Dinosaurs are making a comeback in the metroplex this summer — the animatronic kind, that is.
The touring show Jurassic Quest, which claims to be “the largest and most realistic traveling dinosaur experience in North America,” comes to Fair Park this weekend. The production includes dozens of animatronic replicas which guests can interact with. Children can even ride some of the dinosaurs.
The activities include dinosaur-themed bounce houses, dino-crafts, a fossil dig, and the opportunity to walk and play with dinosaurs. “Trainers” and fossil experts will be on hand to give tours and share fun facts with guests.
Jurassic Quest opens Friday with hours from noon until 8 p.m. On Saturday, the hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, the show is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are $22, and unlimited ride tickets for children 2-12 are $36.
Visitors to the Dallas Zoo can add an extra adventure to their outing with a half-mile hike through a bamboo forest to a “prehistoric park” teeming with dinosaurs. The Destination: Dinosaurs exhibit, which opens Saturday and runs through June 19, features more than 100 dinosaurs — 30 of which are animatronic — in natural settings, such as hunting prey or protecting their nests.
The exhibit includes interactive educational elements, dino-themed crafts and activities, and the opportunity to purchase dino-themed food and merchandise.
The exhibit is open during regular zoo hours and requires a $6.00 admission ticket in addition to the usual zoo admission fee.
For those who prefer to gaze from a distance, the Jurassic World Live Tour at the American Airlines Center may be just the ticket. The family-friendly touring stage show, based on the Jurassic World movie, takes the audience on a trip to Isla Nublar, where an Indominus rex escapes and stampedes the park. A team of scientists must unravel a corrupt plot to save the day.
The theatrical production involves 24 film-accurate life-sized dinosaurs operated by animatronics and performers. It runs in Dallas for one weekend only, August 11-13, and tickets start at $35.00.
The Heard Museum in McKinney has long been a popular site for dino watchers. For more than a dozen years, the museum has hosted months-long dinosaur exhibits, and it continues that tradition this year. The seasonal display, Dinosaurs Live!, is now in its 16th year and includes a 46-foot T-Rex and 10 new animatronic dinosaurs placed along a half-mile nature trail. Other activities include a play area, photo ops, and an outdoor fossil dig.
Dinosaurs Live! will appear at the Heard Museum from September 2 until February 19, and access to the exhibit is included with the cost of the regular museum admission ticket.