In the 25 years since its signature glass peaks rose above the banks of the Tennessee River, the Tennessee Aquarium has served as the epicenter of Chattanooga’s downtown renaissance.
Since opening on May 1, 1992, more than 22 million people from all over the world have visited the Aquarium, fueling billions of dollars in economic impact.
As it established itself and Chattanooga as tourist destinations, the Aquarium also pursued research and conservation programs to better understand and preserve the biologic diversity of the Southeast’s waterways.
On April 27, the Aquarium will toast the achievements of its first 25 years during “Spring!” – a dinner and social gathering on the Walnut Street Bridge. The event will begin at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception featuring local artists and musicians.
During the reception, guests will be able to drink wine, Chattanooga Whiskey-based cocktails and Aquarium Amber Ale, a beer specially prepared by Big River Grille and Brewing Works.
At 7 p.m., attendees will be seated together at a 480-foot-long dining board composed of 60 tables placed end to end. There, they will be served entrees prepared by Walnut Hill Catering.
At 8 p.m., guests will be served chocolates from Rembrandt’s Coffee House and raise their glasses in a toast to the people who supported the dream of an Aquarium and the impact it made during its first 25 years.
Tickets for “Spring!” are $150 per person or $1,200 per eight-person table. VIP packages are $4,000 and include priority seating, complimentary parking and tickets to see the new Lemur Forest exhibit. Proceeds from the event will be invested in future exhibits and support the Aquarium’s ongoing education and conservation programs.
Purchase tickets at www.tnaqua.org/spring or 423-785-4067.
Source: Tennessee Aquarium