Family-Friendly Dinosaur Festival at Philip J Currie Museum

Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum in Wembley, Alberta is a regional centre for palaeontology and public education. The museum preserves and interprets local fossil heritage and operates research-led public programs that connect families, students and researchers to Alberta’s deep past. Exhibits highlight mounted skeletons, interactive displays and rotating collections that showcase discoveries from the Pipestone Creek bonebed and the Wapiti Formation. The museum runs guided field experiences and seasonal events led by trained palaeo-professionals, including the Pipestone Creek excavation visits, “Palaeontologist for a Day” digs, and the Bonebed Tour featuring the Pachyrhinosaurus skull known as BIG SAM. River-based outings such as the “Secrets of the Wapiti” float focus on regional geology, fossils and safe outdoor interpretation. Family-focused programs include Night at the Museum sleepovers, birthday parties with gallery access, Nesting Grounds early childhood sessions, and School’s Out PD Camps for ages 5–13. Educational offerings extend to Homeschool Days and annual Science Festivals like Palaeo Palooza, providing hands-on activities, maker spaces, and film screenings. Admission options include full-day General Admission tickets with no re-entry. The museum partners with researchers, community groups and volunteers to conduct fieldwork and curate findings, following accepted conservation and documentation standards. Accessibility, safety and evidence-based interpretation are priorities. Visitors can expect guided learning, tangible fossil encounters, and professionally run events that support palaeontology, local heritage tourism and science education. Curatorial staff maintain research-grade collections, publish findings in peer-reviewed outlets when appropriate, and collaborate with universities to ensure scientific rigour and long-term preservation of specimens for future generations.