,000 visitors inject more than $20 million annually into Norwalk's economy.

Learn more about the exhibits, IMAX films and special programs offered at The Maritime Aquarium by calling (203) 852-0700 or by going online to www.maritimeaquarium.org.