OCC Dennis Kelly Aquarium Hosts Open House to Celebrate 50th Anniversary

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, the Dennis Kelly Public Aquarium at Orange Coast College is hosting an open house on April 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Guests can tour the aquarium, including the touch tank, and participate in marine and aquarium science activities.

There will also be children's games and information booths from groups, including the Laguna Ocean Foundation, the Catalina Island Conservancy, the Bolsa Chica Conservancy, and the Boy Scouts of America's Sea Base.

The schedule includes a range of informational and experience-based events:

• The planetarium shows “Expedition Reef” will play at 10:30 and 11:15 a.m., noon, and 12:45 and 1:30 p.m.
• An aquaponics tour will start at 10:20, 10:50, 11:20, and 11:50 a.m. and 12:20, 12:50, and 1:20 p.m.
• Dennis Kelly, will speak on the aquarium's history at 1 p.m.
• Marine and Aquarium Science Department overview at 10 a.m.,11 a.m. and noon.

The aquarium opened in 1973 and is home to dozens of fish and wildlife species from various ecosystems, including cold water, tropical, freshwater, brackish estuaries, and a mixture of seawater and fresh water. This makes OCC's aquarium unique among its peers because aquariums often focus on only one type of animal, such as all local animals, says Rob Ellis, marine sciences professor, and former aquarium director. For more information, visit OCC Aquarium.