PHILADELPHIA, February 6, 2020

Paleopalooza, an annual festival of fossils, geology, cutting-edge discoveries, and hands-on activities takes place Saturday and Sunday, March 7 and 8, at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.

Paleopalooza features rare fossils from the Academy’s world-famous collection and from the Delaware Valley Paleontological Society, opportunities to meet Academy scientists, dinosaur shows, and much more. Paleopalooza is free with regular museum admission.

Here are some of the activities taking place both Saturday and Sunday. Activities are free with museum admission and take place all day unless otherwise noted. For more details, visit ansp.org.

Auditorium Shows

• Animals Through the Ages, 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

• Dinosaurs of the Bighorn Basin Dinosaur Project, 12:30 p.m.

• First Steps: The Origin of Limbs, 1:30 p.m.

• Roadcut Paleontology: Secrets at the Side of the Road, 2:30 p.m.

Vertebrate Paleontology: Comparative Biology and Current Research

Get an exclusive look at rarely exhibited fossils and specimens collected by Academy paleontologists. Learn about current research around the world and compare a live turtle to a fossil specimen to see if they look the same.

Dino Dissection

Get under the skin of a modern dinosaur! Join Academy scientists in an exploration of an avian dinosaur (a bird!). Discover what dissection can teach us about ancient creatures as we compare avian anatomy to the towering T. rex on display.

Fossil Forensics

Learn how fossils are formed and what fossils tell us about the past. Check out rare specimens from the Academy’s collection; touch real fossils and make a fossil cast to take home.

Slow Survivors

From Ankylosaurs to Glyptodons, discover some of nature’s slower survivors and find out what gave them the edge when compared to their quicker counterparts. See how these ancient beasts compare to modern animals and meet their live relatives, including armadillos and lizards, at special up-close encounters.

The Fossil Hunt

Search for real fossils to take home. Take a closer look at specimens that prove that dinosaurs don’t have the monopoly on cool fossils.

Geology Rocks!

Celebrate our gneiss-est rocks and minerals, igneous style, and get metamorphic over stratigraphy and fossilization.

Fossil Club Displays

Peruse the Delaware Valley Paleontological Society’s fossil tables and exhibits, featuring interactive displays, a touch table and world-class fossil collections.

Dinosaur Farm Legos

Old MacDonald had a … Stegosaurus? Read up on what it would take to run a dinosaur farm and then build your own out of building bricks.

Ancient Arthropods

Join Academy scientists and educators for an in-depth look at some of the rarest and most informative specimens in the collections, from fossil spiders to flies in amber to crabs that have been turned to stone. Discover what makes an arthropod, and compare the creatures frozen in time to their live modern counterparts.

Guided Tours of Dinosaur Hall, 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m.

Fossil Preparation

See a real fossil fresh from the field as it is prepared by our technicians in the Fossil Prep Lab.

Meet Crunchy the T. rex

Take a picture with Crunchy the T. rex dinosaur as it roams the museum.

Mesozoic Market

Stop by the Commons for educational displays, fossil vendors, dinosaur tattoos, face painting and more.