An underwater pumpkin carving contest at 11 a.m. today, Oct. 1, will kick off the Tennessee Aquarium’s monthlong celebration of Oddtober.
Throughout October, aquarium educators will be looking at the “wonderfully weird” side of nature, highlighting the amazing adaptations, behaviors and natural abilities of some of the resident animals, such as shrimp, owls, snakes and turtles.
Guests will learn which animals are super strong, super mobile or super smart and which have super senses. The daily Oddtober programs are free with regular admission ($29.95 adults, $18.95 children), but the focus changes to a new superpower each week: Super Strength, Oct. 1-10; Super Mobility, Oct. 11-17; Super Senses, Oct. 18-24; and Super Intelligence, Oct. 25-31.
Divers will be in costume for all of the daily dive shows, and they’ll have pumpkin carving displays at 11 a.m. each Saturday in October. Today’s carving kickoff is the only competition-style event. The public will vote for a winner when photos of both pumpkins are posted to the aquarium’s Facebook page later today.
The other big event this month is the AquaScarium Halloween Party. It’s scheduled from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. Tickets will be sold at the door, but early registration is requested. Tickets range from $8 to $40, depending on age and membership status.
The Tennessee Aquarium is at 1 Broad St. Admission tickets are sold between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. each day. For more information, call 423-267-3474 or visit www.tnaqua.org.
Oddtober weekly schedule
Oct. 1-10: Super Strength
11:15 a.m. Mighty Mantis Shrimp (Ocean Journey building, Boneless Beauties)
1:15 p.m. Super Snappers (River Journey building, Delta Country)
Oct. 11-17: Super Mobility
11:15 a.m. Slithery Snakes (River Journey, main lobby)
1:15 p.m. Climbing Creatures (Ocean Journey, Tropical Cove)
Oct. 18-24: Super Senses
10:30 a.m. Incredible Owls (River Journey, Delta Country)
1:15 p.m. Sharky Senses (Ocean Journey, Tropical Cove)
Oct. 25-31: Super Intelligence
10:30 a.m. Clever Crows (River Journey, Delta Country)
2:15 p.m. Curious Cephalopods (Ocean Journey, Boneless Beauties)