A classic Jurassic time for dino kids

A Jurassic Experience proved a roaring success at the weekend as a number of dinosaurs were let loose in the resort's famous Winter Gardens.
The Jurassic Experience at the Winter GardensThe Jurassic Experience at the Winter Gardens
The Jurassic Experience at the Winter Gardens

Shoppers and visitors gathered in St John’s Square to see realistic puppet dinosaurs emerge from vans and roam around the area.

The line-up included a Tyrannosaurus Rex and an egg that hatched to reveal a baby dinosaur.

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However, due to high winds, the free event was relocated to the Winter Gardens where stalls were set up and quizzes took place throughout the afternoon.

Lucas Hawes with the dino eggLucas Hawes with the dino egg
Lucas Hawes with the dino egg

Eileen Ormand, Blackpool Town Centre and Business Improvement District (BID) Manager said: “Unfortunately we were stuck with the weather.

“As the dinosaurs had mechanical heads and were large in size, it was dangerous to keep them outside, so we had to bring the event to the Winter Gardens.

“It’s funny though, because the last time they were in Blackpool it was December and the wind speed was fine.

“You’d think it would be the other way round.”

The Jurassic Experience at the Winter Gardens Oscar " Douglas Dinosaur" Rose outroars his dinosaurThe Jurassic Experience at the Winter Gardens Oscar " Douglas Dinosaur" Rose outroars his dinosaur
The Jurassic Experience at the Winter Gardens Oscar " Douglas Dinosaur" Rose outroars his dinosaur
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The dinosaurs were supposed to make an appearance in the Houndshill Centre, however it was too risky to transport them there. But many people still showed up to see the display.

“A lot of people came to town especially for the dinosaurs,” said Eileen. “ It was hard to get an exact number of how many people were there, as when some left others took their place.

“But when we were in St John’s Square, it could have easily been two to three hundred people.

“It wasn’t raining for most of the day and was quite sunny, so I think majority had a lovely time.

The Jurassic Experience at the Winter Gardens  Isaac Warrington, three, makes a new friendThe Jurassic Experience at the Winter Gardens  Isaac Warrington, three, makes a new friend
The Jurassic Experience at the Winter Gardens Isaac Warrington, three, makes a new friend

“It was just a shame about the wind.”

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The event was the latest staged by the BID group, designed to attract more people into the town centre.

Both adults and children enjoyed the spectacle and even had the opportunity to get a photograph with a Jeep from the Jurassic Park film set.

“My favourite part wasn’t the big dinosaurs but it was the little baby dinosaur in a crate,” said Eileen. “It was great to see the children’s faces when they saw it, I guess the big ones can be quite scary, but the smaller dinosaurs are easier for the little ones to cope with.

The Jurassic Experience at the Winter Gardens:  You must have been a beautiful baby - or maybe not!The Jurassic Experience at the Winter Gardens:  You must have been a beautiful baby - or maybe not!
The Jurassic Experience at the Winter Gardens: You must have been a beautiful baby - or maybe not!

“It would be good to get more of them here with a larger variety of dinosaurs.

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“It was just the weather that had let us down and we can’t do anything about the weather.”

The next Blackpool BID event is Sci Fi-themed and is taking place this Saturday. Britain’s Got Talent’s Boogie Storm will open the day at 10am, followed by a viewing of The Force Awakens. Titan the robot will also make an appearance during the day.