Pirates Weekend
Tynemouth's Blue Reef Aquarium is being taken over by buccaneers, brigands and privateers this week as part of their Pirates' Weekend celebrations (Saturday July 4th - Sunday July 5th).
Staff are busy putting the finishing touches to their own pirates' costumes and any child who arrives in full fancy dress will get FREE entry to the aquarium when accompanied by an adult.
Pirate's Weekend features a variety of fun activities including flag making, story telling and lots more swashbuckling fun and games.
As well as all the aquatic displays - including the giant tropical ocean tank, the predators tank, the otter holt and the spectacular outdoor Seal Cove - visitors will also be able to take part in treasure hunts, colouring competitions and special talks around the aquarium accompanied by staff in pirate fancy dress.
There will also be fascinating piratical facts around the aquarium and a selection of pirate-themed films showing all day in the education room.
Blue Reef's Anna Etchells said: "Pirate's Weekend is always one of the most popular events that we hold here at the aquarium - particularly with our younger visitors but also among the staff!
"For most people the prospect of having to dress up would fill them with dread but our staff can't wait to get out of their uniforms and into their pirates' gear - they look forward to it all year round."
Blue Reef Aquarium offers visitors a dazzling undersea safari through the oceans of the world.
More than 40 other naturally-themed displays reveal the sheer variety of
life in the deep from giant octopus and seahorses to otters and poison dart frogs
At the Aquarium's heart is a giant ocean tank where an underwater walkthrough tunnel offers incredibly close encounters with the stunning beauty of a tropical coral reef - home to hundreds of colourful fish and tropical sharks.
