Newport Aquarium

Newport Aquarium sits on the Ohio River in Newport, Kentucky, just minutes from downtown Cincinnati at Newport on the Levee. Opened in May 1999, the 100,000-square-foot facility is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is home to more than 20,000 animals across 70 exhibits and 14 galleries, including the world-first Shark Bridge, a 75-foot suspended rope walkway above a 385,000-gallon shark tank. Private events at Newport Aquarium draw on the living collection as a backdrop. The Riverside Room, a 6,000-square-foot contemporary space, accommodates up to 300 guests for seated dinners and receptions with views of the Cincinnati skyline and Ohio River. The Shark Ray Bay Theater seats up to 140 guests with a 16-by-20-foot shark tank framing ceremonies, dinners, and presentations. After public hours, the entire aquarium can be reserved for buyout events accommodating up to 1,500 guests. Event specialists work with groups to customize gatherings with dive shows, penguin encounters, and animal experiences. The venue hosts weddings, corporate meetings, galas, fundraisers, social celebrations, and proms.