Mystic Aquarium Spreads Holiday Cheer to Salvation Army of New London County
Mystic, Conn. (December 11, 2019): To the delight of its guests, Mystic Aquarium is decked out in all its holiday splendor. From the 20-foot Christmas tree and festive music that greet visitors, the snow-white beluga whales and the presentation of Polar Express, to its biggest, brightest holiday event -Northern Lights, Mystic Aquarium is in the holiday spirit.
Further embracing the true ‘reason for the season,’ Mystic Aquarium showed their gratitude to those who give back in our community with support of the volunteers of the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of New London County. Captain Jose Borrero, New London Corps Officer, and Linda L. Mariani, co-president of Salvation Army of New London, were presented with complimentary admission tickets to Mystic Aquarium’s Northern Lights for the organization’s Red Kettle bell ringers.
“Our family, friends and neighbors do so much for us all year long. Without our community, we couldn’t fulfil our mission,” said Ainslie Daly, Mystic Aquarium’s Special Events and Promotions Manager. “We wanted to recognize the dedication, sense of community and holiday spirit of the Salvation Army volunteers and show our appreciation in our own unique way. Giving back to the community is always an important part of everything we do.”
Inspired by the Arctic’s beauty and its mesmerizing natural light display, the aurora borealis, Northern Lights transforms four-acres of the Aquarium’s outdoor space into a stunning winter destination. The festive stroll winds through the popular outdoor habitats and also features hand-crafted lantern displays glowing with larger-than-life Arctic animals. The journey culminates in a classic winter village with special characters, holiday crafts and more. Warm, tasty seasonal favorites and drink specials will also be available.
Mystic Aquarium’s first Northern Lights holiday event series takes place every Thursday, Friday and Saturday through January 4, 2020, with timed entries at 6pm, 7pm and 8pm. Early entry hours are perfect for family outings while later times make for a romantic date night out. Tickets are $15 for general admission and are available online only at MysticAquarium.org/Northern-Lights.
“We hope that the volunteers who have so selflessly donated their time to the Red Kettle Campaign will take some time for themselves and enjoy the fun and excitement of Northern Lights,” added Daly.
Salvation Army Captain Joseph McFee introduced The Red Kettle Campaign back in 1891 to provide Christmas dinner to those in need in San Francisco, CA. Before the turn of the century, the kettle campaign had made its way to the east coast in Boston. Today in the US, The Salvation Army assists more than four-and-a-half million people during the Thanksgiving and Christmas time periods. Across the globe, the Red Kettle Campaign positively impacts children and families as far away as Korea, Japan, Chile and many European countries.
ABOUT MYSTIC AQUARIUM
Mystic Aquarium, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, is counted among the nation’s leading aquariums, offering exemplary care to a variety of species while also serving as the northeast’s premier marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation center. Robust conservation and education programming along with unparalleled visitor experiences serve to strengthen personal connections to the animals and their environments. The mission of Mystic Aquarium is to inspire people to care for and protect the ocean planet through conservation, education and research, and introduces approximately 800,000 guests annually to thousands of animals through structured interpretations, specially-curated exhibits and hands-on interactions. As a leading research organization, Mystic Aquarium employs a full staff of scientists engaged in projects focused on the conservation and sustainability of our ocean planet.
