Did you know that lemurs can sleep 16 hours per day? Or that octopuses can change color in their sleep?
Learn more about how we care for our animals, such as lemurs, octopus, and sharks as we Sleep in the Deep! Grab your paw-jamas and join us as we snuggle beside stingrays and sturgeons and enjoy a light breakfast in the morning.
Choose your overnight adventure!
Large Group Overnight
Designed for groups of 20 or more.
Families & Small Groups
Hosted throughout the year, these public overnights are perfect for groups who don’t quite meet the 20-participant minimum or want a more flexible experience.
Celebrate birthdays like never before with a Birthday Sleep in the Deep
Know Before You Go
Check-in: 6:00pm ET
Check-out: Check your confirmation packet for your check-out time.
All participants must be ages 6+; we ask for a minimum of one adult (18+) per 10 children.
What to bring:
- Completed waivers – participants under 18 will need a waiver signed by a legal guardian
- Closed-toed shoes and weather appropriate clothing
- Twin-sized sleeping bag, pillow, and blanket (due to limited electrical outlets, we do not recommend air mattresses)
- Toothbrush & toiletries
- Pajamas & change of clothes for the next day
- Your eagerness for a safe and fun overnight adventure!
Cameras and a maximum of one stuffed animal are optional. Battery-operated chargers are allowed for phones only.
Self-inflating, twin-sized air mattresses that do not require a plug are allowed, although you may be asked to sleep in an alternate location.
Please do NOT bring:
- Your handheld electronic devices
- Your Crocs & flip flops
- Your flashlight
Once final payment is submitted, a confirmation email will be sent that will include a detailed waiver for all participants to sign. It will also include a parking map and code to use during your overnight stay.
Important Information
- Standard Overnight: $75 per participant
- VIP Overnight: $95 per participant
- Birthday Overnight: $110 per participant
Please note: Overnight pricing does not include admission to the Aquarium the following day. Payment for the minimum is required to book a Large Group overnight.
Looking for Title I pricing? Please email our Education Department at [email protected]
Aquarium Education programs follow CDC recommendations. This means that indoor mask requirements will be determined by current community transmission levels for diseases such as, but not limited to, COVID and measles.
Please note that certain activities within the Aquarium, specifically behind the scenes tours with mammals, may require masks for the safety of the animals and the participants regardless of current community transmission levels. Participants will be notified of these activities prior to them taking place and masks will be provided.
We ask all participants to stay home if they are experiencing symptoms of the following diseases:
- If they are experiencing COVID symptoms or if they have been in contact with a COVID-positive individual in the past 2 weeks.
- If they are experiencing MEASLES symptoms or if they have been in contact with a MEASLES-positive individual in the past 2 weeks.
If a participant is not feeling well and/or displaying symptoms of any illness such as flu, bronchitis, mono, or pink eye, please stay home.
Some areas during the program may not be fully accessible due to loud sounds, bright or low lighting, uneven terrain and/or tight spaces.
Please contact our Education Department at 423-785-3066 or [email protected] for specific information pertaining to accessibility accommodations and allergy concerns.
- The Aquarium reserves the right to cancel. If the Aquarium cancels a scheduled Sleep in the Deep program, participants will be notified and offered a full refund or an opportunity to reschedule.
- No refunds for cancellations made less than 14 days prior to program start date.
- Cancellations made more than 14 days prior to the program will receive a full refund.
- Cancellations may be done via phone at 423-785-3066 or email at [email protected].
- Refunds will not be issued for no-shows.
- Rescheduling requests less than 14 days prior to program start date will incur a 10% rescheduling fee.
Large Groups
Our exclusive Large Group overnight, designed for groups of 20 or more, is focused on the Aquarium’s dedication to providing the upmost care for its animals.
Whether you are part of a school, scout troop, or corporate team, this program offers a unique, behind-the-scenes look at how we care for over 10,000 animals while giving your group an unforgettable overnight adventure.
- Guided Tour of the Aquarium: Explore the aquarium after hours with one of our Aquarium educators. We will share our animal care strategies and methods of meeting the needs of our animals through enrichment, exhibit design, and more!
- Animal Encounter: See animal care in action while meeting an animal ambassador. During our encounters, we will learn how our care for an ambassador might translate to something you do at home.
- Scavenger Hunt After-Dark: Put your group’s observation skills to the test as we roam through our exhibits at night. We will search for clues and unlock fascinating facts about our mysterious marine life.
- Evening Snacks & Light Breakfast: Enjoy a selection of evening snacks to keep your group fueled for a night of exploration, followed by a light breakfast in the morning with coffee for our adults.
- Sleeping in the Deep: The highlight of the night is where your group will set up camp. Settle into sleeping bags beside mesmerizing sea creatures and watch them glide gracefully through the serene waters around you.
- Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Access: Visit even more exclusive areas where we show how we maintain exhibits for scaly friends of all sizes.
- Exhibit Wake-Up Call: Become part of our Animal Care team as they help ensure our animals have everything they need to start the day!
- Standard Overnight: $75 per participant
- VIP Overnight: $95 per participant
Groups larger than 60 are encouraged to book more than one program. Please ask the Education Department at [email protected] for more details.
- To book a Large Group overnight, a deposit of $200 is required.
- Reservations must be made at least 14 days prior to their requested overnight date.
- Groups not looking to pay the 20-participant minimum are welcome to join one of our Public overnights, available on select days throughout the year.
- Groups looking to celebrate a milestone are encouraged to request a Birthday overnight
- For groups larger than 40 participants, contact our Education Department at [email protected].
