Real-life aquatic animal encounters are back!
Following Governor JB Pritzker’s announcement that Chicago will be shifting to Tier 2 mitigation standards, our beloved Shedd Aquarium is preparing to reopen to members on Wednesday, January 27, and to the general public from Saturday, January 30.
From next Wednesday Members will enjoy 3 full days of exclusive access before the aquarium officially reopens and allows everybody and anybody to enter the aquarium and catch up with all its wonderful residents!
Shedd Aquarium is reopening! 🎉 On January 30, come back to Shedd and explore the aquatic world. Tickets will be available to the public on January 23.
We are so excited to open our doors and we can’t wait to see you again! pic.twitter.com/KDfVilRcFg
— Shedd Aquarium (@shedd_aquarium) January 19, 2021
Tickets for aquarium members will go on sale tomorrow (Thursday, January 21) while the general public will be able to buy tickets from Saturday, January 23 at noon. Of course, anybody interested in getting access to the earlier tickets can sign up to become an aquarium member whenever they please.https://secretchicago.com/shedd-aquarium-closed/
The aquarium voluntarily closed its doors on Wednesday, November 18, 2020, due to the city and statewide COVID-19 mitigation effort. Upon closing, they announced that they would remain shut for the remainder of 2020 and wait until January 2021 to see if the situation had improved and the safety of people, animals, and the community could be ensured. 3 days later Illinois imposed Tier 3 mitigation measures on Chicago prohibiting the aquarium from accepting visitors anyway.
We have missed YOU! I’m thrilled to announce @shedd_aquarium is reopening! pic.twitter.com/wKxicf90Jj
— Bridget Coughlin PhD (@SheddAquaCEO) January 19, 2021
On Monday, January 18, Governor JB Pritzker’s announcement that Chicago would be moving back into Tier 2 paved the way for reopening measures. Shedd Aquarium will open with strict health and safety protocols so that all guests can enjoy a safe and exciting experience meeting all of the astounding aquatic life that the aquarium is home to.
For those who do not wish to visit the aquarium, there will still be a number of digital programs to make sure aquatic-enthusiasts can still learn and interact with the animals of the aquarium. Virtual Aquarium Mini-Camp for Kids and Virtual Animal Encounters can be enjoyed via the Shedd Aquarium’s website and there are also several free episodes and activities available online to keep kids entertained.