Fernbank Museum Announces Dinosaur Sideshow Filled with Novelties, Activities and More!

Fernbank Museum embraces the quirky atmosphere of carnivals and celebrates the world’s long fascination with dinosaurs with its Dinosaur Sideshow, a special programming weekend offered October 23-34, 2010. Featuring dinosaur illustrators, sculptors, authors and comic book publishers, Fernbank’s Dinosaur Sideshow reveals the many ways these prehistoric “real-life giants” have captured imaginations and shaped folklore.

Among the variety of programs, Fernbank’s Dinosaur Sideshow will entertain with dinosaur-related carnival games, photo opportunities, caricatures, activities, presentations and discussions that embrace the many incarnations of dinosaurs in pop culture. The event will also feature demonstrations on drawing and sculpting dinosaurs, dinosaur caricatures for purchase, and a trunk show of unique dinosaur merchandise available during this event only.

Highlights include*:

(*Some programs are offered at select times only. See fernbankmuseum.org for full schedule.)

Saturday, October 23, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

· Dinosaur Fossil and Cast Bone Display by Alan Stout
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Great Hall
Regarded as one of the largest private dinosaur collectors in the Southeast, Alan will display items from his expansive dinosaur collection built over 20 years of tracking and preparing rare and exotic dinosaur fossils.

· Dinosaur Tracking with “Dino Tracking Ted”
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Museum-wide
Test your knowledge about some of Fernbank’s dinosaurs.

· How to Sculpt Dinosaurs Demonstration with Mirgill Joseph of Terminus Media
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Naturalist Center
Visitors can learn more about sculpting dinosaurs in this advanced to intermediate program.

· How to Sculpt Dinosaurs Demonstration with Georgia Independent Resource: Art and Film (GIRAF)
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Great Hall
Children can learn how to create their own dinosaur replicas.

· How to Draw Dinosaurs Demonstration with Paul Carter
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Great Hall
Comic book artist and author of Evolution Special: FORGOTTEN KINGS, Paul Carter will offer tips and suggestions for dinosaur illustration.

· How to Draw Dinosaurs Demonstration with GIRAF
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Great Hall
Kids can learn how to draw a dinosaur of their very own.

· Dinosaur Game Corner
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Great Hall
Enjoy a variety of dinosaur-themed games, including an egg balancing game and tic-tac-“dino.”

· “Dinosaur Train” Games and Giveaways with Georgia Public Broadcasting
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Great Hall
Georgia Public Broadcasting invites visitors to discover dinosaur facts, play games and watch video from Dinosaur Train.

· Photo Opportunities
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Museum-wide
Be on the lookout for special photo opportunities throughout the event.

· Dinosaur Caricatures by Ashley Rowland, Terminus Media illustrator
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (line closes at 1:30 p.m.)
Visitors can see how they’d look as a dinosaur by purchasing a personalized caricature with a custom illustration in the Fernbank Museum Store.

· Dinosaur Lab
Noon to 3 p.m., Naturalist Center
Learn more about dinosaurs with special hands-on activities for younger visitors during a special session of Weekend Wonders.

· The Battle, The Bones and Little Bighorn, lecture by Phil Hore
Noon, Auditorium (limited seating)
Phil Hore will discuss a historical expedition in 1874 that would change the face of the west forever and fuel the competitive war between two of America’s greatest paleontologists, O. C. Marsh and E. D. Cope.

· Sideshow Slide Show: Collecting Dino Toys Presentation by Michael Fredericks
1 p.m., Auditorium (limited seating)
Explore the history of dinosaur toys and how scientific discoveries have changed the look of toys over the years in this presentation featuring a variety of rare collectible dinosaur toys with creator of Prehistoric Times magazine and co-author of Dinosaur Collectibles.

· Sinclair Dinosaur Miniature Sculpts
Explore a variety of antique miniature dinosaur sculptures created by Louis Paul Jonas (1894-1971) as the basis for the full-sized versions produced for Sinclair Dinoland at the1964-65 New York World's Fair.

Sunday, October 24, noon to 4 p.m.

· Dinosaur Tracking with “Dino Tracking Ted”
Noon to 4 p.m., Museum-wide
Test your knowledge about Fernbank’s dinosaurs.

· How to Sculpt Dinosaurs Demonstration with Mirgill Joseph of Terminus Media
Noon to 4 p.m., Naturalist Center
Visitors can learn more about sculpting dinosaurs in this advanced to intermediate program.

· How to Sculpt Dinosaurs Demonstration with Georgia Independent Resource: Art and Film (GIRAF)
Noon to 4 p.m., Great Hall
Children can learn how to create their own dinosaur replicas.

· How to Draw Dinosaurs Demonstration with Paul Carter
Noon to 4 p.m., Great Hall
Comic book artist and author of Evolution Special: FORGOTTEN KINGS, Paul Carter will offer tips and suggestions for dinosaur illustration.

· How to Draw Dinosaurs Demonstration with GIRAF
Noon to 4 p.m., Great Hall
Children can learn how to draw their very own dinosaur.

· Dinosaur Game Corner
Noon to 4 p.m., Great Hall
Visitors can enjoy a variety of fun dinosaur-themed games including a dinosaur egg balancing game and tic-tac-“dino.”

· “Dinosaur Train” Games and Giveaways with Georgia Public Broadcasting
Noon to 4 p.m., Great Hall
Georgia Public Broadcasting invites visitors to discover dinosaur facts, play games and watch video from Dinosaur Train.

· Photo Opportunities
Noon to 4 p.m., Museum-wide
Be on the lookout for special photo opportunities throughout the event.

· Dinosaur Lab
Noon to 4 p.m., Naturalist Center
Learn more about dinosaurs with special hands-on activities for younger visitors during a special session of Weekend Wonders.

· Dinosaur Caricatures by Ashley Rowland, Terminus Media illustrator
Noon to 4 p.m. (line closes at 3:30 p.m.)
Visitors can see how they’d look as a dinosaur by purchasing a personalized caricature with a custom illustration in the Fernbank Museum Store. (Rates vary by design. See Museum Store for details.)

· Sinclair Dinosaur Miniature Sculpts
Explore a variety of antique miniature dinosaur sculptures created by Louis Paul Jonas (1894-1971) as the basis for the full-sized versions produced for Sinclair Dinoland at the1964-65 New York World's Fair.

· Special Presentation by renowned author and paleoartist, Gregory S. Paul:
A Guide to Understanding the Times, Biology and Appearance of Dinosaurs Great and Small
3 p.m., Auditorium (limited seating; advanced reservations recommended)

Scientist, author and paleoartist Gregory S. Paul’s new book, The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs, covers the explosion in dinosaur research and illustration that started in the 1970s. See how the scientific renaissance and the "new look" in art replaced the traditional view of dinosaurs as obsolete reptiles, and how this led to new insights--including that birds are the descendents of dinosaurs. A book signing will immediately follow (books will be available for purchase in the Museum Store).

All Dinosaur Side Show programming is free for members and included with Museum admission, except where noted (such as the caricature drawings, which are a separate cost). Tickets are $15 for adults, $14 for students and seniors, $13 for children ages 12 to 3, free for children 2 and younger, and free for Fernbank members.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History is located at 767 Clifton Road in Atlanta. For tickets and more information, visit fernbankmuseum.org or call 404.929.6300. To reach the box office, call 404.929.6400.