How to Celebrate Shark Week in Rhode Island

A juvenile shortfin mako shark swims in the greenish waters off of Rhode Island. (Matt Potenski/Getty)

Shark Week 2023 is officially underway, with the Discovery Channel kicking off its signature week of programming on Sunday, July 23, and continuing through Saturday, July 29. While some Rhode Island businesses decided to celebrate a bit early this year, there are still plenty of opportunities to get hyped up on shark-themed beverages and learn fishy facts to amaze your friends while you binge watch your way through the impressive lineup of documentaries (and, of course, the less scientific but ridiculously fun shark thrillers on competing networks). Check out these venues in Rhode Island and just over the border in Connecticut to enjoy a week of shark-themed festivities.

Atlantic Shark Institute on “Monsters of the Bermuda Triangle”

Kick off Shark Week the right way and catch Rhode Island’s own Atlantic Shark Institute Monday night at 9 p.m. in “Monsters of the Bermuda Triangle” on the Discovery Channel. The show involves two female porbeagle sharks tagged as part of a five-year project with Dr. James Sulikowski and Ph.D. candidate Brooke Anderson, and will feature an appearance by the institute’s executive director, Jon Dodd. And don’t forget, you can support the organization’s important work by purchasing an Atlantic Shark Institute Rhode Island vanity plate. atlanticsharkinstitute.org

URI Alumna Christine de Silva on “Alien Sharks: Strange New Worlds”

If you missed the Atlantic Shark Institute at 9 p.m., no sweat. Rhode Island will make another appearance Monday at 10 p.m. when University of Rhode Island alumna Christine de Silva will serve as co-host and photographer for “Alien Sharks: Strange New World” on the Discovery Channel. The show focuses on a crew searching for rare sevengill sharks off the coast of South Africa. This will be the third Shark Week appearance for de Silva, who made her Shark Week debut in 2020 and current serves as the chief executive officer of ocean technology company Juice Robotics. Read more from the University of Rhode Island here.

Joe and Lauren Romeiro on “Dawn of the Monster Mako”

The best things come in threes, and if you missed Monday’s local appearances, you can still catch Rhode Island-based wildlife cinematographers and shark researchers Joe and Lauren Romeiro on their Shark Week special, “Dawn of the Monster Mako,” Saturday at 8 p.m. This pair has devoted their lives to recording sharks in their natural habitat off the coast of Rhode Island. In the new special, they travel to the Azores in the hopes of capturing a fourteen-foot giant mako shark on film. Joe and Lauren Romeiro are also the owners of Rhode Island Shark Diving, which offers opportunities to get up-close with sharks in the wild. rhodeislandsharkdiving.com

Sharks! 5 Days of Fintastic Fun! at Mystic Aquarium

Explore the history and science behind these amazing creatures at Mystic Aquarium, where sand tiger sharks are just one of the incredible species you can view up close. The aquarium will kick off Shark Week on Monday, July 24, when Rhode Island-based underwater filmmaker Joe Romeiro will give a presentation before the sea lion show about his experience working with these creatures of the deep. On Tuesday, shark expert Dr. Greg Skomal will discuss his work, followed by a book signing Tuesday night for his new book, Chasing Shadows: My Life Tracking the Great White Shark. On Thursday, Keith Cowley of Westerly’s Living Sharks Museum will offer a special exhibition of fossil sharks at the DinoSeas exhibit. On Friday, visitors can get up close with cownose rays and learn about skates and rays with the Mystic Aquarium education team for Flat Shark Friday. 55 Coogan Blvd., Mystic, Connecticut, mysticaquarium.org

Living Sharks Museum

Where better to learn about sharks than at America’s first shark history museum? This free museum, open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays, showcases the personal collection of curator Keith Cowley, a shark historian who has spent more than twenty years tracking down artifacts and preserving prehistoric sharks. Exhibits include fossils, shark biology, interactions with humans and an impressive collection of original Jaws film memorabilia. Visitors can even help protect these species by participating in the Rhode Island Eggcase Survey. 47 High St., Westerly, livingsharks.org

Biomes Marine Biology Center

Biomes Marine Biology Center in North Kingstown is home to dogfish sharks and bamboo sharks, plus plenty of other critters to keep even the most ardent shark fans entertained. Daily feedings happen between 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. and include pufferfish, tortoises, dogfish sharks, horseshoe crabs, skates, octopus, bamboo sharks and seahorses. Little ones can also enjoy Ruby’s Play Center, an educational area stocked with storybooks, activities and some of the smaller rescue critters. Biomes is open daily from noon to 5 p.m. 6640 Post Rd., North Kingstown, biomescenter.com

Our Shark Pale Ale at Narragansett Brewery

Narragansett Beer may have celebrated Shark Week earlier this month, but that shouldn’t stop you from heading down to the Providence taproom, home of the famous can-crushing beer from Jaws. Grab a can of the Our Shark Pale Ale and help support the University of Rhode Island Shark Research and Conservation program. The week also promises to be a fun one, with food from Ming’s Asian Street Food, Bun Buds and Anna’s Vesuviano and a Field of Artisans market on Friday night. 271 Tockwotton St., Providence, narragansettbeer.com

Jaws at the Misquamicut Drive-In

The festivities continue next week with a screening of Jaws at the Miscquamicut Drive-in on Friday, Aug. 4. You’re gonna need a bigger car for this classic beachside flick, with tickets just $25 per carload. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., followed by previews at 8 p.m. and the main feature at 9 p.m. Grab some friends and pile in for this summer favorite in a classic venue. 316 Atlantic Ave., Westerly, mbadrivein.com

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