The Sea Center on Stearns Wharf is offering free admission to its Underwater Parks Day Festival 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, with activities from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., thanks to support from the Moeller Lab at UC Santa Barbara.

In addition to the Sea Center’s exhibits, guests of all ages can enjoy activities and learning opportunities.

Festival partners that will be showcasing conservation efforts and science in the Santa Barbara Channel and beyond include:

Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, Channel Islands Naturalist Corps featuring Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area, Santa Barbara MPA Collaborative, Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, Celebration Cruises, Coal Oil Point Reserve, Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies, and National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science.

Kids can work on a coloring page commemorating the festival; get ocean-themed face painting; and listen to two storytime sessions in English and Spanish at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

“The Sea Center is excited to once again celebrate marine protected areas, and connect people with the science behind protecting our unique and biodiverse waters,” said Tessa Cafritz, Sea Center naturalist and Volunteer Program manager; and Kennedy Rivera, School & Community Programs specialist.

“The Santa Barbara Channel is home to over 1,000 marine species, and we hope that our celebration of the protected areas helps connect our community to the wonders of our waters,” they said.

The Underwater Parks Day Festival highlights marine protected areas (MPAs), also known as underwater parks, which safeguard the biodiversity and richness of ocean life in coastal waters.

The Santa Barbara Channel and Channel Islands region are home to some of the planet’s most nutrient-rich waters, teeming with marine life in kelp forests, tide pools, and rocky intertidal reefs, the Sea Center said.

MPAs play a crucial role in conserving these diverse ecosystems by limiting fishing and over-harvesting, ensuring thriving species populations and sustainable recreation for future generations. Underwater Parks Day is celebrated in partnership with aquariums and science centers across Southern California.

Reservations to visit the Sea Center, available at sbnature.org/tickets, are encouraged. For more, visit sbnature.org/calendar.