The Maritime Aquarium will reopen to the general public on Saturday for the first time since closing during the pandemic. 

Communications director Dave Sigworth says this Saturday will be the first day that the general public will be invited back to the aquarium.

"People are asking when, when, when, we wanna know, we're ready, our kids miss it so much," says Sigworth.

Sigworth says the aquarium opened early for members and special invited guests Thursday and Friday. He says anyone who is planning a family trip should schedule the visit ahead of time.

"If you don't have your advance ticket purchased online, we're not gonna let you in the building, so you gotta do that in advance on our website," says Sigworth. 

Sigworth says by selling the tickets in advance, aquarium staff can limit the amount of people allowed inside. Once inside, guests will have to adhere to a one-way route through the aquarium's exhibits.

Sigworth says the touch tanks will be open, but some of the touchpad learning activities will be closed.

Under new state guidelines the aquarium will only be allowed to accommodate guests at 50 % capacity.

People older than two years old will be required to wear a mask, and there will be a one-way route through the aquarium with signs requiring guests to maintain social distancing.