Dino Day is back 15th September!

Dinosaur Day, Sunday 15 September

Time: 10.00am-4.30pm
Venue: Dinosaur Lake, Crystal Palace Park

Love the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs? As part of Heritage Open Days Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs are offering a day of fun for the whole family including:

• Tours of the Dinosaur Islands by the Lost Valley of London
• Palaeo Planting on Dinosaur Island
• Children’s story time on the island with Judy Stick of Parakeet Books
• Other hands-on events including drawing, mask and badge-making.

There will be talks to stimulate your curiosity, art inspired by the Dinosaurs and ancient plants brought back to life.

Tours of the island will be free but must be booked in advance. Click here to book tickets.

Find out more at https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/event/dino-day

Timetable

Storytime on Dinosaur Island

10am, 10.30am, 1pm, 1.30pm (booking in advance via Eventbrite essential)
Meet at the Info Centre 15 mins before your allotted time
Local author Judy Skidmore will read ‘The Mysterious Dinosaurs of Crystal Palace’ on the island where the dinosaurs live. If your children love stories and dinosaurs there’s no better place to hear about how the sculptures come alive when all the visitors have gone home!  We think younger children will enjoy this, but all ages are welcome.

Tours of Dinosaur Island

11am, noon, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm (booking in advance via Eventbrite essential)
Meet at the Info Centre 15 mins before your allotted time
If you’ve ever wanted to see the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs up close and personal, this is your chance. This 45-minute tour will take you back in time and explore the history of the unique sculptures and the ancient creatures who inspired them. Best suited for adults and older children (approx 8+). Younger children might enjoy our Storytime on Dinosaur Island more.
Please note: Access to the Dinosaur Island is via a long narrow bridge and a small, steep, muddy path and hill. Unfortunately it is not suitable for wheelchairs or buggies. Visitors are advised to wear sturdy footwear. You must enter with the group, so latecomers will not be able to join us.

Storytime in the Park

11.30am (booking in advance via Eventbrite advisable), picnic area (near the giant sloth)
Local author Judy Skidmore will read ‘The Mysterious Dinosaurs of Crystal Palace’ in the park where the dinosaurs live. If your children love stories and dinosaurs there’s no better place to hear about how the sculptures come alive when all the visitors have gone home! We think younger children will enjoy this, but all ages are welcome.

Meet the Palaeontologist

12.30- 4pm, Info Centre
Dr David Hone, palaeontologist, Crystal Palace Dinosaur enthusiast, and author of The Tyrannosaur Chronicles will be available to show you some real fossils and answer your questions. His research focuses on the behaviour and ecology of the dinosaurs and their flying relatives, the pterosaurs, so get your questions ready.

Virtual Dinos – scanning the sculptures with Rhys Griffin

10-5pm, Info Centre
Come and find out about our exciting project we’re working on in collaboration with the Natural History Museum to digitally scan the dinosaurs. In time we’re hoping this will help us in lots of ways, e.g. conservation and ‘virtual tours’. We’d love to hear what you think of it!

Craft and arts activities for kids

10am-5pm, Picnic area by the giant sloth
Badge and mask making, colouring and exploration activities to help kids learn about endangered and extinct animals. Local artist David Vallade and mask-maker extraordinaire Ben will be on hand to help!

Approx. 11.45am, Picnic area by the giant sloth
Dancing Dinos – a chance for your little ones to dance along with some friendly dinosaurs.

Extinction is forever – the story of the giant deer

2pm By the giant deer sculptures
The extinction of the giant deer serves as a stark reminder of the effects that a rapidly changing climate combined with human impacts can have. Across Britain museums ae shrouding their extinct and endangered species to highlight the global biodiversity crisis. Join FCPD trustee and extinction-researcher Jen Crees and local friends including from Extinction Rebellion at the giant deer statues for a poetry reading and to find out more.

…and much more! Come along to the Info Centre in Crystal Palace Park or the Picnic Area (near to the giant sloth) to see what else is going on.  Note that timings and locations may be subject to change, especially in the event of rain. Come along to the Info Centre on the day to find out the latest.