BOZEMAN– The Museum of the Rockies will hold its fourth annual Dinosaurs and MOR! festival from March 28-30. The event will feature a range of activities, including expert talks, interactive workshops, and family-friendly programs.
The festival kicks off with a members-only appreciation night on Friday, March 28, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Museum members will enjoy paleontology-themed stations, a planetarium show, and the unveiling of a rare Plioplatecarpus peckensis mosasaur fossil by paleontologist Evan Sonnenberg. Special guests include Jingmai O’Connor, paleontologist and author of When Dinosaurs Conquered the Skies, and illustrator Ted Rechlin, who will be available for book signings.
The festival’s main events continue on Saturday, March 29, with a dinner and keynote address by O’Connor at 6:30 p.m. in Inspiration Hall at MSU’s Norm Asbjornson Hall. Tickets for dinner are $65 for members and $75 for non-members. Tickets for other events can be purchased at the museum.
Throughout the weekend, the All-Access Paleo Lecture Series will run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on both March 29 and 30, featuring 18 presentations by top paleontologists.
A variety of workshops and hands-on activities will also be offered:
Prehistoric Palettes Workshop (Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.): Children aged 6-12 will learn about Montana’s ancient giants and create their own paleo-inspired art. The workshop costs $15 for member children and $25 for participating caregivers, while non-members pay $25 for children and $30 for caregivers. Registration is required, and space is limited to 20 children.
DIY Dinosaur Terrarium Workshop (Saturday and Sunday, 1-3 p.m.): Participants aged 13 and up will design their own dinosaur terrariums while learning about the Cretaceous period. The cost is $30 for members and $45 for non-members, including museum admission. The workshop is limited to 25 participants, and registration is required.
Make and Take Fossil Cast Workshop (Saturday and Sunday, 3-4 p.m.): For ages 13 and up, this workshop allows participants to mold and create plaster casts of real fossils. The cost is $40 for members and $55 for non-members, which includes admission to the museum. Space is limited to 25 participants, and registration is required.
