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Academy of Natural Sciences Hosts Philadelphia Shell Show and Festival

The Philadelphia Shell Show and Festival, the largest of its kind in the Northeast, returns to the Academy of Natural Sciences Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1 and 2.

Thousands of exotic treasures of the sea will be on display and for sale at the annual event, which draws hobbyists, artists and dealers, as well as families who beach-comb “down the shore.” The show and festival are free with museum admission and are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The show features:

Competitive shell displays by serious collectors and amateur scientists.

An international market featuring jewelry, exotic shells, shell crafts, books and artwork.

Classes with woodworker Bill Jordan and artists who make beautifully intricate sailors’ valentines.

Demonstrations by Otolith Sustainable Seafood on shucking oysters and cooking shellfish. The audience gets to sample the seafood!

Behind-the-scenes tours of the Academy’s Malacology Collection of nearly 10 million shells, the world’s fourth largest shell collection.

A workshop with Sanibel Shell Crafters of Florida on creating artwork from shells. • Walter, the giant Pacific octopus, and Clamzilla, the giant clam. Learn how and why they were collected by the Academy.

A workshop on the many creative things you can do with the shells you collected this summer.

Free shells for the kids! The Philadelphia Shell Show and Festival is sponsored by the Academy of Natural Sciences and the
Philadelphia Shell Club.

Founded in 1812, the Academy of Natural Sciences is America’s oldest natural history museum and a world leader in
biodiversity and environmental research. For nearly 200 years, the Academy has carried out its mission to encourage and cultivate the sciences, exploring the remarkable diversity of our natural world and sharing these discoveries with the public through innovative exhibits, publications, and educational programming.

HOURS: Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. ADMISSION: $12 adults; $10 children 3- 12, seniors, college students, military personnel; free for members and children under 3. $2 fee for Butterflies! PHONE: 215-299-1000.

THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES 1900 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PKWY PHILADELPHIA PA 19103

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