The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County’s Dino Fest is going virtual this year, offering four days of family-friendly programming centered around those lovable, occasionally terrifying, prehistoric creatures.
The festival starts on Sept. 22 and lasts through Sept. 25. It will feature paleontologists from the museum’s Dinosaur Institute, as well as other guests. In previous years, Dino Fest took place at the museum with hands-on activities and in-person educational opportunities included with admission. This year’s online festival is free.
Live programming includes chats with paleontologists who’ll share their experiences in the field as well as lectures on how some animals survived extinction, storytime, meet-and-greets with the museum’s dino puppets and more. Some lectures are geared toward young children and families, while others are tailored for adults. For example, on Sept. 23 at 4 p.m., science communicator Dustin Growick, Dinosaur National Monument paleontologist ReBecca Hunt-Foster and Petrified Forest National Park lead paleontologist Adam Marsh will talk about scientific research on public lands.
You can also visit the museum’s website for pre-recorded videos, at-home activities — available in both Spanish and English — and staff recommendations for further learning.
Find out more about this year’s Dino Fest and see a complete schedule here.
Meanwhile, the museum’s indoor operations remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, though the Butterfly Pavilion and Nature Gardens will open to the general public on Sept. 18. If you’re interested in visiting these outdoor spaces when they open, you can reserve tickets in advance here.