Orlando Beer Event This Weekend: Fins & Flights at SEA LIFE Orlando
- Friday August 28th 2026
- Author: Matt Meyers
Orlando has plenty of places to enjoy a cold craft beer, from local breweries and taprooms to special tasting events throughout Central Florida. But one upcoming event offers a setting that is quite a bit different from the typical brewery or beer festival.
Fins & Flights at SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium brings Florida craft beer and after hours aquarium access together for three evenings during Labor Day Weekend. Taking place September 3, 4 and 5, 2026, the adults only event gives guests the chance to sample craft beers from participating Florida breweries while exploring SEA LIFE Orlando after regular operating hours.
It is a different kind of night out, combining craft beer, marine life and one of Orlando's popular entertainment destinations at ICON Park.
Orlando Beer Event at a Glance
|
Event Detail |
Fins & Flights |
|
Location |
SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium at ICON Park |
|
Dates |
September 3, 4 and 5, 2026 |
|
Time |
7 PM to 10 PM |
|
Age requirement |
21 and over |
|
Event type |
Craft beer tasting and after hours aquarium experience |
|
Beer samples |
Five craft beer samples |
|
Participating breweries |
Tampa Bay Brewing Co., Orange Blossom Brewing Co., Crooked Can Brewing Company, Ivanhoe Park Brewing Company and LANDSHARK® Vodka Seltzer |
|
Included with admission |
After hours aquarium access, five beer samples and commemorative tasting glass |
|
Designated driver option |
Available |
Event details, participating breweries, beverage selections and availability can change, so check the official event information before your visit.
What Is Fins & Flights at SEA LIFE Orlando?
Fins & Flights is an after hours, 21+ event at SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium that combines craft beer tasting with an evening aquarium experience.
Instead of spending the evening at a traditional bar or brewery, guests can explore the aquarium while sampling craft beer from participating Florida breweries.
SEA LIFE Orlando is home to thousands of marine animals and features immersive habitats throughout the attraction. During Fins & Flights, guests can experience the aquarium after regular operating hours while discovering sharks, sea turtles, rays, seahorses, axolotls and other aquatic animals.
The aquarium's 360° Ocean Tunnel offers another memorable part of the experience, surrounding guests with marine life as they walk through the underwater habitat.
The current Fins & Flights experience includes five craft beer samples, with one sample from each participating brewery, along with a commemorative tasting glass.
That combination makes the event particularly appealing for adults who want to experience Orlando nightlife a little differently.
When Is Fins & Flights in Orlando?
Fins & Flights takes place during Labor Day Weekend 2026 on Thursday, September 3, Friday, September 4 and Saturday, September 5.
The event runs from 7 PM to 10 PM each evening at SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium inside ICON Park.
|
Date |
Day |
Event Time |
|
September 3, 2026 |
Thursday |
7 PM to 10 PM |
|
September 4, 2026 |
Friday |
7 PM to 10 PM |
|
September 5, 2026 |
Saturday |
7 PM to 10 PM |
The three evening schedule gives guests some flexibility when planning their Labor Day Weekend itinerary.
Spend the afternoon exploring Orlando attractions, relaxing at your hotel or enjoying dinner around International Drive before heading to ICON Park for Fins & Flights.
Is Fins & Flights an Orlando Beer Festival?
Fins & Flights has many of the elements people associate with a beer festival, including multiple participating breweries, beer samples and the opportunity to discover different Florida craft beverages.
The setting is what makes it different.
Rather than walking between brewery tents at a traditional outdoor festival, guests can stroll through SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium while sampling craft beer and experiencing marine life after hours.
It is also an indoor, air conditioned experience, which can be especially appealing during a Central Florida holiday weekend.
For an Orlando beer event with a twist, Fins & Flights combines the social atmosphere of a tasting event with an aquarium experience.
Which Breweries Are at Fins & Flights?
The current Fins & Flights lineup features several Florida craft beer and beverage names.
|
Participating Brewery or Beverage |
Location or Type |
|
Tampa Bay Brewing Co. |
Tampa Bay craft brewery |
|
Orange Blossom Brewing Co. |
Central Florida craft brewery |
|
Crooked Can Brewing Company |
Florida craft brewery |
|
Ivanhoe Park Brewing Company |
Orlando craft brewery |
|
LANDSHARK® Vodka Seltzer |
Beverage option courtesy of City Beverages Orlando |
Five craft beer samples are included with admission. The current event information notes that additional tasting tickets or a full can may also be available for purchase during the event.
The brewery lineup is subject to change, so guests should check the latest event information before attending.
