Dino Festival

It's a 2-day dinosaur extravaganza, featuring life-size cast skeletons of some of the most iconic dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era, an extraordinary variety of dinosaur fossils, engaging dino-themed activities and crafts, animatronic dinosaur displays, and the opportunity to interact with expert paleontologists! Don't miss the museum's current exhibit, The Age of Dinosaurs, while you're here! Dino Festival take 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

Tenontosaurus
An herbivore dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period from approximately 120 to 110 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

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.

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.

Dinosaur Fossils Galore!

Dino Festival doesn't skimp on quality or quantity! Witness a vast variety of extraordinary dinosaur fossils from the collections of VMNH and partner institutions, ranging from the fossils of predators, such as the infamous Tyrannosaurus rex and Allosaurus, to the massive fossil bones - and fossil skin - of long-necked sauropods!

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!

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!

Costumed dinosaurs are always a hit at Dino Festival!

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: