Dinosaur exhibit takes over Prairieland Park

Prairieland Park in Saskatoon was over run with dinosaurs this weekend.

Called Jurassic Quest, the travelling exhibit of over 100 animatronic (motor animated) dinosaurs combined two separate road shows to create the company’s largest show to date for the Saskatoon stop.

The exhibit brings some of the world’s most well-known dinosaurs to life in a variety of ways. There are fossil displays, baby dinosaurs that children can pet, massive dinosaurs that reach the ceiling and even some smaller ones that kids could ride around the area.

Some of the exhibits sprawled to the ceiling of Hall D. (Keenan Sorokan/650 CKOM)

Spokesperson Safari Sarah thinks the giant animatronic dinosaurs lend themselves to better experience than staring at a painting in a museum.

“It’s really interesting learning the education behind the dinosaurs hand-in-hand with the entertainment side of it. You can see an apatosaurus, and then you can see a sauropod vertebra,” Sarah said.

“That kind of brings you into the world of dinosaurs that usually don’t get to go (see).”

Among all the displays that took over all halls at Praireland Park, the baby dinosaur display that allows children to touch and feel the moving miniature dinosaurs generated the biggest crowds and loudest cheers.

But with it being Father’s Day weekend, many parents showed their fascination with dinosaurs is everlasting.

“Everyone has that phase as a child that you’re obsessed with dinosaurs, and then once you grow out of it, there’s not much to do after,” Sarah said. “This is cool because it’s fun for all ages — even adult comes in here with their friends just to see the dinosaurs.”

Sam Lodoen was proving that fact. He didn’t just mind spending his Father’s Day with the dinos, he might have been more excited than his two young boys.

“I wish there was something like this when I was young. I loved Jurassic Park as a kid, so maybe I’m kind of here for myself as well,” he said with a chuckle.

Jurassic Quest, which travels all over America for 46 weeks of the year, spends one week in each location. That includes travelling, setting up the show, the show dates and then a quick clean up before moving on to the next spot.

Many parents were seen getting in on the fun throughout the exhibit’s three-day stay. (Keenan Sorokan/650 CKOM)

The travelling crew has about 40 people, but the group depends on upwards of 100 local volunteers for each stop of the tour.

Motivating the crew each day can be a challenge as they try to entertain children as much as possible, but some of the experiences make for lasting memories.

Sarah was reminded of a recent child that was spooked by the massive dinosaurs, something she says that that happens at nearly every location.

“There was a little boy who was so excited about what he was about to see, and the second that he walked through the door, he screamed and ran back out to the table,” Sarah said.

A few tears and a pep talk later, the boy was soon walking with the dinosaurs at Jurassic Quest.