Natural History Museum of Utah marks 10th DinoFest Jan. 31-Feb. 1

The Natural History Museum of Utah will mark its 10th annual DinoFest with “Prehistoric Skies,” a weekend exploring pterosaurs, early birds and flying insects — and how they interacted with dinosaurs below — Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2026, in Salt Lake City. Photo: Natural History Museum of Utah

SALT LAKE CITY, UT — The Natural History Museum of Utah will mark the 10th year of its DinoFest with a weekend focused on the creatures that shared the skies with dinosaurs, from pterosaurs and early birds to flying insects.

“DinoFest: Prehistoric Skies” is scheduled for Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, 2026, running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days at the museum, 301 Wakara Way.

Museum officials said the festival will feature expert talks, hands-on activities, and special access to the museum’s Paleo Preparation Lab and Paleontology Collections.

“Dinosaurs may have ruled the Earth during the Mesozoic Era, but this year we’re taking flight with the many ancient critters that dominated the air,” said Randy Irmis, Ph.D., the museum’s curator of paleontology.

The museum said keynote talks will include Sterling Nesbitt, Ph.D., a professor of paleobiology at Virginia Tech, speaking on the origin of pterosaurs, and Jingmai O’Connor, Ph.D., associate curator of fossil reptiles at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, speaking on the origin of dinosaurian flight and the fossil Archaeopteryx.

“We’re excited to celebrate the 10th anniversary of DinoFest, NHMU’s signature public event that highlights the science of ancient life,” said Jason Cryan, Ph.D., the Sarah B. George executive director of the museum.

Admission to DinoFest is included with regular museum admission, which is free for museum members. The museum said tickets can sell out and encouraged visitors to prebook.

Along with talks and activities, the museum said the weekend will include Utah-based paleontology partners, access to collections and the fossil preparation lab, and the Jurassic Tacos food truck.

For the first time, the museum is also offering DinoFest-themed workshops, with fees that include festival admission. Scheduled workshop sessions include:

• Saturday: “Cast a Claw” (10:30-11:30 a.m.), “Fossil Feathers” (1-2 p.m.), “Watercolor Illustration” (3:30-4:30 p.m.).
• Sunday: “Cast a Claw” (10:30-11:30 a.m.), “Archaeopteryx Constellation” (1-2 p.m.), “Watercolor Illustration” (3:30-4:30 p.m.).

The museum said subscribers to its email lists are automatically entered for a chance to win a Smilodon skull cast, with a winner to be announced during the festival.

“DinoFest gives us the perfect opportunity to bridge the gap between the fun-filled fantasy side of dinosaurs that kids have grown up with, and the amazing scientific research and paleontological discoveries taking place right now in Utah and around the world,” said Carrie Levitt-Bussian, the museum’s paleontology collections manager.