Mississippi Aquarium announces a new $4 million expansion and free annual passes for pre-K kids.

GULFPORT, Miss. — The Mississippi Aquarium announced today that it has been quietly remodeling the Changing Tides building on its campus to house 23 new habitats, including space for a sloth, a giant octopus and hundreds of new fish and reptiles for its first major expansion since opening in 2020.

The new space will open on Friday, August 25 and it will add 7,000 square feet of indoor and interactive exhibits that will be home to more than 130 species.

“We listened to early visitors who asked us for more exhibits and activities for kids,” said Kurt Allen, president, and chief executive officer of the Mississippi Aquarium. “Changing Tides is our answer to those constructive comments, and we want to invite those who have visited previously to come back and see this amazing new expansion.”

The aquarium also announced today the introduction of a free annual pass for children, 3-5 years old. The pass will be available for a limited time, and it will include unlimited visits until the child’s sixth birthday. Parents and guardians can begin registering their children for the pre-K Free Pass on Monday, August 7 at msaquarium.org. A copy or photo of a birth certificate or passport will be required to verify the child’s age when activating the pass at the aquarium. In addition, all adult, youth, senior and military annual passes will be on sale starting Monday for the lowest price of the year. Annual passes will also include several new amenities, including free parking in the Coastal Transportation Authority garage.

Changing Tide’s presenting sponsor, Keesler Federal Credit Union, together with the Aquarium, will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, August 24 at 11:00 a.m.

“We consider the Mississippi Aquarium to be one of the premier family attractions in the South, and a source of pride for the Mississippi Gulf Coast,” said George Mitchell, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Keesler Federal Credit Union. “One of Keesler Federal’s core values is our commitment to the communities we serve, with a special focus on events and programs that are family-oriented or educational. The Mississippi Aquarium combines both values.”

Changing Tides is laid out with three diverse habitats all designed to mimic the environs of a Kelp Forest, Tropical Jungle and Warm Water Oceans. Tito, a two-toed sloth will share his new space with Peli, a three-banded armadillo. Children will be able to get up close and personal with a giant Pacific octopus with a tank that includes a mini tunnel under the exhibit. Sea horses, a tarantula, snakes, lizards, hissing cockroaches, and poison dart frogs will also delight visitors.

Along with marine, reptile and other wildlife housed in Changing Tides, the expansion will also include a new food and beverage service option driven by Amazon Go’s walk-out technology.  Breeze Creative’s Draw Alive, which brings children’s drawings to life, will also provide kids with a fun and interactive activity.