Shedd Aquarium reels in the rainbow this June

The LGBTQ+ community was hooked on June 1 by the Shedd Aquarium to kick off Pride month. The iconic indoor public aquarium hosted an over 21-year-old event to celebrate diverse individuals found in the Chicago area.

The aquarium, located on Lake Michigan on the Museum Campus Chicago, holds over 32,000 animals these days with three million gallons of water splashing around the facility.

The spacious Shedd Aquarium has lots to explore and is divided into areas to make that adventure more manageable. Waters of the World, Amazon Rising, Wild Reef and the Abbott Oceanarium are permanent exhibits for patrons to delve into while visiting.

From 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. guests had a special night to see what these exhibits had to offer. Adult beverages and appetizers were available for purchase with tables and chairs added into the open spaces to relax in.

DJ MX Toto played tunes in Kolver Hall to warm up the crowd then provided backing tracks for a wet and wild ocean-themed drag showcase in the middle of the evening's festivities. People gathered in the Oceanarium to see the Pacific white-sided dolphins and beluga whales swim around.

DJ Ariel Zetina kept outdoor guests happy on the North Terrace and later in the night they enjoyed fireworks in the same open-air tented space.

The turnout was well attended overall and provided a much-needed way to begin a month-long celebration of Pride gatherings in June of 2022. Support organizations that lift up our community by planning your own aquatic escapade at SheddAquarium.org today!