Dinostar in Hull’s Fruit Market is celebrating its 20th anniversary. A celebration event will take place on Humber Street on Sunday 14 April from 12noon to 4pm. There will be a range of activities including a Fossil Dig, Finds Identification and a chance to meet baby dinosaurs.

The dinosaur museum was the first new business in the Fruit Market, long before the redevelopment which has transformed the area close to Victoria Pier and Hull marina. The exhibition has grown and developed over the years and is now a popular attraction for locals and tourists alike.

Confirmed activities on Sunday 14 April

Fossil Dig, hosted by Dinostar. Search for genuine fossils in sand trays, identify and record your finds, and take them home.

Make a prehistoric mask, or help paint “Earl” the dinosaur, hosted by Creative Briefs.

Finds Identification, hosted by Hull Geological Society.  Have your fossils and rocks identified. No valuations.

Make a dinosaur terrarium, hosted by Plant & Paint.

Appearances by “real” baby dinosaurs.  Meet and have your photo taken with a baby dinosaur. Three 20-minute appearances during the event.

Dinostar – The Dinosaur Experience

Dinostar is based in a converted fruit warehouse in the Fruit Market.  The building was restored and renovated to convert it into a dinosaur museum after being empty for almost five years.  After opening to the public in April 2004, the official opening ceremony was performed by (Sir) Tony Robinson during a break in filming for a Time Team episode near York.  The ceremony was attended by a large number of people, many of whom have become regular visitors to the dinosaur museum.

The Dinostar exhibition features genuine and replica fossils as well as numerous interactive exhibits.  There are buttons to press to hear what the ancient creatures might have sounded like, a dinosaur dig, a sand box where you can make a volcano, even dinosaur smells.  Highlights include full size T. rex and Triceratops skulls as well as models and puppets from the landmark BBC TV series Walking with Dinosaurs and Walking with Beasts.