A two-day dinosaur extravaganza is set to take place at the Virginia Museum of Natural History (VMNH) in Martinsville, when the museum hosts Dino Festival on Friday, July 26 and Saturday, July 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. The annual event will feature life-size cast skeletons of some of the most iconic creatures of the Mesozoic Era, a wide variety of dinosaur fossils, expert paleontologists, animatronic dinosaurs, and dinosaur-themed activities and crafts.
“As soon as visitors step foot onto museum grounds, it will be dinosaur bliss,” said VMNH Visitor Services and Events Manager Robbie Hendrix-Wirt. “Dino Festival offers numerous highlights, but none may be more exciting than the life-size cast skeletons of some of the most recognized dinosaurs to have ever lived, such as Triceratops and Stegosaurus.”
Life-size cast skeletons and skulls that will be on display during Dino Festival include:
Triceratops (cast skeleton)
A large, plant-eating dinosaur distinguishable by its large frill and three horns that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, from approximately 68 to 66 million years ago
Stegosaurus (cast skeleton)
A large, plant-eating dinosaur – distinguishable by two rows of bony plates on its back – that lived during the Late Jurassic period, from approximately 155 to 150 million years ago
Acrocanthosaurus (cast skeleton)
A massive, carnivorous theropod dinosaur that existed in what is now North America during the Early Cretaceous period, from approximately 125 million to 100 million years ago
Allosaurus (cast skeleton)
A large, carnivorous theropod dinosaur of the Late Jurassic period, from approximately 155 to 150 million years ago
Tenontosaurus (cast skeleton)
An herbivore dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, from approximately 120 to 110 million years ago
Platecarpus tympaniticus (cast skeleton)
A massive sea-going reptile that lived 84 to 81 million years ago during the Cretaceous period
Tyrannosaurus rex (cast skull)
One of the most iconic dinosaurs of all time, T. rex was a large carnivorous dinosaur that lived in what is now western North America approximately 68 to 66 million years ago
Dromaeosaurus (cast skull)
A medium-sized carnivorous dinosaur and a very close relative of the famous Velociraptor that lived in what is now the western United States and Alberta, Canada during the Late Cretaceous, from approximately 77 to 74 million years ago
Albertosaurus (cast skull)
A genus of tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaurs that lived in what is now western North America during the Late Cretaceous Period, from approximately 70 million years ago
Edmontosaurus (cast skull)
A genus of duck-billed dinosaur that lived in what is now western North America during the Cretaceous Period, from approximately 73 to 66 million years ago
Dunkleosteus (cast skull)
An armored fish from a group of fish called placoderms that lived approximately 380 to 360 million years ago
Tylosaurus (cast skull)
A gigantic, sea-going relative of lizards, and one of the biggest ocean predators to have ever lived
In addition, Dino Festival is set to feature a wide variety of dinosaur fossils, ranging from the fossil remains of some of the most well-known predators, to the massive fossils of sauropods (long-necked dinosaurs). The event even offers the only known fossil evidence that shows Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops engaged in battle…and that Triceratops survived the encounter.
“Being able to offer visitors such an exciting collection of dinosaur fossils to view up-close-and-personal really makes the Dino Festival experience stand out,” said Hendrix-Wirt.
To give visitors a better understanding of how dinosaur fossils make their way from a field site to a museum, some of the fossils on display will remain secured inside field jackets. These protective plaster coverings are used by paleontologists to place around a fossil before removing the specimen from the earth and transporting it to a museum or other research site for further study.
“We not only want to provide visitors with a fun and exciting experience, but we want everyone to leave with a better understanding of paleontology and, hopefully, even inspire some of our younger visitors to be part of the next generation of great paleontologists.”
To help advance that desire, multiple dinosaur experts will be on-hand during Dino Festival, including paleontologists from the museum and other highly acclaimed institutions, such as the Smithsonian Institution.
“The museum has two paleontologists digging for dinosaur bones in Wyoming as I speak,” said Hendrix-Wirt. “The duo will return to Virginia just in time to attend the event and provide their expertise to visitors, while also providing a sampling of some of their fossil finds from previous years’ digs.”
While Wyoming is a dinosaur fossil hotspot, Virginia is a bit of a different story. In fact, the only confirmed dinosaur fossils that have ever been discovered inside the Commonwealth have come in the form of footprints. During Dino Festival, visitors will be presented with a special display of fossils found in Virginia from the Age of Dinosaurs and learn why dinosaur bones are not among them, and why that may soon change.
With an eye towards making this year’s event bigger and better than ever, the 2024 edition of Dino Festival will feature two new animatronic dinosaur models: Dilophosaurus and Herrerasaurus.
“We’re very excited to exhibit these two models for the first time at Dino Festival,” said Henrdix-Wirt. “These additions will only add to the fun and festive atmosphere that Dino Festival has become known for over the years.”
Beyond the exhibits and displays, Dino Festival features an abundance of dinosaur-themed activities, ranging from a dinosaur VR experience to take home crafts. The event also includes classic festival staples, such as face painting and balloon animals. Additionally, the museum will offer the Dino Fest Food Truck Station for visitors to purchase a wide variety of lunch and snacks items. Among the food trucks scheduled to be on-site are Bahama Sno-Shack, Kona Ice, Factory Roast, D’s Hot/Ice, Palumbo’s Hoagie House, Buckin’ Good Eats & Lemonade, Chick-fil-a (Saturday only), Malloy Dogs, and Birrieria La Vaca.
“We want the Dino Festival experience to provide memories for a lifetime,” said Hendrix-Wirt. “We want to ‘wow’ visitors with the life-size dinosaur skeletons and prehistoric fossils, while also offering everyone a fun and festive atmosphere, full of engaging experiences they won’t soon forget.”
The festival takes place at the Virginia Museum of Natural History on Friday, July 26 and Saturday, July 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
Admission is $10 for adults ages 18-59 and $5 for ages 3-17, seniors 60+, and college students. Admission is free for children under 3, museum members, and members of museums and science centers that participate in the ASTC Passport program. Visitors who attend the first day of the festival will be allowed to experience the event again on the second day at no additional charge.
The museum also participates in the Institute of Museum and Library Services‘ Museums for All initiative, offering discounted admission to EBT cardholders and their immediate family members. Through this program and additional funding provided by Hooker Furnishings, Carter Bank & Trust, and Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia, visitors who present their EBT card and accompanying ID at the admissions gate will receive free admission to the festival. Free admission is available to EBT cardholders from any state and up to 5 immediate family members living within the same household as the cardholder.
The Dino Festival is sponsored by Virginia Tourism Corporation, Carter Bank & Trust, Boxley Materials Company, Bassett Furniture Industries, Monogram Foods Loves Kids Foundation, and The Helen S. & Charles G. Patterson Jr. Charitable Foundation Trust.
For more information about the festival, visit www.vmnh.net/events/dino-festival.
