Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about booking a dinosaur birthday party, educational dinosaur show, library program, school assembly, or public event with Dinosaurs Wild? You've come to the right place!

Dinosaur Birthday Parties

  • Do you offer dinosaur birthday parties?

    Yes! Dinosaurs Wild offers our interactive Birthday Party Meet & Greet experience where the birthday child and guests can get up close and personal with our baby dinosaurs!


    Learn more

  • What ages are your dinosaur parties best for?

    Our Birthday Party Meet & Greet experience is ideal for ages 4-9. (Though we have entertained dinosaur fans of all ages at our meet & greets!)

  • What is included in a dinosaur birthday party appearance?

    The Dinosaur Meet & Greet Birthday party appearance includes:

    • Dinosaur Ranger dino handler
    • THREE baby dinosaurs:  Winston the T. rex, Dizzy the Parasaurolophus, and Ricardo the Velociraptor
    • Check out some fossil replicas from Winston and Ricardo's families
    • Learn some dinosaur training tricks
    • Brush a dinosaur's teeth!
    • Fun photo opportunities

  • How much does a dinosaur birthday party cost?

    Our  Birthday Party Dinosaur Meet & Greet starts at $275 for a 45-minute appearance. Travel fees may apply depending on location.

  • Can the dinosaurs come to my house?

    Absolutely! Our birthday meet & greets can take place in a variety of locations, including living rooms, backyards, garages, community rooms, and other private venues.


    We simply need enough safe space for our baby dinosaur crates, along with easy access for unloading.

  • Can the birthday party be outdoors?

    Yes! The baby dinosaurs love outdoor parties and events.


    For outdoor events, please have an indoor or covered backup location available in case of rain, extreme heat, or other unsafe weather conditions.

Dinosaur Shows & Educational Programs

  • Do you offer dinosaur shows for libraries?

    Yes! Libraries are one of our favorite places to bring our dinosaurs!


    Our Dinosaur Ranger Academy is an interactive, educational dinosaur show designed especially for young audiences. Children become Junior Dinosaur Rangers as they learn about dinosaurs through live dinosaur characters, storytelling, audience participation, movement, and hands-on fossil exploration.


    We also offer meet & greets and programs that can be adapted for summer reading programs, special events, and other library programming.

    Contact us to learn more

  • Do you offer dinosaur programs for schools?

    Yes! Dinosaurs Wild offers interactive dinosaur programs for schools, preschools, camps, and other educational organizations.


    Our programs combine live dinosaur puppets, storytelling, audience participation, movement, science, and age-appropriate dinosaur education to create a memorable hands-on learning experience.

    Contact us to learn more!

  • What is Dinosaur Ranger Academy?

    Our Dinosaur Ranger Academy program is an interactive, live show where children become “Junior Dinosaur Rangers” as we explore dinosaur facts through storytelling, fossil replicas, and special visits from our baby dinosaurs. The program is designed to be engaging, funny, and educational for young learners, with  opportunities for audience participation - appealing to kids and adults alike. 


    The 45-minute live show is followed by a dinosaur meet and greet (for a total program length of about 60 minutes). 

    Learn more about Dinosaur Ranger Academy

  • Do you offer dinosaur entertainment for festivals and community events?

    Yes! Our dinosaurs are always ready to make a public event ROAR!


    We can provide interactive dinosaur Meet & Greets for:


    • Festivals
    • Street fairs
    • Farmers markets
    • Community celebrations
    • Block parties
    • Store openings
    • Family fun days
    • Park district events
    • Special events

    Kids and grown-ups can meet the dinosaurs up close, take photos, and enjoy a memorable prehistoric encounter.


    You can also bring our interactive live show, Dinosaur Ranger Academy, to your event.  

    Contact us

  • Do you offer dinosaur programs for camps and park districts?

    Yes! Dinosaurs Wild provides dinosaur entertainment and educational programs for summer camps, park districts, recreation departments, community centers, and other children's programs.


