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Arts & Entertainment

Chompie Will Not Return for Shark Week 2011

Enormous inflatable shark will not grace Discovery building for the Shark Week event.

In what may be a disappointment for many Silver Spring residents who have grown fond of Chompie, Discovery Communications’ inflatable shark mascot will not make an appearance in 2011.

The giant shark, which has heralded the arrival of Discovery Network’s “Shark Week,” now in its 24th year, was not captured by a giant inflatable Roy Scheider in a giant inflatable boat. Instead, he's simply being given a rest, according to Tammy Shea, Discovery Communications’ vice president of corporate affairs and communications.

“We have some great things planned for Silver Spring this year,” she said. “Next year is the 25th anniversary of Shark Week, and Chompie will make his return then.”

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In place of the inflatable fish, Discovery plans to host screenings of Shark Week programming on a giant inflatable screen in the Silver Spring Civic Center at Veterans Plaza, along with giveaways and other fun things to do. The much-beloved week of all things shark-related begins July 31.

Stay tuned to Patch to find out all the details about Shark Week 2011 events in Silver Spring.

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