Dino Festival
July 26-27, 2024
Virginia Museum of Natural History’s Dino Festival is a 2-day dinosaur extravaganza, featuring life-size cast skeletons of some of the most iconic dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era, a wide variety of dinosaur fossils, dino-themed activities and crafts, the opportunity to interact with expert paleontologists, and the chance to explore the Dinosaur Discovery Maze!
Dino Festival will take place at the Virginia Museum of Natural History on Friday, July 26 and Saturday, July 27, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day!
LIFE-SIZES CAST SKELETONS & SKULLS!
Triceratops
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
A large, plant-eating dinosaur distinguishable by two rows of bony plates on its back. It lived during the Late Jurassic period, from approximately 155 to 150 million years ago
Acrocanthosaurus
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
A large, carnivorous theropod dinosaur of the Late Jurassic period, from approximately 155 to 150 million years ago
Platecarpus Tympaniticus
A 17 foot long cast skeleton of a massive sea-going reptile that lived 81 to 84 million years ago during the Cretaceous period. This animal, a species of mosasaur, once swam in waters that covered what is now the central United States!
Tyrannosaurus rex (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 (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 (skull)
A genus of tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaurs that lived in western North America during the Late Cretaceous Period, from approximately 70 million years ago
Edmontosaurus (skull)
A genus of duck-billed dinosaur that lived in western North America during the Cretaceous Period approximately 73 to 66 million years ago.
Dunkleosteus (skull)
An armored fish from a group of fish called placoderms that lived approximately 360 to 380 million years ago.
Tylosaurus (skull)
A gigantic, sea-going relative of lizards, Tylosaurus was one of the biggest ocean predators ever to live. With a skull almost six feet long, a body over forty feet, and a mouth full of pointed teeth, it could pretty much eat whatever it wanted, from fish to other giant lizards.
DINOSAUR FOSSILS GALORE!
Beyond the spectacular displays, the festival will boast an abundance of dinosaur fossils, including the only fossil evidence that Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops engaged in battle!
FESTIVITIES ABOUND!
Face painting, balloon animals, food trucks, and a host of dino-themed children’s activities and crafts will take place both days of the event! Stop by the Museum Store to browse the special collection of dino-themed items for sale or capture a memory of your adventure at the Dino Fest Photo Booth!
ADMISSION IS ONLY…
- $10/Ages 18-59
- $5/Ages 3-17
- $5/Seniors 60+
- FREE for children under 3
- FREE for VMNH Members
- FREE for members of ASTC Passport participating institutions
- FREE for EBT card holders who present their EBT card and official photo ID
- Groupons are accepted!
**Admission is available at the door. Face coverings are optional. Paying attendees on Friday will be allowed to experience the event again on Saturday at no additional charge. Groupons are accepted!**
DINO FESTIVAL MADE POSSIBLE BY…
- Boxley Materials Company
- Bassett Furniture Industries
- Monogram Foods Loves Kids Foundation
**Please note that all Dino Festival offerings listed may be subject to change.
