Calendar of Events

Monthly Donation Drive - Bring on the Spectrum

April is Awe-tism Month, also known as Autism Awareness Month. Bring on the Spectrum (BOTS) is a 501(c)3, whose mission is to support neurodiverse individuals with opportunities to achieve their best quality of life as a respected member of the Capital Region.

To support their mission, you can donate your spare change to their 2nd annual coin drive, BOTS of Cent$, through the end of April. The aquarium will have two collection bins located at the admissions and gift shop counters. Please consider donating to help fund programs to support BOTS and neurodiverse individuals of all ages.

On Sunday, April 28, from 11:00am-1:00pm, BOTS will host a table where you can learn about Awe-tism month, interactive sensory friendly activities, the BOTS community space and sensory gym, and more.

Please note that we will be hosting a Sensory Friendly Event that morning from 9:00am-11:00am for families that register through BOTS. Families interested in attending must contact BOTS directly to register to attend! BOTS will have sensory friendly interactives (fidget spinners, bedazzle, astroturf, etc) and “Sensory Bags” for guests to take home, while supplies last.

Saturday, May 11th - Mermaid School

Mermaid School is going to be led by Via Aquarium staff with the help of the Little Mermaid Princess.
There will be a craft where attendees get to take a quiz to find out what kind of Mermaid they would be and design a tail based on that.
There will be facepainting, and guests will get a chance to explore VIA Discovery where they can have their picture taken with the Mermaid Princess in front of Discovery’s Mermaid exhibit.

• 9:00am – Arrival, Meet & Greet with the Little Mermaid Princess
• 9:15am – Storytime with Ariel
• 9:30am – Transform into a Mermaid
• 10:15am – Head to the Via Discovery for pictures
• 10:45am – Arts & Craft
• 11:00am – Giveaways & Goodbyes

Saturday, May 12th - Mother's Day - Free Admission For Mothers

Come and create a new family tradition at our aquarium this Mother’s Day! Join us for a day filled with unforgettable memories as we honor and celebrate all mothers. As a special treat, all mothers will receive complimentary general admission. Bring your whole family and make this Mother’s Day an experience to remember!

When you arrive at our admissions desk, please let guest services know how many mothers are in your group to speed up the check-in process.

*One paying customer per mother is required*

*The free admission for mothers can only be redeemed in person*

Saturday, May 18th - Birds of Prey Day

National Endangered Species Day, the third Friday in May, celebrates and offers an opportunity to learn about the importance of protecting endangered species. To bring awareness to this day, two local rescue and rehabilitation organizations will be bringing their birds of prey from 11:00am-3:00pm on Saturday, May 18th. We are welcoming Whispering Willow Wild Care and New York Wildlife Rescue Center to provide an educational and fun experience for all guests to learn about local birds of prey, their importance in the wild, and the vital role these organizations play in rescuing and protecting these animals.

Saturday, May 25th - Mer-May-Day

It’s Mer-May! Join us for a mermaid show at the aquarium, along with a mermaid craft, giveaways, and more!

Times to be determined!

Saturday, May 27th - Memorial Day (Early Open 10 AM)

This Memorial Day we will be opening early at 10 AM and letting veterans in with free general admission to honor those that have fallen while serving our country.

Tuesday, May 28th - Sensory Friendly Day

Join us for our monthly sensory-friendly day here at the aquarium. We keep the lights down as well as the music and some interactives off to make things more inviting! **We also offer sensory bags for the duration of your visit that include fidget toys, sunglasses, headphones, and more.

**Sensory Friendly Bags are temporarily on hold