Admission is free to the event that features introductions to sea creatures, holiday arts and crafts with a marine theme, and visits by Santa and musicians. Admission will be free to the facility decorated for the season.
Youngsters can make ornaments, jewelry and other holiday crafts with a sea theme.
Musical performances are scheduled at 10 a.m. by local musician Carole Lynn Hilton and 11 a.m. by the Ocean Springs Middle School choir. Santa Claus will be a special guest at the open house. Proceeds from the cookbooks support the volunteers annual field trip and other educational activities. The gift shop will also be open for adults and children interested in holiday shopping for gifts related to the oceans and coasts. Guests to the open house may visit the aquarium room with the central 42,000-gallon Gulf of Mexico tank and more than 40 other tanks containing local fish, turtles and other creatures that inhabit the Mississippi Gulf Coast in freshwater to brackish water to saltwater habitats.