Berlin Families Can Celebrate Dinosaur State Park Day on Saturday

Dinosaur State Park and the Friends of Dinosaur State Park and Arboretum (FDPA) will celebrate the 49th anniversary of the discovery of dinosaur tracks in Rocky Hill with a family-friendly festival on Saturday, Aug, 15.

Admission to the museum will be free and the FDPA will be sponsoring a series of special events from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Some of the highlights include:

• Craft tent
• Games with prizes
• Face painting
• Costumed characters
• Live musical entertainment
• Live animal shows
• Continuous education programs
• Continuous films
• Newly renovated Discovery Room
• Viewing of dinosaur tracks
• Food will be available for sale on park grounds.

Exclusive Outdoor Park Activities

Two 45-minute live animal programs will be held in the outdoor amphitheater. At 11 a.m. Massachusetts Birds of Prey will present a show featuring live birds and at 1 p.m. Rainforest Reptiles will present a live crocodile and alligator program.

The Park’s mining activity will be available from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can mine for gems and/or fossils in a water-based sluiceway. Participants must purchase a mining bag to participate in this activity.

The Park’s unique tracks casting area will also be open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Visitors must bring 10 pounds of plaster of Paris and a ¼ cup of cooking oil to participate. One cast is allowed per family or group.

Special Guests

Popular Nickelodeon cartoon character, Dora the Explorer and the Happiness Tour roars through the CT Dino Trail and will be on-site from 1 to 3 p.m. for a meet and greet and pose for photographs with families.

The McDonalds Happiness Tour will have Ronald McDonald and other staff passing out healthy snacks free of charge to visitors. There will also be games and a photo booth.

Smokey Bear and Dilly the Dilophosaurus will join the cast of characters with several appearances during the special event hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Highlights of Indoor Activities

Indoors, visitors will be able to see 600 early Jurassic dinosaur footprints and related exhibits, films, the Discovery Room and a gift shop.

Hours and Fees: museum admission is free for this event.

Park grounds open from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. daily
Museum open from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Tuesday – Sunday. Closed on Mondays
Nature Trails open from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. year round

For information, contact Meg Enkler, Environmental Education Coordinator
at (860) 529-5816 or Margaret.enkler@ct.gov or log on to www.ct.gov/deep/dinosaurstatepark or www.dinosaurstatepark.org.

Photo credit: www.ct.gov/deep