Few people can say they’ve run through downtown wearing an inflatable dinosaur costume, but that’s about to change.
Those participating in the upcoming inaugural Great Fossil Chase, organized by the city and Main Street Columbus, will have the opportunity to live out their wildest dreams of dressing up in an inflatable dinosaur to race their fellow fossil enthusiasts.
While this event is planned to promote the Dr. John “Jack” Kaye Cretaceous Fossil Park, dinosaurs don’t have to have all the fun.
“I mean, they may come in a unicorn costume,” said Susan Wilder, city grant writer and administrator. “We don’t care as long as it’s a blowup.”
An inflatable costume is required to race, and anyone who intends to participate must bring their own costume, Main Street Columbus Executive Director Barbara Bigelow told The Dispatch.
Bigelow encouraged all aspiring paleontologists and dinosaur fanatics to order costumes soon, so they can arrive in time for the race.
“It’s really not too late to get their costume if they don’t have one, but (they need to) order up quick,” she said.
The event kicks off at 3 p.m. May 30 at the Roger Short Soccer Complex, where there will also be arts and crafts activities, a bouncy house, fossil park-themed activities, educational materials, cold drinks, music and more, Bigelow said.
“We’ll have… a little kids’ activity,” Bigelow said. “The kids will be able to do a craft and take it home. It’s a night light.”
Those who wish to participate in the Fossil Chase must register at the event by 4 p.m., with the race to begin shortly after at 4:30. There will be separate races for different age groups, with ages 6-10, 11-16, 17-59, 60-and-older each competing in their own respective groups as well as one group for volunteers at the event.
There is no cost to enter the races. Winners of each category will compete for prizes ranging from dinosaur Lego sets to gift cards for downtown Columbus businesses.
Anyone who purchases something May 30 at a downtown business can turn in the receipt at the beverage station at the fossil race to be entered in a raffle for a door prize, Bigelow said.
Columbus-Lowndes Public Library will also have a booth set up at the race providing information on “Unearth a Story,” dinosaur-themed summer reading program, which will kick off at 10 a.m. May 30 with a foam party for the kids and the Great Craft Excavation for adults, said Melissa Duncan-Thomas, community engagement coordinator for the library.
“The theme this summer centers around archeology and paleontology with reading challenges and programs that will feed curious minds of all ages,” Duncan-Thomas wrote in a text to the Dispatch.
Bigelow said the event, alongside progress on the fossil park and other upcoming dinosaur activities, is funded by the Science Discovery on Main Street Grant funded by the Simons Foundation.
“At Main Street, we really want to support that fossil park because I think it would be great for our community and in turn downtown,” Bigelow said.
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
