FESTIVAL DEL MAR RETURNS TO THE SOUTH FLORIDA SCIENCE CENTER
Annual Event Aims to Engage Local Latin Community And Promote Lessons in Ocean Conservation
(WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.) – The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium is inviting guests to splash into sea science during the fourth annual “Festival del Mar” on Saturday, June 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is aimed at engaging the local Latin American community and promoting ocean conservation and education worldwide. This year, children under 12 will receive free admission.
All ages are invited to celebrate with music, bilingual touch tank demonstrations, interactive story time with the Palm Beach County Library system, science demonstrations, arts, crafts and much more. Special planetarium shows are planned, featuring an enchanted reef, black holes, Big Bird’s Adventure and even a bilingual show spotlighting the night skies over the Palm Beaches.
Festival del Mar is also aimed at encouraging Latin Americans to pursue a career in a science field. “Unfortunately, statistics show that Latinos are much less likely to pursue a degree in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) areas as compared to their Caucasian classmates,” said Kate Arrizza, CEO of the Science Center. “This shows the need for the Science Center to open every mind to science and provide opportunities to inspire young people to follow their passion in science no matter what background they come from.”
Partners and vendors include Estrella TV, WPBF Channel 25, La Guia News, Palm Beach County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Palm Beach County Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce.
Tickets to Festival del Mar are included with admission to the Science Center. Non-member adults are $16.95 and the event is free for children under 12 and members. Admission includes access to the latest traveling exhibit, “Travel Adventure” featuring LEGO bricks. The interactive exhibit takes visitors an on extraordinary adventure to exotic locations through all kinds of terrain. People of all ages put their creative skills to the test to plan and build vehicles to move though mountains, jungles, oceans, deserts and more while learning about the history of travel and imagining the future of transportation. Families are invited to dress up as pilots, sailors, racers and world explorers as they take the wheel of life-sized toy LEGO vehicles and engage in dynamic play. Duplo bricks are available for younger visitors.
The mission of the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium is to “open every mind to science” and the indoor/outdoor venue features more than 100 hands-on educational exhibits, a 10,000 gallon fresh and salt water aquarium- featuring both local and exotic marine life, a digital planetarium, conservation research station, Florida exhibit hall, Pre-K focused “Discovery Center,” an interactive Everglades exhibit and the 18-hole Conservation Course – an outdoor putting course with science-focused education stations.
The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium is located at 4801 Dreher Trail North in West Palm Beach and is open Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Admission to the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium during “Travel Adventure” is $16.95 for adults, $12.95 for children ages 3 to 12 and $14.95 for seniors aged 60 and older. Science Center members and children under 3 are free. Planetarium shows and mini golf are not included in general admission pricing. For more information, call 561-832-1988 or visit www.sfsciencecenter.org. Like the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Instagram @SFScienceCenter.
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