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Fin Fest

Fin Fest

A Celebration of Sharks & Stingrays

July 7 – August 11, 10am – 5pm

We’re putting the spotlight on sharks and stingrays to build a broader appreciation for the diversity, importance and plight of these FINcredible elasmobranchs.

Tuesday, July 7 – Tuesday, August 11, 10am – 5pm (in-person) 

Sport shark gear! Fin Fest-goers who visit the Aquarium dressed in shark gear (shirt, shorts, socks, tie, cap or costume) will be entered for a chance to win a shark-and-ray-themed $100 Gift Shop prize pack. (daily @10am – 5pm)

Get involved. Pick up a 4-page activity booklet with jaw-some word searches, animal facts and more. (daily @10am – 5pm)

See if you can spot 4 species of shark and 5 types of stingrays. When you find the brownbanded bamboo, nurse, sandtiger and sandbar sharks or the ocellate river, hybrid, cownose, southern and Atlantic stingrays, snap a photo and tag @cleaquarium on social. (daily @10am – 5pm)

Meet our mascot, Finn! Snap a photo with a very friendly landshark. (Saturday pop-up appearances)

Show us what you know. Identify sharks and rays at our Discovery Cart and get an animal trading card or other prizes. (daily, 10:45am & 4:15pm)

Feed the stingrays. Stingrays, like sharks, are cartilaginous elasmobranchs. Feed these shark relatives. (daily @3:30pm)

Watch a Shark Feed. (Monday, Wednesday & Friday @2:30pm)

Catch a Broadcast Feed. Find out what the stingrays, moray eels, angelfish and other residents of the shark habitat eat. (Monday, Wednesday & Friday @3:30pm)

Ask our scuba team your questions about diving with sharks and stingrays during an interactive, in-person, underwater Q&A. (Monday – Friday @11:30am)

Go nose-to-nose with other interesting animals during daily encounters. (daily, 10am & 4pm)

Shark-Related Videos & Activities

Join the Aquarium divers as they find shark teeth and learn about how they’re adapted for each species!

Aquarist Ryan shares some fun facts about the 4 species of shark you can see at the Aquarium.

It’s Ray on Rays! Our Curator Ray P. discusses the different species of stingrays here at the Aquarium and what sets them apart.

Aquarium diver Stephanie goes over some of the small species and details she sees diving in the shark habitat every week!

Life Support Systems Director Brenton walks us through maintaining the Aquarium shark habitat.

Do you know how long a brownbanded bamboo shark can tolerate low oxygen? Watch the video below to find out!

Aquarist Lando M. tells us all about the 4 species of sharks at Greater Cleveland Aquarium in Español.

People always notice the big sandtiger sharks swimming through their habitat, but what about the smaller sandbar sharks they coexist with? Check out this video to learn 5 interesting facts about these fascinating animals.

Ever wondered what goes into being an Aquarium diver? Learn from a few of the dive team members about their day-to-day responsibilities.

Did you know sharks and stingrays are related? Both are elasmobranchs. Find out how the dive team and aquarists collaborate to check the weight, growth and barbs of the Touchpool stingrays.

Have you ever wondered how we feed sharks? Head behind-the-scenes to see how it’s done!

You might have a baby shark swimming around your cupboard. Here’s how to turn those unused paper cups into a tiny, finned friend.

Take those old toilet paper rolls and turn them into colorful stingrays!

We may not have hammerhead sharks at the Aquarium, but you can always make your own.

Make a smiling shark with things you probably have at home: scissors, markers, glue, construction paper and of course a paper plate.

Make a tented rocking shark in minutes. 

Make a shark puppet with minimal art supplies.

All you need for this shark picture frame is a photo, marker, scissors, glue, construction paper and a manila folder.

Grab some construction paper, scissors, glue and tape so you can create a piece of custom headgear that will let everyone know you are a big fan of sharks.

Transform a toilet paper tube into a shark.

Learn how to make a smiling paper plate shark.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to making a construction paper shark with a moving mouth. The materials are simple. We suggest watching the entire video once before diving in. Knowing the steps ahead of time makes the whole process that much easier and more fun.

Fin Fest

Look up at sharks and rays as you head under the ocean in a 175-foot seatube.

Unless otherwise noted, Fin Fest activities are included with general Aquarium admission ($0 – 19.95). Tickets available online and can be purchased in advance of your visit. Questions? Call 216.862.8803 x7700.

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