Play with Dinosaurs at Jurassic Quest
by Janet Jonus photo courtesy of Jurassic Quest
Do you have a dinosaur fanatic in your family? Have you ever wanted to see a T-Rex, Stegosaurus, and more? Head down to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center this weekend for a dinosaur-filled adventure at Jurassic Quest.
Jurassic Quest is a dinosaur wonderland with all things dinosaur for kids. There are life-size dinosaurs, walking dinosaurs, baby dinosaurs, a dinosaur museum, dinosaur shows, a dinosaur cinema, dinosaur arts and crafts, a dinosaur dig – and more. Jurassic Quest is an afternoon of Family+Fun for dinosaur lovers with kids under 12. Jurassic Quest is at the David Lawrence Convention Center this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, February 7, 8, and 9th.
Walk through the Cretaceous, Jurassic, and Triassic periods and see the dinosaurs that lived in each of them. For the first time this year, see the Dinosaurs of the Deep in the all new Ancient Oceans exhibit with 50 foot long Megaladon – the largest predator of the Ancient Seas.
The Attractions
Dinosaur Quest has over 80 dinosaurs spread throughout the show. Giant Dinosaurs tower over guests, recreated with the assistance of paleontologists in The Dinosaur Exhibit. Learn about the Exhibit’s Dinosaurs and how they lived with a Dinosaur Tour. The tour guide will explain the dinosaurs while providing interesting facts about the dinosaurs and the ages when they lived. Dinosaur Tours are ongoing all day long.
Kids love The Baby Dinosaur Show. Meet a baby Triceratops, a Camarasaurus, and more in the interactive show. “Trainers” bring their tiny charges out for an informative and interactive experience. (Be at the show area early for any chance of getting up close. The shows are very popular – and crowded.) Show times are: Friday, February 7 at 400-430PM, 600-630PM, and 700-730PM / Saturday, February 8 at 1000-1030AM, 1200-1230PM, 200-230PM, 400-430PM, 600-630PM, and 700-730PM / Sunday, February 9 at 1000-1030AM, 1200-1230PM, 200-230PM, 400-430PM, and 600-630PM.
Meet “teenage” dinosaurs as they walk around the exhibit (and even get a picture!) with the Spinosaurus, T-Rex, and more. The Walking Dinosaurs are out and about on Friday, February 7 at 330-400PM, 530-600PM, and 630-700PM and Saturday, February 8 and Sunday, February 9 at 1030-110AM, 100-130PM, 330-400PM, 430-500PM, and 530-600PM.
Test your dinosaur knowledge at the Dinosaur Science Station. Pick up a quiz and head out into the exhibit to find the answers. Kids can also make their own dinosaur plaster “fossil” to take home.
Create a paper dinosaur and other crafts including coloring and activity pages at the Dinosaur Craft Stations.
Note: Both the Science Station and the Craft Stations get very crowded.
View dinosaur artifacts, bones, and fossils at the Dinosaur Museum exhibit.
All of the above activities are included in the Kids Regular ticket for kids 2-12 years old for $24. All of these activities are included in the Kids VIP ticket for kids ages 2-12 years old for $38.00 PLUS all of the VIP activities too. (All prices are plus taxes and fees.) You can also pay-as-you-go for the VIP experiences for $5.00 per experience.
VIP Activities
Help to unearth dinosaur bones and fossils at the Fossil Dig. Use child-friendly tools and your hands to find the dinosaur fossils buried in the earth. What will you discover?
Smaller kids can bounce away their energy in the Dinosaur Themed Bounce Houses. Socks are required to bounce (but no shoes). (The maximum weight for Bounce Houses is 140 pounds.) (Note: Lines can get long for the Dinosaur Bounce Houses.)
Race against your brothers and sisters and friends at the Dino Bungee Pull.
Take a Ride on a Dinosaur for little and bigger kids or on one of the Dinosaur-Themed Rides. (Note: Lines can be long for the Dinosaur rides.)
Additional Pay per Experience Activities
Become your favorite dinosaur with Dinosaur Face Painting. Choose from a smaller design or go for a full face mask.
Get a souvenir picture of your entire family surrounded by dinosaurs in the Green-Screen Picture area.
Accessibility
The David L Lawrence Convention Center is wheelchair accessible. The event reviews indicate Jurassic Quest is noisy and crowded. There are many areas of the Convention Center that are quiet and good for calming down, including the third floor and the rooftop garden. Just get your hand stamped if you have to leave and come back into Jurassic Quest.
The Basics
Jurassic Quest is at the David L Lawrence Convention Center this weekend. Friday hours are 300-800PM. Saturday hours are 900AM-800PM. Sunday hours are 900AM-700PM.
There are two levels of tickets for kids, ages 2-12. The REGULAR Kids Ticket includes admission to the Exhibit, including Ancient Oceans, the Baby Dinosaur show, the Dinosaur Museum, the Walking Dinosaurs, Dinosaur Tours, the Science Station, and the Arts and Crafts Stations. Regular tickets are $24. VIP KIDS Tickets include all of the Regular ticket attractions PLUS unlimited admission to the Dinosaur Bounce Houses, Dinosaur Rides, the Dino Bungee Pull, and the Fossil Dig. VIP Kids Tickets are $38. (Regular Ticket holders can pay for the VIP attractions for $5 per attraction or they can upgrade to the VIP Ticket at the “Tickets for Activities” booth.)
Adult tickets are $24 for ages 13-64. Senior Tickets are $22 for ages 65+. Kids 2 and under are free. Adult tickets include the Exhibit, Tours, Shows, Science and Crafts Stations, Cinema, and Museum. All ticket prices are base prices plus taxes and fees.
Tickets are available online at https://www.jurassicquest.com/events/pittsburgh-pa. Events can sell out. If the event is not sold out, there will be tickets available at the door. All ticket sales are final. All kids under 18 must be accompanied by an adult over 18.
Note: The events can get VERY crowded. It is recommended to go early, before 1100AM, or late, after 500PM. If you want to see and do everything, plan on spending at least 3-4 hours at Jurassic Quest. There is something for the whole family, but Jurassic Quest is best for kids 2-7 years old. Many of the activities are targeted at kids 12 and under. Lines for the rides, the baby dinosaur show, and the bounce houses can get very long (some reviewers say up to 30-45 minutes), so plan accordingly.
Please note: While many of the dinosaurs are animatronic, some are puppets and characters in costume.
Food will be available on-site.
The David L Lawrence Convention Center is located at 1000 Fort Duquesne Boulevard. Parking at the David L Lawrence Convention Center costs $13.00. There are other parking options available at https://parkpgh.org/ . The Wood Street T Station is the closest stop to the Convention Center. There are numerous Port Authority Bus stops along Liberty Avenue near the Convention Center.
