Sunday, June 9, 2019
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Harbor View Terrace, New England Aquarium
All activities are free, open to the public, and do not require Aquarium admission!
NOTE: Aquarium admission is not included in the free activities.


This year’s festival will focus on eliminating single-use plastics.
Come celebrate our oceans with us! We are planning lots of fun activities to help you learn about our blue planet. We’re also inviting lots of like-minded groups to help share the love for our oceans. Please check back as more information will be posted as it becomes available. See you on June 9!
Schedule of events
12 p.m. – Plastic-y Situation: Community Solutions for Plastic Pollutions Panel Discussion
Panelists: State Rep. Lori Erhlick (8th Essex District); Ian Donnelly, Special Assistant to the Commissioner, City of Boston Environment Department; Muna Adan, Peer Leader and Beach Sister; moderated by Kelly Kryc, Ph.D., Director of Marine Conservation Policy and Leadership, New England Aquarium
1:30 p.m. – World’s First Self-Contained Lab-On-A-Ship Microplastic Sensor in the North Pacific Gyre Lou Kratchman, Microplastic Sensor Project Lead, Draper Labs
2 p.m. – Ocean Stewardship Awards Ceremony
Partners and Sponsors
- Boston Harbor Cruises
- Boston Sea Rovers
- Boston Water and Sewer Commission
- Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs
- ClimaTeens
- Girls Save the Sea
- live blue Service Corps
- Lowell Institute
- Mass. Audubon’s Boston Nature Center
- Mass. Division of Marine Fisheries
- Mass. Environmental Trust
- MIT Sea Grant College
- New England Aquarium Dive Club
- NOAA Fisheries
- Paddle Boston
- Patina Restaurant Group
- Salem State Univ. Cat Cove Laboratories
- Sea Education Association, SEA Semester
- Surfrider Foundation Massachusetts
- U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
View photos and video from last year’s event.
Aquarium Vice President and Chief Scientist John Mandelman speaks at 2018 festival
See highlights from previous festivals