The Discovery Channel’s Shark Week has gained a bit of a cult following. This year, St. Louisans can feel the buzz closer to home as the Saint Louis Zoo hosts their very own Shark Week. Filled with education, opportunities to get up close and personal with the creature, and more, the week runs from July 14 through July 20. Here are five things to know before you go.
1. If you dress like a shark, you can get into the Stingrays at Caribb
Discover fun things to do with the family
Subscribe to the St. Louis Family newsletter for family-friendly things to do and news for local parents, sent every Monday.
ean Cove for free. Most of the Zoo is free all year long, but this week if you come decked out in your best shark suit, you can get into the stingray and shark exhibit for free. Inside the pool are three docile breeds of sharks: the bonnethead, white-spotted, and own-branded bamboo sharks. You can also get into the Caribbean Cove for $3.95. Interpreters and Zoo educators will be on site to tell guests fun facts about the sharks.
2. Sunday, July 14 is Shark Awareness Day. Through a partnership with Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) SAFE (Saving Animals from Extinction), the Zoo is providing special activities for patrons to learn about endangered shark species and some conservation efforts that you can do to help save them, as well as the rest of the world’s ocean creatures.
3. You can listen to live Caribbean music on Friday and Saturday. Local Steel Drum musician Mango Jay will be performing from noon to 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday outside of Caribbean Cove. There will also be shark-themed games and activities for the whole family.
4. There’s also a concert on Friday night after regular zoo hours. The Jungle Boogie, which runs from 5 to 8, is part of the Zoo’s summer concert series. It will be in the Schnuck Family Plaza, smack-dab in the middle of the Zoo. Patrons are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets for seating.
5. The week is sponsored by Swedish Fish. This sponsorship also means that the company will be handing out candy on Friday and Saturday. Also, if you go to Ray’s Snack Shack at any point during your visit, you can ask for your ice cream “with a shark bite” for an extra delicious, Swedish Fish topping.