For craft beer enthusiasts, the variety makes the tasting experience part of the fun. You can sample different beverages in one evening and potentially discover a new favorite Florida brewery.
What Does a Fins & Flights Ticket Include?
The current general admission ticket includes after hours admission to SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium, five craft beer samples and a commemorative Fins & Flights tasting glass.
|
Included Experience |
Details |
|
Aquarium admission |
After hours access to SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium |
|
Beer tasting |
Five craft beer samples |
|
Souvenir |
Commemorative Fins & Flights tasting glass |
|
Event access |
Fins & Flights experience |
|
Age requirement |
Guests must be 21 or older |
The current advance online price listed by SEA LIFE Orlando is $54.99 per person.
Ticket prices and inclusions can change, so review the official event page before purchasing.
Can You Attend Fins & Flights Without Drinking Beer?
Yes. A designated driver ticket is available for guests who want to enjoy the aquarium and event atmosphere without drinking alcohol. Designated drivers cannot purchase alcohol, but they can participate in the after hours aquarium experience.
A valid government issued photo ID is required for entry.
This makes Fins & Flights an easy group activity because everyone does not have to participate in the beer tasting. One person can choose the designated driver option while the rest of the group samples the featured beverages.
Anyone planning to drink should arrange safe transportation in advance, whether that means using a designated driver or rideshare service.
Why Fins & Flights Is Different From a Traditional Beer Festival
Orlando has a growing craft beer scene, with breweries, taprooms, beer releases and tasting events throughout the region.
Fins & Flights offers something those traditional experiences cannot: an aquarium as the backdrop.
Imagine walking through the aquarium after regular visiting hours, stopping to sample a Florida craft beer and then continuing through the exhibits to watch sharks, rays and sea turtles move through the water.
For beer enthusiasts, the event offers several beverages to sample in one evening. For travelers, it provides a different way to experience a popular Orlando attraction.
And for anyone who simply enjoys a good night out with friends, the combination gives you plenty to see and do without having to move between multiple locations.
What Can You See at SEA LIFE Orlando?

The beer tasting is only one part of the experience.
SEA LIFE Orlando features more than 5,000 creatures across 10 or more themed exhibits, giving guests plenty to explore during their visit. The aquarium's current experiences include Florida's only 360° Ocean Tunnel, where guests can surround themselves with sharks, stingrays and other marine life.
Guests can also encounter sea turtles, seahorses, axolotls and tropical fish throughout the aquarium.
|
Marine Life |
What Guests Can Experience |
|
Sharks |
Watch sharks move through underwater habitats |
|
Sea turtles |
See sea turtles up close |
|
Rays |
Watch rays glide through the water |
|
Seahorses |
Discover these distinctive marine animals |
|
Axolotls |
See one of the aquarium's unusual freshwater species |
|
Tropical fish |
Explore colorful aquatic habitats |
Because Fins & Flights takes place after regular aquarium hours, guests can experience these habitats in a completely different atmosphere.
Fins & Flights Makes a Unique Orlando Date Night
Orlando has plenty of traditional date night options, from restaurants and bars to entertainment venues.
Fins & Flights offers something a little more unexpected.
Couples can explore the aquarium together, sample Florida craft beer and spend the evening surrounded by marine life. The experience also works well as part of a larger night at ICON Park, where guests can enjoy dining and other entertainment before or after the event.
|
Before Fins & Flights |
During Fins & Flights |
After Fins & Flights |
|
Dinner at ICON Park |
Explore SEA LIFE Orlando |
Enjoy dessert |
|
Explore International Drive |
Sample craft beer |
Continue exploring ICON Park |
|
Meet up with friends |
See sharks and sea turtles |
Head back to your hotel |
|
Grab a meal |
Experience the aquarium after hours |
Enjoy more Orlando nightlife |
For couples who have already experienced Orlando's more traditional attractions, an aquarium beer event offers a memorable change of pace.
Things to Do in Orlando for Labor Day Weekend
Labor Day Weekend is a popular time to visit Orlando, with attractions, restaurants, entertainment and seasonal events taking place throughout Central Florida.
Fins & Flights adds an adults only evening experience to the holiday weekend calendar.
|
Interest |
Fins & Flights Connection |
|
Craft beer |
Five samples included |
|
Marine life |
Explore SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium |
|
Date night |
Aquarium and craft beer experience |
|
Nightlife |
Evening event from 7 PM to 10 PM |
|
Labor Day Weekend |
September 3 through 5, 2026 |
|
Indoor attractions |
Air conditioned aquarium setting |
|
Group outings |
Explore and sample together |
The event can easily become one part of a larger Orlando itinerary. Spend the day at another attraction, enjoy dinner and then make your way to SEA LIFE Orlando for the evening.
