9/30/2008 - Thrills, Gills And Chills In October At The Tennessee Aquarium - Travel

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December 3, 2008

Thrills, Gills And Chills In October At The Tennessee Aquarium
Thom L. Benson
posted September 30, 2008

Imagine standing safely on one side of the window as a big, toothy sand tiger shark eases past your face. You know you're in the clear, and yet you feel your pulse picking up at the sight. There's also something about the way the alligators in the Delta Swamp stare at you without blinking, as if you are their lunch, which brings a tingle to the back of your neck. Or maybe it's getting inches away from a rattlesnake, anaconda or boa constrictor that gives you the heebie-jeebies.

Relax and embrace the critter jitters. That's what the Aquarium's month-long celebration – Thrills, Gills and Chills – is all about.

Throughout October, enjoy special keeper talks, dive shows and animal encounters at the Tennessee Aquarium designed to bring you up close to nature's most feared and often most misunderstood animals.

Learn creepy and cool facts about the Aquarium's giant Pacific octopus, poison dart frogs, eyes of newts and the sting of jellyfish. You'll also discover why one type of seal petrifies penguins, what piranhas really choose to chomp on and what's up with the moray eels' ferocious appearance.

Enjoy costumed divers during special dive shows or belly up to Shark Island and prove you aren't a fraidy cat-fish by touching a shark or ray. Now you're talking fun!

"Sea Monsters 3D" returns to the IMAX Theater for a spook-tacular special engagement beginning Oct. 3. This film uses thrilling computer generated animation to bring audiences face to face with some of the most chilling predators the world has ever seen.

A compelling storyline follows a curious and adventurous dolichorhynchops – familiarly known as a 'dolly' –as she travels through the most dangerous oceans in history. Along the way, she encounters long-necked plesiosaurs, giant turtles, enormous fish, fierce sharks, and the most dangerous sea monster of all, the mosasaur.

Don't miss the Aqua-Scarium Halloween Party on Friday, Oct. 24 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. It's a monstrous celebration so big it takes two Aquarium buildings to hold all the action. Come in costume and celebrate Halloween while watching costumed divers and characters, trick or treat for goodies and win treasure as you play games.

Thrills, Gills & Chills Daily Schedule:
Free with Aquarium admission
10:30 a.m. – Pumpkins & Penguins
Ocean Journey, Keeper talk in Penguins' Rock

11 a.m. - Scaredy Cat-Fish
River Journey, Costumed divers in Nickajack Lake

11 and 11:30 a.m. – Bite Fright Dive Show
Ocean Journey, Secret Reef

1:30 p.m. – Jaws & Claws
Ocean Journey, Animal feedings in Boneless Beauties

1:45 p.m. – Pumpkins & Penguins
Ocean Journey, Keeper talk in Penguins' Rock

2 and 2:30 p.m. – Bite Fright Dive Show
Ocean Journey, Secret Reef

2 p.m. – Divers Delight
River Journey, Costumed divers in Gulf of Mexico

3 p.m. – Swamp Things
River Journey, Keeper talk in the Delta Swamp

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