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The 2-day dinosaur extravaganza is roaring back into the museum with an incredible lineup of life-size cast skeletons of some of the most iconic dinosaurs to have ever lived, an extraordinary variety of dinosaur fossils, dino-themed activities and crafts, animatronic dinosaur displays, the opportunity to interact with expert paleontologists, and access to the museum's newest special exhibit The Age of Dinosaurs!
Dino Festival takes place at the Virginia Museum of Natural History on Friday, July 25 and Saturday, July 26, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day!
Life-size Cast Skeletons and 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
Triceratops will be one of many life-size cast skeletons on display!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
Eoraptor
A deer-sized, carnivorous, theropod dinosaur that is one of the earliest known of the dinosaurs
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
My, what big teeth you have, T. rex!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.
Experience The Age of Dinosaurs!
Tour the museum's newest special exhibit and adventure into an age when giants walked the earth! Experience an incredible diversity of dinosaur fossils, cast skeletons and skulls, as well as stunning animatronic dinosaur displays, as you learn the fascinating story of dinosaurs and the role paleontologists play in providing our current understanding of these magnificent animals!
Fossil Prep Station!
Ever wonder how scientists unearth dinosaur fossils, transport them to a museum, and piece them together? At the fossil prep station, visitors can watch close-up as a museum scientist prepares a field jacket filled with dinosaur bones and ask questions about life in the ancient past!
Meat-Eater Station!
Don't miss the unique opportunity to view some of the incredible fossil remains straight from the VMNH vault of a very rare, very large, meat-eating dinosaur from the Jurassic of Wyoming known as Torvosaurus! How rare are these fossils? Don't expect to find them at the Smithsonian!
Fossils big and small will be found throughout Dino Festival!Dino Tracks!
Dinosaur footprints have been found in the hundreds across Virginia, from the far north to the southern border near Danville. See original tracks of three-toed carnivorous dinosaurs—over 200 million years old-- from across the Commonwealth!
Quest for Virginia's First Dinosaur!
Did you know there has yet to be a single dinosaur bone fossil discovered in Virginia? That doesn't mean scientists aren't still searching! At this station, visitors will have the chance to view an array of fossil fish, teeth, and bones from recent paleontological fieldwork in Virginia, as well as a compete skeleton cast of the deer-sized early dinosaur, Eoraptor!
Solite Quarry Treasures!
Located along the North Carolina border in south-central Virginia near Danville, the Solite Quarry is world-renowned for yielding an incredible variety of fossils from the Triassic Period. At this station, festival-goers will have the opportunity to view rock slabs featuring beautiful and complete reptile, fish, plant, and insect fossils!
Reptile Jaw Microscopy!
Not all fossils are giant! Here, visitors can examine the jaws of ancient lizard-like reptiles under microscopes and match the jaws to their owners from over 200 million years ago. Then, museum educators will explain how we can learn about ancient diets from fossil teeth!
After the Dinosaurs!
Learn how mammals after the dinosaurs filled the empty spaces in the ecosystems left by the extinction of the dinosaurs! Featuring a yet-to-be-exhibited, Ice Age adult mammoth skeleton (comprised of approximately 50% fossilized bones retrieved from a paleontology dig site), along with numerous other specimens from the museum collections, visitors will learn that life after the dinosaurs could be just as intriguing as the dinosaurs themselves!
Dino Tracks!
Dinosaur footprints have been found in the hundreds across Virginia, from the far north to the southern border near Danville. See original tracks of three-toed carnivorous dinosaurs—over 200 million years old-- from across the Commonwealth!
Animatronic Fun!
Dilophosaurus
A genus of large, predatory dinosaurs, Dilophosaurus lived in the Early Jurassic approximately 201 to 183 million years ago. No, this animatronic does not spit poison (nor did its real-life counterpart) as depicted in the original Jurassic Park movie.
Herrerasaurus
A carnivorous, bi-pedal dinosaur (or possibly a close relative of dinosaurs) that prospered during the time just before dinosaurs became the dominant land animals.
Festivities Abound!
Face painting, balloon animals, food trucks, a host of dino-themed children's activities and crafts, and even a VR dinosaur simulation will take place both days of the event! Be sure to stop by the Museum Store to browse the special collection of dino-themed items for sale and capture a memory of your adventure at the Dino Fest Photo Booth!
My, what big teeth you have, T. rex!Admission is only...
- $15/Ages 18-59
- $10/Ages 3-17, Seniors 60+, and College Students
- 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!
* Free admission for EBT cardholders is valid for the cardholder (from any state) and up to 5 immediate family members living within the same household as the cardholder. Members of ASTC Passport participating institutions must provide their membership card to receive free admission.
Know before you go...
- Dino Festival will take place indoors and outdoors.
- Parking for this event is free of charge and will take place off-site.
- Admission is available at the gate.
- The entrance gate is only accessible via Starling Avenue.
- Paying attendees on Friday will be allowed to experience the event again on Saturday at no additional charge.
- Groupons are accepted.
- All listed offerings and information subject to change.
Dino Festival is made possible by:
