Downtown Wheaton Association Hosts ‘Dinos Downtown Wheaton’ Exhibit
Presented by Innovator ETFs Sept. 25 - Oct. 8, 2023
Wheaton, Illinois (July 13, 2023) – The Downtown Wheaton Association today announced that ten life-sized animatronic dinosaurs will rule Downtown Wheaton this September 25 to October 8 in the Dinos Downtown Wheaton exhibit presented by Innovator ETFs. The free outdoor exhibit will transport children and adults alike to a time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, allowing visitors a close-up look at these prehistoric creatures that move and roar — just like the real thing!
“This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for our community to explore Downtown Wheaton,” said Downtown Wheaton Association Executive Director Allison Orr. “Our businesses are as excited as we are to welcome visitors to this free outdoor exhibit, where they’ll find all kinds of dinosaur-related products, activities, and even dino-inspired menu items at our shops and restaurants. Everyone is getting ready for dinosaurs to take over Downtown Wheaton!”
Dinos Downtown Wheaton features ten species from around the world, including the Herrerasaurus, Amargasaurus, Iguanodon, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Oviraptor, Neovenator, Protoceratops, Triceratops, Leallynasaura, and the Minmi, from September 25 - October 8, 2023, at locations throughout Downtown Wheaton. The exhibit is free and open to the public, thanks to generous community sponsors. Tour groups and educators can plan field trips by visiting www.DowntownWheaton.com/dinos.
An Exploration of Downtown Wheaton
Dinos Downtown Wheaton presents visitors with a unique opportunity to explore the downtown area of one of Illinois’s best places to live. Guests will venture throughout shopping and dining areas across downtown Wheaton as they search for Herrerasaurus, visit the Iguanodon, or even escape the fearsome Tyrannosaurus Rex. A full list of dino-inspired offerings from participating restaurants and shops will be available at DowntownWheaton.com/dinos soon.
Technology Sparks Imagination
Perhaps no creature on Earth has sparked imagination quite like dinosaurs. Dinos Downtown Wheaton, produced by Imagine Exhibitions, utilizes state-of-the-art technology to showcase these magnificent animals the way they would have appeared some 65 million years ago, true to size and appearance. The animatronics are engineered to create smooth, lifelike movements as the dinosaurs move their heads and mouths, limbs, tails, and even roar.
An Educational Excursion
Dinos Downtown Wheaton is not just a showcase of dinosaurs but an educational tool for teaching about geology, evolution, ecology, and much more. The exhibit provides educators bringing students with an educational guide structured in accordance with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and includes information on each dinosaur species on display along with activities, games, and worksheets that engage students at every grade level.
New Discoveries Abound
Many of the dinosaur species exhibited in Dinos Downtown Wheaton represent relatively new discoveries in paleontology. Popular well-known dinosaurs like the Tyrannosaurus Rex and the Triceratops are joined by the Herrerasaurus, discovered in 1991 in Argentina; the Minmi, discovered in 1964 in Queensland, Australia; and the rare Amargasaurus, whose only known skeleton was discovered in 1984.
Exhibit Sponsors
Dinos Downtown Wheaton is made possible by generous event sponsors including:
Presenting Sponsor: Innovator ETFs
Dinosaur Sponsors: 302 Wheaton; E.P. Doyle & Son, LLC, TeamUp Coworking; Wheaton Bank & Trust. Sponsorship opportunities are still available, for more information please contact Allison Orr at Allison@DowntownWheaton.com.
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