‘The Maine Event’ gives back to conservation groups

Published 2:04 pm Tuesday, February 10, 2026

By The Astorian staff

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TheSeaside Aquarium is hosting "The Maine Event" on Sunday, Feb. 22. ((Courtesy Seaside Aquarium))

1-day aquarium fundraiser celebrates North Coast

The Seaside Aquarium was established in 1937. Neal Maine contributed to the aquarium’s success over the years and for the past five years, a fundraiser in his name, hosted by the aquarium, has taken place on the last Sunday in February. “The Maine Event” is slated for Feb. 22.

According to a press release about the event, Maine had been involved with the aquarium for many years when he decided to join the Seaside Aquarium board of directors in 1995. He joined the board “in hopes of helping the aquarium expand its educational outreach and to help the aquarium get more involved in both the community and the scientific world.” He spearheaded the beginning of what is now the Southern Washington Northern Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network, a partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Portland State University and the Seaside Aquarium. In 1995, Maine asked the board to participate in the Seaside Beach and Necanicum Estuary Discovery Program, which was designed to be a free tool for both locals and visitors to discover and learn about the local beach and estuary environments.

“The Maine Event” is a fundraiser wherein all Seaside Aquarium admissions for one day are collected and donated to conservation organizations hand-picked by Maine. This is the fundraiser’s fifth year and this year all the admissions collected on Feb. 22, the last Sunday in February, will go to: the North Coast Land Conservancy, Friends of Haystack Rock, and the Wildlife Center of the North Coast.

For more information on “The Maine Event” call 503-738-6211.

WHAT: “The Maine Event” Celebrating Marine Conservation on the North Coast

WHEN: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 22

WHERE: Seaside Aquarium, 200 N. Prom

TICKETS: $12 adults; $10 seniors; $6 children (6 to 13 years old); $40 family (up to six)

The Maine Event is a fundraiser for the North Coast Land Conservancy, Friends of Haystack Rock, and the Wildlife Center of the North Coast. All admissions collected on February 22nd will be donated to these three organizations.