Make It an Orlando Craft Beer Weekend
One Orlando beer event can also be the starting point for exploring Central Florida's broader craft beer scene.
Local breweries and taprooms throughout the area offer rotating selections, seasonal releases, food, live music, trivia and other experiences throughout the year.
A beer focused weekend could include Fins & Flights on one evening, a brewery visit on another day and plenty of time to explore Orlando's restaurants and attractions in between.
The difference is that Fins & Flights adds an attraction experience to the evening rather than simply another stop for drinks.
Tips for Attending Fins & Flights
A little planning can make the evening easier.
Purchase tickets in advance. The current event information lists advance online general admission at $54.99 per person.
Bring valid identification. Guests must be 21 or older and should bring a valid government issued photo ID.
Plan transportation. Anyone drinking should arrange a designated driver or rideshare service.
Eat before the event. A meal before beer tasting can help you pace yourself throughout the evening.
Wear comfortable shoes. You will be walking through the aquarium during the event.
Give yourself time to explore. The aquarium is part of the experience, so allow enough time to enjoy the exhibits rather than treating Fins & Flights as a quick tasting stop.
Check the latest event details. Participating breweries, beverages, ticket pricing and other details can change.
What Makes Fins & Flights Different?
The easiest way to understand Fins & Flights is to compare it with a traditional beer festival.
|
Traditional Beer Festival |
Fins & Flights |
|
Focuses primarily on beer |
Combines beer and marine life |
|
Often outdoors |
Indoor aquarium setting |
|
Brewery booths |
Brewery vendors inside SEA LIFE Orlando |
|
Beer tasting |
Five included craft beer samples |
|
Festival atmosphere |
Adults only aquarium atmosphere |
|
Primarily beverage focused |
Attraction and beverage experience |
|
Varies by event |
7 PM to 10 PM |
|
Standard festival setting |
SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium |
That combination is what gives Fins & Flights its identity.
You can enjoy craft beer while watching sharks swim overhead. You can spend time with friends while exploring the aquarium. You can turn an ordinary Labor Day Weekend evening into something that feels distinctly different from the usual bar or brewery visit.
A Different Way to Celebrate Labor Day Weekend in Orlando
Labor Day Weekend is a chance to make the most of the final unofficial weekend of summer, and Orlando offers plenty of ways to celebrate.
Fins & Flights adds a unique adults only option to the mix.
From five Florida craft beer samples and a commemorative tasting glass to after hours access to SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium, the experience combines a beer tasting with an attraction visit in a way that is distinctly different from a traditional Orlando beer festival.
Whether you are a local planning a night out, visiting Orlando for Labor Day Weekend or simply ready to try something new, Fins & Flights offers an evening filled with craft beer, marine life and plenty to explore.
Fins & Flights Frequently Asked Questions
Fins & Flights at SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium is an upcoming Orlando craft beer event taking place September 3, 4 and 5, 2026, during Labor Day Weekend. The event combines Florida craft beer tastings with after hours aquarium access.
Orlando offers attractions, dining, entertainment, nightlife and special events throughout Labor Day Weekend. Fins & Flights provides an adults only evening experience combining Florida craft beer with after hours access to SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium.
The current event information lists general admission at $54.99 per person when purchased online in advance. Admission includes after hours aquarium access, five craft beer samples and a commemorative tasting glass.
The current lineup includes Tampa Bay Brewing Co., Orange Blossom Brewing Co., Crooked Can Brewing Company, Ivanhoe Park Brewing Company and LANDSHARK® Vodka Seltzer courtesy of City Beverages Orlando. Participating breweries and beverages are subject to change.
Yes. Designated driver tickets are available for guests who want to enjoy the after hours aquarium experience without drinking alcohol. Designated drivers cannot purchase alcohol and must still present a valid government issued photo ID.
Plan Your Orlando Beer Weekend
Orlando's beer scene offers plenty of ways to spend a weekend, but Fins & Flights puts a different spin on the traditional beer event.
Guests can sample Florida craft beer, explore SEA LIFE Orlando after hours and experience marine life in an atmosphere that is unlike a typical brewery or festival.
Fins & Flights takes place September 3 through 5, 2026, from 7 PM to 10 PM each evening at SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium inside ICON Park.
Gather your friends, plan your transportation and make this Labor Day Weekend one to remember with an evening of craft beer and marine life.
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