Venice Oceanarium

03/30/2026

THIS SATURDAY! GRUNION RUN - April 4th, 10:30 pm
Venice Breakwater Rocks
This year’s Grunion Run party is upcoming on Saturday April 4th, beginning at 10:30 pm at the Breakwater Rocks (straight out from Windward in Venice). Of course it is free to everyone and kids are encouraged to come.
How do we know that the grunion will run on April 4th?
The answer is in the sky. When the Moon and the Sun align with the Earth there is a high tide. A few days later the grunion will run.
What is a grunion? A grunion is a fish about 6 - 8 inches long; about the size of a sardine. It is silver and has a bright blue stripe on its side. Grunion are found from Santa Barbara all the way to the Baja Peninsula. But that is the extent of its range here in Southern California. It does not stray further, instead remaining near enough to its spawning ground to repopulate its species.
The amazing thing is that at several times during springtime the females literally leave the sea. Squiggling onto the beach, they use their tails to dig holes in the sand in which to lay their eggs. Hundreds of male grunion arrive next, also squiggling through the sand, intent on fertilizing the eggs.
This is a sight to behold with the sand covered by hundreds of fish. You are cordially invited to witness this extraordinary event with us April 4th, 10:30 pm at the Venice Breakwater rocks.

02/22/2026

Please write a letter of support to: [email protected]

We are seeking approval from the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks to expand our public educational presence on the iconic Venice Fishing Pier. Our vision is to build a small, pavilion-style marine museum at the end of the Venice Fishing Pier. This would be a free, public learning space where visitors can explore exhibits about marine life, tides, conservation, and the rich coastal history of Venice. This modest structure would be built and operated by the Oceanarium and would remain open and accessible to all.

https://mailchi.mp/d112bc34a729/greetings-from-venice-beach-12858131

02/16/2026

The Grunion will run April 4th! How do we know? Read all about it here: https://mailchi.mp/4765cb868c26/greetings-from-venice-beach-12858087 And THANK YOU to all of you fellow ocean lovers who came out for the Tide Pool Talk... see you again soon.

01/31/2026

Join Venice Oceanarium founder and local legend, Tim, for a Tide Pool Talk. Saturday, Jan 31st. Meet at the Venice Breakwater Rocks at 1:30 pm. Straight out from Windward past the Skate Park.
Find swells of information in the Oceanarium's latest Dispatch: https://mailchi.mp/ac259d161907/greetings-from-venice-beach-12857881

01/26/2026

Tide Pool Talk, Venice Breakwater Rocks, 1:30 pm, Saturday, January 31st
https://mailchi.mp/ac259d161907/greetings-from-venice-beach-12857881

01/02/2026

Saturday, Jan 3rd, Tide Pool Talk cancelled due to rain. Join the Oceanarium at the Breakwater rocks on Saturday, Jan 31st, 1:30 - 3:30 pm, for the next Tide Pool Talk.

12/24/2025

The Year In Review is Live Now! Keep up with the up and coming, and enjoy a stroll down memory lane from 2025. The 30th Anniversary of the Venice Oceanarium is underway. Let's celebrate! Happy Holidays everyone. https://mailchi.mp/f0f47458a4ad/greetings-from-venice-beach-12857584

12/22/2025

The Venice Oceanarium has a new Instagram page Friend the page for upcoming events.

11/22/2025

It's this weekend! The 30th annual Venice Oceanarium's reading of Herman Melville's classic, Moby Dick. This is a beautiful community event that stretches connections between continents. Here, in Venice, California, the reading is attuned to the beginning of the California Grey Whales' migration from the Arctic to the quiet lagoons of Baja, California where they give birth. The weather in our Southern California souls is, occasionally, a "damp drizzly November," but mostly it is beautiful here at the beach, which it is forecast to be this weekend, on both Saturday & Sunday, November 22 - 23. Join this transformative, collective reading running from Sunrise to Sunset. Come anytime, read a chapter or two, or lean back and listen. The surf and sun are cooling and spectacular. Family, grown ups, and community friendly. This is an event for all of us. https://www.veniceoceanarium.org/
crossroadsschool

11/22/2025

It's this weekend! The 30th annual Venice Oceanarium's reading of Herman Melville's classic, Moby Dick. This is a beautiful community event that stretches connections between continents. Here, in Venice, California, the reading is attuned to the beginning of the California Grey Whales' migration from the Arctic to the quiet lagoons of Baja, California where they give birth. The weather in our Southern California souls is, occasionally, a "damp drizzly November," but mostly it is beautiful here at the beach, which it is forecast to be this weekend, on both Saturday & Sunday, November 22 - 23. Join this transformative, collective reading running from Sunrise to Sunset. Come anytime, read a chapter or two, or lean back and listen. The surf and sun are cooling and spectacular. Family, grown ups, and community friendly. This is an event for all of us. https://www.veniceoceanarium.org/

11/21/2025

It's the 30th Anniversary of the Venice Oceanarium! Nov 22-23 at the Breakwater rocks straight out from Windward, sunrise to set, this weekend!
Join us for our 30th Anniversary annual reading of Herman Melville’s thrilling tome, Moby-Dick, on Venice Beach!
THANK YOU SPONSORS!
CAPTAINS:
Richard and Shari Foos
Venice Pier Association
CHIEF MATE:
General Real Estate Management
The Whaler Venice
SECOND MATE:
Universal Art Galleries
Pardee Properties
Special thanks to:
Venice Pier Association: The Whaler Venice, Hinano Café, The Cow’s End,The Yoga Nest, Sail Realty, Cold Stone Creamery, Washington Square Pizza, Casa 12, Venice Soleil Nail & Spa, Venice Paparazzi (Media Sponsor), Voodoo Doughnut, Figtree, Davy Jones Liquor Locker & Market, Cow's End, Hami Sushi and Menotti’s Coffee Shop.

It’s an awesome Venice tradition. Always at the end of November to acknowledge the start of the California Gray Whale migration. It’s free and family friendly! Drop by for a few chapters or stay a while.

Read all about it:

Venice Beach and the boardwalk are constantly bustling with tourists, vendors, street performers and skateboarders weaving in and out of people. There is one organization, however, that utilizes Venice Beach