The story of Jonah and the whale plays out Labor Day Weekend as The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk offers free admission into its “Giant Walk-In Whale” to any adult named Jonah.
During the holiday weekend, The Maritime Aquarium will welcome any adult with the first name of Jonah into its life-size inflatable whale – and the entire Aquarium – for free. That’s a $22.95 value (or $20.95 for seniors 65+).
Just as the Biblical Jonah spent three days inside a whale, the offer is good Sept. 3rd, 4th and 5th, the “Giant Walk-In Whale” exhibit’s final days. The free-admission offer is good to adults (18+) with proof by photo ID, such as a driver’s license. It’s not available for advance online ticket purchases for the popular Connecticut family attraction.
“We suspect that anyone named Jonah has heard a few whale jokes in their time,” said Aquarium spokesman Dave Sigworth. “We’re happy to help all adult Jonahs out there to finally have their whale encounter. Going inside our whale is fun and insightful, but – unlike the Biblical Jonah – doesn’t end with you being spit out onto a beach.”
The “Giant Walk-In Whale” is the centerpiece of The Maritime Aquarium’s “Whale of a Month,” a package of bonus offerings that celebrate recent sightings of humpback whales in Long Island Sound. The 43-foot inflatable helps Aquarium guests understand the real scale of a whale. Pose for a selfie with the beast, then go inside to see representations of its heart, lungs, stomachs, tongue and other organs. (The exhibit is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
Also offered through Labor Day for the “Whale of a Month” are a whale activity station, daily screenings at 4 p.m. of the IMAX® movie “Humpback Whales,” and (through Jan. 2) an exhibit on whale migration, “Animals Without Passports.”
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Jonahs Get in Free Labor Day Weekend for “Giant Walk-In Whale’s” Finale
Plus, a “Whales for A Cause” fund-raiser supported by Vineyard Vines continues through Sept. 16. Pick up a whale coloring page at the Aquarium or participating area Vineyard Vines stores, or download one from www.maritimeaquarium.org. Vineyard Vines will donate $1 to The Maritime Aquarium for each whale you color and publicly post to social media with #WhalesForACause and @VineyardVines.
“Flutter Zone” Also Ends on Labor Day
Mon., Sept. 5 also is the final day for another walk-in exhibit: “Flutter Zone,” The Maritime Aquarium’s enchanting exhibit that offers close encounters with exotic tropical butterflies.
This special summer exhibit on the Aquarium’s riverfront courtyard features dozens of varieties of butterflies native to South America and Asia. Some of the butterflies may even land on you!
Double your butterfly experience by including the IMAX movie “Flight of the Butterflies,” which chronicles the story of the monarch butterfly and their amazing multigenerational migration to Mexico that was a mystery to scientists until just recently. The film currently plays at 1 p.m. daily. But, like the “Flutter Zone” exhibit, “Flight of the Butterflies” will close on Labor Day.
“Labor Day brings an end to our great special summer exhibits, but it’s only a transition into new and exciting offerings for Fall, including a ‘Grandparents Weekend’ discount Sept. 10-11, a Family Sleepover on Sept. 23, and a visit from Capt. Barnacles of The Octonauts™ Sept. 24-25,” Sigworth said.
Get details about all current and upcoming exhibits, events, programs, IMAX movies and public cruises onto Long Island Sound at www.maritimeaquarium.org.