By Sharon Kennedy Wynne, Times Staff
The Dinos & Dragons exhibit is running through February as a fundraiser for a paleontology museum.
Realistic-looking animatronic dinosaurs and dragons are stomping the grounds of a New Port Richey education center, and it’s all in the name of science.
“Dinos & Dragons,” a traveling exhibit of creatures, is in place at the Harry Schwettman Education Center in downtown New Port Richey from DEC 9 - FEB 26. The exhibit is a fundraiser to build a permanent home for a collection of artifacts for the Museum of Archeology, Paleontology & Science, which is currently stored in the Wendell Krinn Technical High School in New Port Richey for Sunday-only tours.
The collection of more than 6,000 cultural and archaeological pieces, many of them centuries old, was assembled by the nonprofit’s CEO, Charles Zidar, who hopes to make the artifacts more readily available to the public.
The exhibit of more than 100 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs and dragons is open 4-9 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. In addition to the giant creatures, there are rides, a dino dig pit and other features encompassing the entire field surrounding the Schwettman Education Center. Visitors can also use virtual reality and dino technology, see a dino dissection lab and check out hands-on arts and science activities inside the buildings.
Tickets are $20-$50 for the timed entry event at dinoanddragonsnpr.com. Buying tickets online is recommended.
There are some deal days. There’s a $3 discount on tickets on the following days:
New Port Richey Resident Day: Jan. 17
Cos Play Night: Jan. 19
Home School Day: Jan. 24 and Feb. 10, noon-4 p.m.
Senior Day: Jan. 25
Pasco County Schools: Jan. 28 and Feb. 11
Pasco County Employee Day: Jan. 31
Active Military/Veterans Day: Feb. 16
New Port Richey Employee Day: Feb. 23
Originally Published Dec 6, Updated Dec 14, 2022 via Tampa Bay Times