Families & Small Groups
Our Public Overnights are perfect for groups who don’t quite meet the 20-participant minimum or want a more flexible experience.
Hosted throughout the year, families, smaller groups, and Aquarium members are invited to explore the wonders of the Aquarium after hours, with a special, behind-the-scenes look at our dedication to animal care. Join us for a memorable and educational experience that’s enriching for all ages.
Upcoming Public Overnight dates:
November 8, 2025 – SOLD OUT
December 19, 2025 – registration opens November 2025
- Guided Tour of the Aquarium: Explore the aquarium after hours with one of our Aquarium educators. We will share our animal care strategies and methods of meeting the needs of our animals through enrichment, exhibit design, and more!
- Animal Encounter: See animal care in action while meeting an animal ambassador. During our encounters, we will learn how our care for an ambassador might translate to something you do at home.
- Scavenger Hunt After-Dark: Put your group’s observation skills to the test as we roam through our exhibits at night. We will search for clues and unlock fascinating facts about our mysterious marine life.
- Evening Snacks & Light Breakfast: Enjoy a selection of evening snacks to keep your group fueled for a night of exploration, followed by a light breakfast in the morning with coffee for our adults.
- Sleeping in the Deep: The highlight of the night is where your group will set up camp. Settle into sleeping bags beside one of two exhibits at the Aquarium and watch some of your favorite animals glide through the serene waters around you.
- Member Perks: As a special thank-you to our members, discount tickets are available for your family or group. Make a tradition with each visit for those who already call the aquarium home!
- Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Access: Visit even more exclusive areas where we show how we maintain exhibits for scaly friends of all sizes.
- Exhibit Wake-Up Call: Become part of our Animal Care team as they help ensure our animals have everything they need to start the day!
- Standard Overnight: $75 per participant
- VIP Overnight: $95 per participant
Full payment for public overnights is required during the sign-up process. Aquarium members receive a discount on tickets and may purchase as many tickets as allowed by their membership level.
- Groups willing to pay a minimum for 20 participants can still request a Large Group overnight.
- Groups looking to celebrate a milestone are encouraged to request a Birthday overnight
- If you have issues with registration, please contact our Education Department at [email protected]
Birthday Groups
Celebrate birthdays like never before with a Birthday Sleep in the Deep—an interactive adventure designed for family and friends to connect and create memories that will last a lifetime! Designed for groups of 10 or more, experience the magic of the Aquarium after dark while learning more about how our animals grow up and what we can do to help.
During Birthday overnights, we will create enrichment for some of the Aquarium’s most famous animals and to take home or donate. Join us for this new overnight experience, tailored to honor both you and the animals!
- Guided Tour of the Aquarium: Follow one of our Aquarium educators as we explore the fascinating life stages of our animals—from hatchlings to mature adults. Along the way, we will discover parallels between our own growth and that of our Aquarium animals, creating a meaningful connection to nature.
- Interactive Enrichment Crafts: Get hands-on with conservation! Help our Aquarium critters thrive by designing and creating enrichment items specifically for one of our focus animals. In the morning, we will have a chance to see your creations in action!
- Take-Home Enrichment Crafts: Each participant can make a second enrichment item, designed for pets at home or for donation to a local animal shelter. This take-home craft serves as a fun, impactful reminder of the night, and is a perfect way to spread the care and compassion sparked at the Aquarium.
- Pizza Dinner & Light Breakfast: Add a pizza dinner to your Birthday overnight, to be ready upon arrival. We will still take a break for evening snacks before bedtime, then a light breakfast in the morning with coffee for our adults.
- Sleeping in the Deep: The highlight of the night is where your group will set up camp. Settle into sleeping bags beside mesmerizing sea creatures and watch them glide gracefully through the serene waters around you.
- Rotating Celebration Experiences: Make our Birthday overnights a cherished tradition! Each visit offers a unique animal focus, ensuring that your celebrations with us remain fresh and engaging.
Birthday Overnight: $110 per participant
Groups larger than 40 are encouraged to book a Large Group overnight. Please contact the Education Department at [email protected] for more details.
- To book a Birthday overnight, a deposit of $200 is required.
- Reservations must be made at least 14 days prior to their requested overnight date.
- Groups not looking to pay the 10-participant minimum are welcome to join one of our Public overnights, available on select days throughout the year.
- Groups willing to pay a minimum for 20 participants can still request a Large Group overnight
- For issues with your registration, please contact our Education Department at [email protected]
Safety Policy
Aquarium Education programs follow CDC recommendations. This means that indoor mask requirements will be determined by current community transmission levels for diseases such as, but not limited to, COVID and measles.
Please note that certain activities within the Aquarium, specifically behind the scenes tours with mammals, may require masks for the safety of the animals and the participants regardless of current community transmission levels. Participants will be notified of these activities prior to them taking place and masks will be provided.
We ask all participants to stay home if they are experiencing symptoms of the following diseases:
- If they are experiencing COVID symptoms or if they have been in contact with a COVID-positive individual in the past 2 weeks.
- If they are experiencing MEASLES symptoms or if they have been in contact with a MEASLES-positive individual in the past 2 weeks.
If a participant is not feeling well and/or displaying symptoms of any illness such as flu, bronchitis, mono, or pink eye, please stay home.
Accessibility & Accommodations
Please contact our Education Department at 423-785-3066 or [email protected] for specific information pertaining to accessibility accommodations and allergy concerns.
Don’t see an answer to your question here? Read our Sleep in the Deep FAQs
Download the Sleep in the Deep Protocols and Guidelines waiver or submit a digital waiver here.