Stormtroopers, princesses and droids are invited to dust off their costumes for the third annual May the 4th Beach Cleanup hosted by the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher (NCAFF) Monday, May 4, 8-10 a.m. at the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area. The North Carolina Aquariums are a division of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
“Wearing costumes for a beach cleanup has really been fun for the community and our team,” said Joanna Zazzali, director, NCAFF. “It is a great way to inspire folks to join in our shared responsibility to protect the ocean.”
Volunteers can enter the costume contest and the winner will take home a green prize. Aquarium staff provide water refill stations, and reusable pickers, cotton bags and gloves. Running a single-use plastic-free event is important to the Aquarium. Volunteers can do their part by bringing reusable water bottles, repurposing costumes and thinking about different ways to eliminate single-use plastic in their daily lives. Free parking is included for all volunteers onsite.
NCAFF encourages volunteers to sign up for the beach cleanup by taking the Green Pledge. This is one of many 50th anniversary conservation-focused celebrations hosted by the Aquarium’s green team.
About the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is just south of Kure Beach, a short drive from Wilmington on U.S. 421 and less than a mile from the Fort Fisher ferry terminal. The Aquarium is one of three Aquariums and a pier that make up the North Carolina Aquariums, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The mission of the Aquarium is to inspire appreciation and conservation of our aquatic environments. The Aquarium features a 235-000-gallon sand tiger shark habitat, an albino alligator, a bald eagle, a loggerhead sea turtle habitat and two families of mischievous Asian small-clawed otters.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission: $15 ages 13-61; $13 children ages 3-12; $14 seniors (62 and older) and military with valid identification; NC EBT card holders: $3. Free admission for children 2 and younger and N.C. Aquarium Society members and N.C. Zoo members. *EBT rate is applicable to a maximum of four tickets.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina — its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. At more than 100 sites across the state, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.