TAMPA BAY WATCH BIRTHDAYS
ARE WILDLY FUN!
Celebrate your child’s special day with a nature-themed party that’s as unforgettable as it is educational! With live animals, hands-on activities, and plenty of room to imagine and explore, our birthday parties are perfect for curious kids who love animals and the natural world.
Choose your location:
Party planning as simple as…
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Choose a party location and theme and fill out our Request Form to reserve your preferred date and details.
*Please request at least 2 weeks in advance!
Review our Planet Friendly Party Guide to keep the celebration safe and fun for all, including our animal friends!
Time to party! Set up your eco-friendly decor, cake, snacks, and refreshments. We'll handle the interactive activities, animal meet-and-greets, and more!
PICK YOUR THEME!*
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Get ready to party with the ocean’s tiniest superheroes! Celebrate your big day with Tampa Bay Watch and meet squishy, slimy, and totally awesome sea creatures like sea stars and sea cucumbers. Your guests will get hands-on with real marine animals and play a tidal-themed party game that’s full of splashy surprises. It’s a birthday bash where the intertidal zone takes center stage!
Suggested craft: Twist-a-Star or Crab Hats
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Slither into birthday fun with some of Florida’s coolest snakes! This wild celebration features up-close time with a real snake ambassador, plus games and activities that’ll have your guests hissing with excitement. From colorful corn snakes to powerful pythons, it’s a reptile party that’s equal parts thrilling and unforgettable!
Suggested craft: Silly Snake Puppets or Hidden Animal Art
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Shell-ebrate your special day with turtles galore! From speedy sea turtles to our superstar terrapin, this party is packed with turtle power. Your guests will meet a real ornate diamondback terrapin, play turtle-themed games, and dive into a shell-tastic adventure that’s perfect for animal lovers of all ages.
Suggested craft: Mosaic Turtle Shell or Jellyfish Windchime
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Make a splash with a magical mermaid birthday! Dive into the legend of Tampa Bay’s mystical mermaids and the sparkling shells they treasure. Your guests will explore real seashells, meet the animals that make them, and play mermaid-approved games in a celebration full of sea sparkle and ocean wonder.
Suggested craft: Seashell Jewelry or Mermaid Memories Picture Frame
*Please note that we offer a different menu of themes for “On the Water” parties. Ask us for more information at the time of booking!
Party at Tampa Bay Watch!
Birthdays can be hosted at our Discovery Center on the St. Pete Pier or at Tampa Bay Watch Headquarters in Tierra Verde, FL.
Your reservation includes:
2-hour rental
Plenty of time to explore our space, learn about wildlife, and celebrate the birthday child in our classroom venue.
Space for up to 20 children
Maximum capacity of 25 guests (including adults) in the classroom at a time.
Themed party & education
Customize the celebration for your little one with themed parties and unique, interactive educational programs with animal encounters.
Enjoy our exhibit space
At the Discovery Center, up to 25 party guests will receive entrance to our aquarium exhibit gallery, featuring countless animals and educational activities.
Party basics
We’ll provide tables, chairs, and tablecloths. See our add-ons for more.
Digital invitations and custom decor
We’ll share a digital invitation that you can send to your guests. On the day of your party, the birthday child will be greeted by digital decorations wishing them a happy birthday, displayed on our TV monitors.
Special gift
The birthday child will receive a special gift to commemorate the experience.
Cost — $350
Add-ons —
Reusable utensils, plates, and cups — $25
Eco-friendly crafts:
$5 per guest
90-min boat excursion (up to 45 guests, Discovery Center only) — $450
Small plush animal for each guest:
$10 per guest
An easy and fun party favor
Each child may choose from our basket of assorted plush toys
Party at Your Location!
Tampa Bay Watch brings the wild side of Tampa Bay to your favorite park or event space, transforming it into a themed adventure led by enthusiastic educators.
Your reservation includes:
1-hour experience
Plenty of time to learn about wildlife, enjoy fun activities, and celebrate the birthday child. Additional time may be added for a surcharge.
Activities for up to 25 children
Additional guests may be added for a surcharge.
Themed party & education
Customize the celebration for your little one with themed parties and unique, interactive educational programs.
A live animal encounter
Our enthusiastic marine science educators will arrive with an animal ambassador for your party guests to meet and greet.
Digital invitations
We’ll share a digital invitation that you can send to your guests.
Special gift
The birthday child will receive a special gift to commemorate the experience.
Please note:
We are available to host parties at public spaces and facilities, such as parks, pools, clubhouses, and community centers. We do not visit private homes. If you need a party location, ask us about birthday parties at our Discovery Center on the St. Pete Pier or Tampa Bay Watch Headquarters in Tierra Verde, FL.
Base Cost — $250
Add-ons —
Additional guests:
$100 surcharge for 25-50 guests
For more than 50 guests, please ask us for pricing
Eco-friendly crafts:
$5 per guest
Requires an extra 30 minutes
Small plush animal for each guest:
$10 per guest
An easy and fun party favor
Each child may choose from our basket of assorted plush toys
Travel surcharge:
0-20 miles round-trip included in base program cost
$75 surcharge for 20-40 miles round-trip
$150 for 40-60 miles round-trip
We are unable to travel more than 60 miles round-trip at this time
Party on the Water!
We also host birthdays aboard our eco-vessel, departing from the St. Pete Pier.
Your reservation includes:
90-minute experience
Plenty of time to learn about wildlife, enjoy fun activities, and celebrate the birthday child. Time can be adjusted as needed.
Space for up to 45 guests
Maximum capacity of 45 guests (includes children and adults) aboard the eco-vessel.
Enjoy our exhibit space
Boat-based party guests will receive complimentary entrance to our Discovery Center on the St. Pete Pier, featuring countless animals and educational activities.
Themed party & education
Customize the birthday child’s celebration with a variety of themes and unique, interactive educational programs. Ask us for suggestions!
Digital invitations and custom decor
We’ll decorate the eco-vessel for your party and share a digital invitation that you can send to your guests.
Special gift
The birthday child will receive a special gift to commemorate the experience.
Base Cost — $500
Add-ons —
Reusable utensils, plates, and cups — $25
Small plush animal for each guest:
$10 per guest
An easy and fun party favor
Each child may choose from our basket of assorted plush toys
If you’d like to bring a smaller group of guests out for a public tour aboard our eco-vessel, we offer discounted tickets for 10 people or more. Please email ecotours@tampabaywatch.org for additional information.
PLANET FRIENDLY
PARTY GUIDE
Your celebration supports clean Tampa Bay waters.
Proceeds from your booking help support our mission to foster a healthy Tampa Bay watershed through restoration, education, and outreach. 🌊💙
As you plan your party at the Discovery Center, we hope you will join our effort to reduce our impact on the planet. Here are a few tips to plan a planet friendly party, and a few items we kindly ask you to avoid bringing to our facility:
Encouraged items:
Biodegradable and/or reusable decorations
Natural decorations (plants, leaves, flowers, etc.) 🌱
Bamboo, compostable, or reusable dishes/drinkware/utensils 🍽
Discouraged items:
To protect wildlife, we do not allow balloons in our facility. ❌
We do not allow bottled water in our facility. We have a filtered water station in our classroom that you are welcome to use. ❌
We discourage single-use, disposable plastic items such as drink bottles, bags, and food containers.
Questions? Check out this comprehensive guide.
You’ll have fun finding creative ways to throw an unforgettable, eco-friendly party! We can’t wait to celebrate with you. 🎉