Just In Time for Fall Pirates & Pumpkins Makes Landfall at The St. Louis Aquarium
by Nancy Milton / images courtesy of St. Louis Union Station
Aaargh! International Talk Like a Pirate Day on September 19 marks the opening of Pirates & Pumpkins at the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station. The pirate invasion will continue through November 2.
Pirates & Pumpkins includes special trick-or-treat activities on Fridays and Saturdays in October and November 1-2.
During this special event, the Aquarium is decorated with pirate-themed scenes, including a ghost ship with smoking, booming cannons. On the exciting trail through the Aquarium, guests can take a self-guided tour in the highly themed wonderland of treasure caves and grottos.
Social media fans will love the Instagram-worthy photo opportunities throughout the transformed Aquarium during their fall journey.
Patches of realistically carved and lighted pumpkins representing the Aquarium's sea life will greet visitors as they explore the attraction. One of the highlights is a pumpkin shark scene complete with a boat for family pictures and scary selfies. Little pirates also can stand inside a Megalodon shark jaw replica added tp the Shark Canyon habitat.
Guests make their way through the marine habitats and hands-on, hands-wet animal adventures at the Aquarium, learning amazing animal facts and enjoying pun-filled pirate jokes. Along the way little buccaneers can learn to talk like a pirate and can create their own pirate names and a fancy pirate crown of their own..
Treasure seekers will explore elaborate pirate scenes and kids can fire the pirate ship's fearsome cannons. At the end of the quest, only the bravest adventurers can sit at the Pirate King's Throne for a triumphant picture. Complete the fun challenges in the Pirate Activity Book to get a pumpkin carving stencil to try at home.
Pirate-costumed scuba divers will carve pumpkins underwater inside the Aquarium's Shark Canyon habitatat 1:15 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, October.4 through November 2.
"Pirates & Pumpkins" is included with admission to the Aquarium. Tickets are available online at stlouisaquarium.com. Prices vary.
TRICK OR TREAT NIGHTS IN OCTOBER
Trick-or-treat nights.
After the Aquarium closes, a special after-hours event with Pirates & Pumpkins will turn the venue into a trick or treat pARRR-ty on Friday and Saturday, October 17th, 18th, 24thand 25th from 5 to 7 p.m. (last admission at 6:15 pm.). Kids can gather candy treats from the pirates they encounter along the way. Kids will also have the chance to walk the plank-o, dig for buried treasure and help the pirates learn what makes a ship float! Kids who complete their journey will join the pirate crew by taking a special ocean oath and leave with a share of the candy loot. Admission to this special event is $30 for adults and $25 for kids 3-12 years of age. Children 2 and under are free. Member admission is $15 for adults and $10 for kids 3-12 years of age.
Pumpkin Carving Demonstrations
Friday, 9/19 through Sunday, 9/21 from 9 am-5 pm
Pumpkin carving demonstrations.
Get ready to be amazed. Over three exciting days, watch the fin-credible artists from Maniac Pumpkin Carvers transform ordinary pumpkins into jaw-dropping works of art. Guests can observe the carving process up close and chat with the artists to learn tips, tricks, and behind-the-scenes secrets. Don’t miss this spook-tacular display of skill and creativity - perfect for pumpkin lovers of all ages.
Missouri's Mighty Pumpkins
Saturday, 9/27 through Tuesday, 9/30
Prepare to be wowed by the giants of the garden. Celebrate with the Aquarium as we showcase this year’s Missouri State Fair largest pumpkin winners—and get an up-close look at a truly astonishing pumpkin. Learn the secrets behind growing award-winning giant pumpkins from the experts, and meet the passionate gardeners of the Missouri Master Gardener Association. Discover tips, tricks, and the dedication it takes to grow these incredible harvest heroes.
SPOOKY STAYCATIONS
Make it a spooky family escape by staying at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel, a Curio Collection by Hilton. Room reservations and packages are available at:
stlouisunionstation.com/hotel-packages
ABOUT ST. LOUIS UNION STATION
St. Louis Union Station
The St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station is open daily at 9 a.m. Advance all-day tickets are available at www.stlouisaquarium.com. Follow the Aquarium on social media @aquariumstl. The Aquarium is located at 201 S. 18th St., St. Louis, MO 63103.
In addition to the Aquarium, St. Louis Union Station -- built in 1894 and once the largest and busiest train terminal in the nation -- offers attractions, restaurants and the St. Louis Union Station Hotel.
Visitors can enjoy the newly added carnical rides in the St. Louis Wheel Park -- the Wave Swimger, the Loco Motion spinning roller coaster and --in keeping with the pirate theme -- Flying Louie, a pirate ship ride. Also in the Wheel Park. guests can ride the 200-foot-tall St. Louis Wheel for views high over the skyline. The Wheel rolls along with the St. Louis Carousel every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Next to the Carousel, St. Louis Mini Golf presents 18 holes of fun under the historic train shed. The Mirror Maze takes guests on a funhouse romp back to the days of the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, and Selfie Express is a train-themed interactive photo illusion experience. The St. Louis Ropes Course is an adventure with obstacles and zip lines poised high over th Aquarium lobby. Combination tickets for the attractions are available at stlouisaquarium.com.