Can you dig it? Drumheller is gearing up to celebrate dinosaurs at Drumheller’s DinoFest coming up in just one month.
From June 7 to 9, every dinosaur hunter young and old is invited to enjoy the second annual DinoFest. It is expected attendance will grow beyond the numbers seen last year.
“We saw about 5,000 visitors last year who all loved the family atmosphere and plan to return. Many of them camped so it’s safe to say that anyone considering coming should reserve a spot now,” said Mike Dooley, who is helping organize the event.
So far, a huge lineup of events are planned for the weekend.
ATB Financial is sponsoring two dinosaur-themed movies on Friday and Saturday at 10 p.m. at the Spray Park. Like last year, a giant outdoor theatre will be set up. Last year, the first two Jurassic Park movies were shown. This year, the identity of the movies is being kept secret.
The Royal Tyrrell Museum will present Story Time for the kids ages two to five and Science Break for children ages four and older. A palaeontologist from the Tyrrell will be on hand to identify rocks or fossils and attendees can register for a palaeontologist-hosted hike along the river.
Encana will once again host the Kids Zone, complete with an inflatable bouncy dinosaur house, a 24- foot slide, face painters, and games and crafts.
The delicious “Taste Of The Valley” returns this year. Ten restaurants from the region will have booths set up with the chance to sample their menus. Local artists, vendors, and farmers will be selling wares as well.
Live entertainment will be on stage throughout the weekend at the Rotary Spray Park, and will play from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Drumheller Triathlon is scheduled for Saturday morning. Sunday morning there’s the family 5-km fun walk/run. To participate in the 5K go to the DinoFest Info Booth at Spray Park at 9 a.m. on Sunday.
A pancake breakfast with donations going to the Badlands Community Facility and the Morgan Jayne Project will be held on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Organizers are predicting the festival, now in its second year, to keep growing to dinosaur-sized proportions.
