Maritime Aquarium becomes the AquaScarium

Kids in Halloween costumes can get free admission to The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk on the final two weekends in October when the popular family attraction transforms into the AquaScarium.

Children age 3 to 12 who come to the AquaScarium in costume on Oct. 21, 22, 28 and 29 will get free admission (a $15.95 value) with each paying adult. Adult admission is $22.95. (The offer requires one paying adult for each free costumed child.)

“Here’s the chance for free apparition, er, admission for your little ghouls and goblins,” said Dave Sigworth, the Aquarium’s spooksperson. “It would be a grave mistake to not bring them. Of corpse.”

Plus, each of the four weekend days, kids can stop by seven special activity stations to earn stamps on AquaScarium Cards. Challenges include a witch-hat ring-toss game, a skeleton puzzle and more. Fully stamped cards can be exchanged for a free popcorn in the Aquarium’s IMAX® Theater.

Also during AquaScarium:

• face-painters will enhance Halloween alter egos between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., turning guests into wild creatures, superheroes, princesses and more. There’s a $5 fee.

• a dragon will be loose … but not too loose … at a free “Meet the Dragon” station, where Aquarium educators will invite guests to touch or hold a live bearded dragon. Times are 10:30-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-1:30 & 2:30-3:30 p.m.

• And the normal Toy-Boat Workshop will become a Pirate Toy-Boat Workshop from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There’s a $5 fee to build a boat.

The AquaScarium itself will be ghoulishly decorated for Halloween, with jack-o’-lanterns, seasonal accessories and staff dressed in costume.

For more details about AquaScarium, exhibits and IMAX movies, go to www.maritimeaquarium.org or call (203) 852-0700.