Every year, the Academy celebrates all things prehistoric during Paleopalooza, a two-day festival of fossils. 

Free for members or with general admission. Save $2 when you purchase tickets online.

Check back later for updates on Paleopalooza 2019!

Paleopalooza 2018 Highlights:  

The Franklin Fountain and Shane Confectionery present “Wunderkammer: Cabinet of Curiosities”

The legendary Philadelphia sweetshop presents appetizing artifacts, fossil fare, and ice “age” cream, as they create a curious cabinet of confections right before your eyes. Observe as the edible wunderkammer is constructed, freely sample bites of sweets that might bite back, and after 4p.m. join in the feeding frenzy as the public is let loose to consume the delectable display. Purchase treats to take home!

Rad Reptile Relatives: Dandy Dinos and Bodacious Birds

The most popular reptiles are actually extinct: dinosaurs! And even though they have been gone for millions of years, their legacy lives on in their closest relatives, birds. Learn about reptiles though the ages, and meet some live animals as you explore how birds are related to reptiles.

Dinosaurs of the Bighorn Basin Dinosaur Project

Join paleontologist Jason Schein for a wicked cool presentation on what it takes to dig up dinosaurs in the American West. Find out what we might have in store for the next few years of discovery, and learn more about taking a trip out there yourself!

Reimagining Haddy with Christian Rodriguez

Visit our Drawn to Dinosaurs exhibit and watch Philadelphia’s own Christian Rodriguez bring Hadrosaurus foulkii back to life with a swirl of color and fun. Christian is a famed graffiti artist whose delightful work has been displayed in the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Famous Fossils

From Thomas Jefferson’s private stash of Ice Age mammals to the very first dinosaur bones ever discovered in America, the Academy collection is really something special! Check some of our most famous, important, and exciting fossils, and meet the scientists who study them.

East Coast Crocs

Did you know that Philadelphia was once a swamp teeming with crocodiles and other beasts? Check out rarely-displayed fossils from this area, and imagine life millions of years ago among the monster crocs, no cheesesteak in sight.

Meet Buddy from Dinosaur Train 

Meet-and-greet everyone's favorite theropod, Buddy the Dinosaur from Dinosaur Train during timed special appearances.  

Closer Look: Live Reptiles

Meet some of the live reptiles that call the Academy home. Learn about these remarkable relatives of the dinosaurs and compare them to the fossils on display nearby.

The Secret Life of (Paleo) Plants

Marvel over never-before displayed plant fossils alongside their modern counterparts, learn how plants have changed (or even more strangely, stayed the same!) over millions of years, make-and-take a trace fossil medallion, and touch a 100-million-year-old pinecone.

Storytime with Marty “The Mesozoic” Moose

Join everyone’s favorite pun-ny storyteller, Marty the Moose, for an interactive story time featuring a dinosaur tale and live animal. 

Modeling Monsters: Paleo Physics

Ancient reptiles had some unique adaptations to help them survive despite their weird and wild shapes and sizes. Build a paper glider to learn how flying reptiles stayed aloft, and see if you can lift a heavy head on a long neck as you discover the physics of reptile movement