Jazz and Sleepovers with Sharks at Ripley’s Aquarium

Lots of things come to mind when I think about sharks, but not jazz—and definitely not slumber parties. Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada wants to change that. A recent visit to Canada’s largest indoor aquarium was the most creative and intimate experience I’ve ever had with fishfolk.

Meandering dozens of habitats with several hundred species of underwater creatures is a very tranquil way to spend a couple of hours. The fish, stingrays, jellyfish and crustaceans are (of course) stunning, but let’s get real. It’s all about the sharks. The aquarium’s pièce de résistance is the Dangerous Lagoon, where the only thing standing between you and a moving sidewalk through an underwater shark tunnel is a little old-fashioned fear. Harness your terror, and be treated to the singular sensation of sand tiger sharks and sandbar sharks swimming all around you.

On the second Friday of each month, the aquarium hosts an evening of live jazz, a cash bar, appetizers and sharks. The next Friday Night Jazz takes place on August 8 from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. And if you’d like nothing more than to spend the night with your favorite shark, sign up for a sleepover. The next one takes place on October 25. Just make sure that your sleeping bag has a tight zipper.