VIMS Marine Science Day

VIMS’ annual open house is a fun-filled FREE event for the whole family. Enjoy exhibits, family-friendly crafts and activities, seining and collecting animals in the York River, tours of labs and facilities, seafood cooking demonstrations, mini-lectures, and much more! See a full list of events

Order of Exhibits, Activities, and Vendors

• 10 AM – 12 PM: Communal Quilt Project with Steve Prince, Director of Community Engagement and Artist-in-Residence at the Muscarelle Museum of Art
• 11 – 11:20 AM: Fish Gut Content Analysis Demonstration in Fish Processing Lab
• 11 – 11:30 AM: Marine Life Costume Contest Parade and Awards Ceremony
• 12 – 1 PM: Seafood Cooking Demonstration with Chef Winslow “Win” Goodier, Executive Chef and Culinary Director of Nuttall’s Store
• 12:30 – 1:30 PM: Marine-Related Career Fair in Hargis Library
• 1 – 1:20 PM: Fish Gut Content Analysis Demonstration in Fish Processing Lab
• 1:30 – 2:30 PM: Seafood Cooking Demonstration with Chef Win Goodier

Exhibits and Activities

• Tours of our facilities – including the VIMS Visitors Center Aquarium, Nunnally Ichthyology (Fish) Collection, Acuff Center for Aquaculture, Seagrass Greenhouse, Oyster Nursery Pad, Carl Hershner Teaching Marsh, Riparian Forest, Native Plant and Pollinator Garden, and more!
• Scientific exhibits where you can learn more about the amazing research being conducted by VIMS scientists from pole to pole!
• Scientific demonstrations including fish dissections in the Fish Collection and fish gut content analysis by Multispecies Research Group staff in the Fish Processing Lab
• Educational crafts, activities, and games in the Marine Advisory Program Pavilion
• Seining in the York River – jump into waders and get up close and personal with charismatic Chesapeake Bay creatures (crabs, fish, and more!) while seining on the VIMS beach
• Photo opportunities with TapSnap interactive photo booth and the Society for Women in Marine Science (SWMS) at VIMS “Picture Yourself as a Scientist” exhibit
• Art project opportunities at the Community Art Mural tent and the Communal Quilt Project

Marine Life Costume Contest

All ages are invited to participate in the MSD 2024 Marine Life Costume Contest by wearing original costumes of marine plants or animals.  Awards will be given for:

• most original plant or animal
• most creative use of sustainable materials
• best group costume
• best representation of a plant or animal
• grand prize. Grand Prize winner receives an official Marine Science Day t-shirt as well as a VIMS prize pack valued at $50.

Food Vendors (Food and drink available for purchase all day!)

• Avocargo
• Piha Aloha
• Gloucester Kiwanis Club (burgers, hotdogs, and veggie burgers)
• Short Lane Ice Cream will be serving special shark and marsh-themed flavors!
• Pop’s Kettle Corn
• O’How Sweet Cotton Candy

All activities are free, as is parking. The event proceeds rain or shine. Advance registration is greatly encouraged and appreciated