    Programs can range from shorter dinosaur Meet & Greets to full interactive educational shows.

    Contact us

Locations, Booking, & Payment

  • Do the dinosaurs travel beyond Chicago for events?

    Yes! Dinosaurs Wild travels for events throughout the Chicago area and beyond.  Travel fees may apply.


    Dinosaur Birthday Party Meet & Greets:

    We provide Birthday Party Meet & Greets throughout Chicago and the Chicagoland suburbs, generally within 65 miles of Skokie, IL.


    Contract Events (Libraries/Schools, Festivals, etc.):

    We travel throughout the Midwest for libraries, schools, festivals, and larger events. (Our dinosaurs have visited Missouri, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan!)


     We're happy to discuss travel arrangements and provide a customized quote.

  • Do you require a deposit?

    Yes, a non-refundable $50 deposit is required for Birthday Party Meet & Greet appearances.  The remaining balance is due 2 weeks prior to your event, including any travel fee if applicable.  


    All deposits are non-refundable.


    Live shows and larger programs are booked via signed performance agreement, and payment is due at the time of service.

  • What is your cancellation policy?

    For Birthday Party Meet & Greet appearances: 

    Bookings may be canceled up to seven days prior to the reservation date for a refund, minus your deposit.  Bookings canceled within seven days of the event date can be rescheduled, subject to availability. All deposits are non-refundable. 


    For live shows and contracted appearances:

    Client may cancel the event at any time with written notice. If cancellation occurs within 14 days of the event date, Client agrees to pay 50% of the total fee. If cancellation occurs within 7 days of the event date, Client agrees to pay 100% of the total fee.


    One reschedule request may be made without penalty. Performer and Client will work together to find a mutually agreeable replacement date within 12 months of the original event date. If a replacement date cannot be agreed upon, the cancellation policy above shall apply.

  • Am I responsible for parking?

    We kindly request that you save a parking spot with easy access to the event site for loading/unloading supplies and materials.


    The client is responsible for any costs associated with parking (meter, paid lot, paid garage, etc.)

  • How soon should I book my event?

    We recommend booking at least 6-8 weeks in advance to ensure that you get the event date and time you want.   Our baby dinosaurs are popular, and their calendar can fill up fast!
     

    Looking for a last-minute party or event?
    Please contact us asap to see if we can accommodate your request.

  • Do you have any venue requirements?

    We can bring the prehistoric fun to almost all venues!  Please be sure that your event venue allows outside entertainment before booking.


    If your event is at home,  we can set up our activities in your driveway, garage, backyard, or your basement with outdoor access.  We simply request that you provide a table for the party guests to sit at for some activities.


    If your party will be outdoors,  please have a backup plan in the event of bad weather.

About Our Dinosaurs

  • Are your dinosaurs real?

    Well…we wish we could say yes! 


    Our dinosaurs are incredibly realistic, hand-operated dinosaur puppets designed to look and behave like real baby dinosaurs. They don’t talk, but they definitely have BIG personalities!

  • Do the dinosaurs bite??

    While our baby dinosaurs can be unpredictable, they are not biters.


    Our Dinosaur Rangers teach kids how to safely interact with the dinosaurs and what to do when meeting a new animal up close.


    But we can't guarantee that the dinos won't try to nibble some of your snacks!

  • Can I hold a baby dinosaur?

    As tempting as that sounds, our baby dinosaurs can be a bit too wiggly to hold! 


    To ensure that we don't have any dinosaurs getting loose and running amok, our Dinosaur Rangers will do the dino holding. Kids can pet, hug, feed, and even brush a dinosaur’s teeth instead!

  • Who's your favorite dinosaur?

    We could never pick just one!  Winston, Ricardo, and Dizzy each have their own personalities, and they're all special in their own prehistoric ways!  


    Many of our Junior Dinosaur Rangers seem to pick a favorite. Who will be yours??