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PROGRAMME
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EVENT TIMETABLE
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TICKETED EVENTS
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For those who missed the 2024 Fossil Festival, please enjoy our photo highlights of the event
We were delighted to welcome fossil enthusiasts of all ages to our FREE, family-friendly Festival on the Jurassic Coast, which took place on the 8th & 9th June 2024. The Festival provided a whole host of free and engaging family-friendly shows, exhibitions, talks and activities over the course of the weekend, across a number of sites along the seafront and in the town.
Over the course of the event we hosted many of the country’s top palaeontological and geological organisations and experts who came together to celebrate the geological heritage of our coast.
Highlights of the Festival included the much-anticipated hosting of the premiere of ‘Mary Anning and the Dinosaur Hunters’ directed by Sharon Sheehan, the first public screenings of Tony Pinto’s ‘Why Dinosaurs?’ documentary which was also accompanied by a live Q&A session with Director Tony Pinto, Executive Producer and renowned Palaeontologist, Author and TV Presenter, Dr Dean Lomax.
There was also an exclusive screening of ‘Pliosaurus – The Discovery of a Monster’ followed by a Q&A featuring Steve Etches of The Etches Collection and Fossil Collector, Chris Moore who worked together on the preservation of Philip Jacob’s extraordinary Pliosaur find at Kimmeridge Bay which featured in the BBC’s ‘Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster’.
Alongside the Festival’s programme of entertaining films, expert talks, visitors were able to enjoy incredible exhibitions including fossil collections from The Natural History Museum, The Etches Collection and Dinosaur Isle Museum and meet famous authors including Dr Dean Lomax Dr Darren Naish and Dr Tom Sharpe, watch live performances from ‘A Wonderful Adventure’ and meet the awe-inspiring ‘Rock Showman’. There was also a programme of inspiring palaeoart workshops for all ages as well as plenty of shopping opportunities for fossil enthusiasts in the main marquee.
Throughout the weekend, visits to Lyme Regis Museum were free-of-charge and the Museum and it hosted performances, book signings, performance and author talks alongside its fantastic collection of exhibits including the celebrated Geology Gallery. Keen fossil hunters were able to join the guided Fossil Walks led by experts from the Museum on both days of the festival and guided boat trips were also running offering an insight into the geology of Lyme’s Coast. Thanks to everyone that joined us, took part and supported us at our biggest and most successful Festival to date!
Enjoy our gallery of photos from the 2024 event below!
Something for Everyone to Enjoy - Buy your Tickets Now!
Pliosaurus - The Discovery of a Monster
Enjoy this exclusive screening about the making of the ‘Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster' documentary produced by The Etches Collection. The film will feature an introduction and Q&A session with Dr. Steve Etches and Chris Moore.
Why Dinosaurs
Be amongst the first in the UK to see this new documentary which is yet to be widely released. The screening will be followed by an exclusive Q&A session with Director Tony Pinto, Executive Producer & Palaeontologist Dr. Dean Lomax and a panel of guests.
The Dinosaur Timewarp
An exciting, unmissable, and fully interactive Jurassic Panto style adventure filled with music, fun and laughter along the way. An unforgettable dinosaur themed stage show for all the family.
Mary Anning and the Dinosaur Hunters
Be amongst the first to see the much anticipated new film, shot on location in Lyme Regis and starring Jenny Agutter, Katharine Hamilton, Jonathan Moore, Paul Storrier and Sharon Sheehan. This exclusive screening is followed by a Q&A with the film's Director, Sharon Sheehan.
Locked in Time - Unearthing the Real-Life Behaviours of Prehistoric Animals
An unmissable talk by Dr Dean Lomax - palaeontologist, author and TV presenter. What would it be like to see prehistoric animals as they lived and breathed? Some exceptional fossils can record the life stories of creatures as fully alive as any today and in this fascinating talk, we discover the extraordinary evidence of fossils captured in the midst of everyday action. Based on Dr Lomax’s bestselling book, ‘Locked in Time: Animal Behavior Unearthed in 50 Extraordinary Fossils’ the talk offers an unprecedented glimpse at the real-life behaviours of prehistoric animals. The event will be concluded with a book signing.
Jurassic Coast Boat Trips
Pinhay to Charmouth: Lyme's seafront and geology viewed from the sea with an expert Guide.
View the local coastline from the sea and enjoy commentary on the landscape, the geology and history of both natural and human features from our expert Guide. Learn all about the evolution of the cliffs to the west and east of Lyme Regis, the land slips and beaches, The Cobb, Monmouth Beach, Lyme’s seafront, Church cliffs and Black Ven, Charmouth, Stonebarrow and Golden Cap. What impact have the geology, climate and people had? (Excursion time - 45 mins)
Thank you for all of your Amazing Comments!
The Lyme Regis Fossil Festival is organised by Lyme Regis Museum and made possible by our supporters and sponsors
A big "Thank You" to all our 2024 Supporters & Sponsors
without you, this Festival would not be possible
