Drumheller was roaring over the weekend as hundreds of local residents and tourists alike flooded the Rotary Spray Park for the second annual DinoFest.
The Drumheller Festival Society, who organized the event, are pleased with the turnout.
“We had a really great weekend down at DinoFest. There were a lot of smiles on people’s faces and we saw a lot of people down at the site all weekend long. We’re really happy with the event,” said Mike Dooley, an organizer with DinoFest.
Initial estimates peg attendance well over last year’s festival, with many tourists indicating they made the trek specifically for DinoFest.
“I would say we had about 25 per cent more people than last year. There were tons of locals down enjoying the festival, but we also heard a lot of people came from all over the province. There was a couple who came from Regina specifically for DinoFest. It was good news to hear that people made the trip for the festival and our marketing was reaching out,” said Dooley.
Now that the festival is over, organizers will evaluate how things went and discuss where improvement is needed.
“We’re going to meet this week and go over everything. What worked and what didn't, and what we’d like to improve. We’d welcome any comments from anyone who participated,” said Dooley. “We’ve got lots of cool ideas for next year.”
DinoFest got off to a soggy start on Friday evening, so much so the live entertainment and evening movie were relocated into the Drumheller Memorial Arena.
“It’s typical for June. We had plans in place for the rain and there’s not much else you can do about the weather,” said Dooley.
However, the following morning was more than ideal. The sun shone as people flocked to DinoFest. The weather turned stormy late in the afternoon, but fans remained on site to listen to Gordie Johnson and watch The Land Before Time on the giant outdoor screen.
“Gordie Johnson, for anyone who had the chance to hear him, put on an amazing show. It was really cool to see an artist of that calibre playing in only the second year of DinoFest,” said Dooley.
Dooley credited the success of the festival to the volunteers who donated their time.
“Everything ran really smoothly and the volunteers who came down to help out were key in making that happen,” said Dooley.
To leave suggestions for next year, email info@drumhellerdinofest.com.
Maria (left), Dan, Alissa, Emma, and Carter Pullen of Calgary get a lesson about ammonites from Royal Tyrrell Museum researcher Dr. Don Henderson at the Tyrrell Museum booth at DinoFest last weekend.
Brooke Christensen gives a big thumbs up for some massive barbecue during the Taste of the Valley.
Sixteen-month-old Chloe Hart rides through the Kids Dinosaur Parade, a new addition to this year's DinoFest.
Crowds fill the Rotary Spray Park for DinoFest.
Adam Gillis had a blast on one of the biggest attractions at DinoFest, a huge inflatable slide, at the Encana KidZone.
Despite the rain, guitar fans could not help but be impressed with Gordie Johnson of Sit Down, Servant Saturday night at DinoFest.
