AQUASWAP 2026

C.O.A.S.T. AQUASWAP 2026
VENDOR INFORMATION, GUEST FAQS,
& EVENT ADMISSION FEE

• ADMISSIONS & EVENT FAQs
  
  Q: How do I buy tickets for AQUASWAP 2026? Are tickets available for purchase online, or only at the event?
  A: Currently, tickets for AQUASWAP 2026 are only available for purchase on the day of the event. Specific event wristband(s) will be issued at the entrance for all guests of AQUASWAP 2026. You may consider joining our club on the day of the event, 4/11/26, for $40.00 ($10 discount off our $50 annual membership fee). Payment can be processed via the club’s PayPal/Venmo account for $40 on 4/11/26 will be your admission ticket for the event (on our membership page). Our admissions team will verify your receipt or payment at the admissions table during the event.
  
  Q: Will there be complimentary ‘Swag Bags’ this year for the first 50-100 guests in line again? How does this work exactly? What time should we be in line if we want a bag?
  A: Yes! We will have sponsored swag bags courtesy of our platinum, gold, silver, and bronze tier brand sponsors! We typically provide more than 50-100 bags to guests of our events, however, it varies and also depends on the amount of sponsored product we receive from our brand sponsors. We suggest being in line 1 or 2 hours earlier than your entry ticket to secure your sponsored swag bag. Don’t stress if you don’t get a bag! Many of our vendors will have their own give-a-ways, raffles, merch, freebies, and promotions unique to themselves at their tables/booths as well! So you’ll have plenty of items to take home from AQUASWAP 2026 to be able to enjoy in your fishroom for your aquarium hobby, regardless of what time you show up during the event.
  
  This year, we will be featuring a new swag bag only for guests that join the club during AQUASWAP 2026, from our gold-tier club sponsor AQQA!
  
  Q: Why should I join COAST as a member, rather than just paying the general admission of $15, or $25, for early bird VIP access?
  A: Joining COAST’s community of fishkeepers in SoCal has many benefits when you begin your annual term membership. For starters, every active member at COAST is eligible to receive a new (since 2024-25) COAST digital ID membership card, which is exclusive to your member ID # that is assigned to you.
  
  
  
  
  Additionally, on the day of AQUASWAP 2026, 4/11/26, any guest that joins as a member that day, or renews an expired membership, will be allowed to bring in (1) spouse/partner under their new membership. Children ages 12 and under are free of charge, so you may bring a small family into AQUASWAP 2026 under a single COAST membership
  
  Your COAST digital ID card provides you with discounts to our LFS partners, from 10-15% off, typically fish and plants only at the LFS retail partners that work with COAST Fish Club.
  
  To learn more about our club’s member benefits, please visit https://coastfishclub.com/member-benefits/, or visit: https://coastfishclub.com/home/membershipinfo/. Your annual membership with C.O.A.S.T. Fish Club allows our non-profit organization to continue to grow and promote the freshwater aquarium hobby in the Southern California and West Coast region.
  
  Q: Will Ins-and-Out’s be allowed at the event?
  A: In’s-and-Out’s will be allowed, but attendees must be wearing their wristband and cannot share wristbands with others. You may re-enter the event from the same entry line, or you may request security to allow you in at the exit ramp entry (room A).
  
  Q: What should we bring to prepare for the event, either as a guest, or as a vendor?
  A: Guests should bring adequate cash-in-hand on the day of AQUASWAP 2026, as most vendors are cash-only. Our food vendor, @lamamaloma_oc will be able to receive both cash and digital payment at their stand for food and refreshments as well.
  
  Guests and vendors both are encouraged to bring insulated bags, coolers, or styrofoam containers in their vehicles to keep livestock safe and comfortably secure with less concern for overheating the livestock in bags while attending the event.
  
  Vendors should consider bringing back-up style LPO4 battery packs or lithium-ion style batteries to help power their air pumps, LED lights, phone chargers, etc. While there will be some limited general access to power cables/extension cords, we can not guarantee that all vendors will have power to their table/booth. During pre-registration we requested to know if your booth would be requiring the use of an electrical outlet or not, to better place your booth/table space.
  
  Q: As a vendor, will there be water available at the center for me to fill my fish tanks or display tanks?
  A: Yes, the F.V. Senior Center has restroom facilities, drinking fountains, and we will have access to a side kitchen with kitchen sinks on the day of the event. Hoses, buckets, and general equipment for use will not be supplied, so please come prepared.
  
  Q: I want to bid on the grand prize raffle tanks & stands from Ultum Nature System’s aquascaping live demo during the event, featuring Mark Chen @tmk_aquarist and other aquascapers. Will there be any provided method of shipping or handling included if I decided to bid on a scaped tank and stand combo, or any other bigger prizes?
  A: Unfortunately, accomodations cannot be fully guaranteed to help you ship or deliver your tank and stand from the event. We can offer support during the day of the event with volunteer helpers to move the equipment to your vehicle only, however ensuring you have adequate space in your vehicle, have enough helpers on hand (for successful delivery after the event), or any form of transport, will need to be arranged by the bidder at their discretion. We would recommend taking multiple trips if necessary to retrieve the tank and stands separately, if possible.
  
• Early Bird / VIP access ticket – $25
  (Access to event at 10 am, we highly recommend being in line by 9:00 am)
• General Admission Ticket – $15
  (Access to event at 11 am, we highly recommend being in line by 10 am)
• C.O.A.S.T. New Membership / Renewal – $40
  ($10 discount on annual membership only applies on 4/11/26!)
  (provides early bird/VIP access to event, (+1) family member (such as a spouse), plus a swag-bag from our sponsors while supplies last (limited!). We recommend being in line by 9 am, please make your way into the ‘membership line’ at the front admission table and pay for your membership to be ready for early-bird entry. Payment may be made in cash $40, and you can fill out our online membership application form, linked here.
  
  https://coastfishclub.com/home/membershipinfo/online-membership-application/
  
  This club discount and new membership option is only applicable on the day of 4/11/26, the same day of the event. Guests that are interested in this sign-up option should be ready in line by 8:30 or 9:00 am to ensure they have enough time to process their membership request/application form at the admission table.
  
  You may either; print out and pre-fill your membership application pdf form on our website and bring the $40 cash-in-hand to the membership table at 9-10 am on 4/11/26, or fill out the above form link for our digital membership application form and Venmo or PayPal us the $40 on 4/11/26, or provide our membership table with cash at the door to receive your bracelet.
  
  At AquaSwap 2025, we had guests in line as early at 7:30-8 am, a few hours before the event actually opened to the public. The guest line even snaked out of the hallway at the center and ran down the street onto Talbert Ave on a warmer day. We highly recommend that, rather than stand in line for 2 hours, perhaps consider bringing a lawn chair or a way to reserve your spot if you anticipate being part of the first (50-100) guests in line for the opportunity to win a C.O.A.S.T. Sponsored Swag Bag! We will allow ins-and-outs based on bracelet admission bands once you are paid and ready to go you can put your things back in your vehicle.