The Virginia Museum of Natural History (VMNH) received a $12,000 grant from the Helen S. and Charles G. Patterson, Jr. Charitable Foundation Trust in support of the 2024-25 Virginia Museum of Natural History Science Outreach Initiative. Through this initiative, the museum will implement a series of high impact festivals and exhibits that provide engaging, science-based experiences for regional, statewide and national audiences.
Festivals and exhibits that are part of the initiative include:
The Age of Dinosaurs
Opening February 8, 2025, the original special exhibit The Age of Dinosaurs explores a time when giants walked the earth. Visitors will experience an incredible diversity of dinosaur fossils, dinosaur cast skeletons and skulls, as well as stunning animatronic dinosaur displays, as they learn the fascinating story of dinosaurs and the role paleontologists play in providing the current understanding of these animals.
Reptile Festival
On April 25 and 26, the museum will offer a special event focusing on the reptile life that resides in Virginia and beyond. Highlighted by the museum’s herpetology research program, the event will feature a fascinating diversity of live animals and scientific specimens, as well as numerous reptile-themed activities and crafts.
Dino Festival
The museum’s annual 2-day dinosaur extravaganza will take place July 25 and 26. Highlighted by the museum’s paleontology research program, the event will feature life size-cast skeletons of some of the most iconic dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era, a wide variety of dinosaur fossils presented by renowned paleontologists, as well as an array of dinosaur-themed activities and crafts.
Bonez & Booz
On Saturday, October 25, 2025, the museum will host its annual Bonez & Booz Halloween and Fall Festival. The event will feature Halloween-themed science stations hosted by the museum’s curatorial team, as well as a wide variety of entertainment options, including fire performances, magic shows, stilt walkers, carnival games, costume contests, and more.
“The Helen S. and Charles G. Patterson, Jr. Charitable Foundation Trust has provided the museum with tremendous long-term support, playing a pivotal role in the museum’s ability to offer exceptional science programming and exhibits to the public,” said VMNH Deputy Director Ryan Barber. “We are incredibly thankful for the foundation’s continued support and the value that it sees in supporting museum programs.”
The Helen S. and Charles G. Patterson, Jr. Charitable Foundation Trust has been a long-time supporter of the museum, including supporting the museum’s first Science Outreach Initiative, which was introduced in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative was originally designed to develop and deliver a library of STEM-based virtual programming tailored to students and school groups throughout the 2020-21 school year, as well as provide additional science-based, virtual programming for children, adults and families. In the years since, the initiative has evolved to emphasize in-person learning experiences.
For more information about the museum and its programming, visit www.vmnh.net.
