Dinosaur lovers visiting Northampton town centre this summer can track down the town’s Jurassic visitors on an interactive journey of digital discovery.
The Dino Trail experience on the Explore Northampton app will be launched on Saturday, July 24, the same day as the ‘Dinosaurs are visiting Northampton town centre’ event, which will be taking place all over Market Square, Abington Street and other parts of the town centre.
Throughout the summer children and families can go on the hunt to find 10 friendly augmented reality dinosaurs which will come to life through smart phones in different locations around the town centre. The Explore Northampton app is a free app downloadable from the App Store. The app needs updating if you already have it installed.
The free experience is part of Jurassic-themed family activities and offers, being staged by Northampton Town Centre BID, including Dino Diner Meal Deals in food outlets and a 360° immersive video Dino Dome experience. Northampton Town Centre BID operations manager Mark Mullen
Mark Mullen, Northampton Town Centre BID operations manager, said: “Saturday 24 July marks the launch of a proper prehistoric party. With a whole host of activities taking place throughout the day, we are hoping the Dino Trail experience will add to the excitement of our supersized guests.
“Explorers will be prompted to open the camera on their device and scan the area to locate and be photographed with one of 10 friendly augmented reality dinosaurs lurking in the streets of the town centre. Interesting and fun facts about the beasts will also be revealed.”
Explorers will be prompted to open the camera on their device and scan the area to locate and be photographed with one of 10 friendly augmented reality dinosaurs lurking in the streets of the town centre. Northampton Town Centre BID operations manager Mark Mullen
Characters including Ritchie the Raptor, Zeus the T Rex and Tank the Triceratops will entertain the crowds between 11am and 4pm on Saturday, July 24 with retailers and food outlets then continuing the fun for a further three weeks up to Saturday, August 14 with ‘Dino Diner Meal Deals’ while retailers will also be running special offers and ticketed activities.
Running between 11am and 4pm on July 31 there will be pre-bookable 30-minute sessions in the Dino Dome for a 360° immersive video experience that will transport visitors back in time through the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous geological periods. Further details can be found at the Northampton Town Centre BID’s website, see address below.
Mark added: “After a year of being unable to hold physical events in our town centre, many businesses have come on board to welcome people back to Northampton with special offers available in shops, cafes, bars and restaurants not only on July 24 but running over a three-week period.”
These free events are being staged by Northampton Town Centre BID to make Northampton a better place to live, shop and work. They are the first to be staged by Northampton Town Centre BID as part of a refreshed calendar of activities to coincide with the relaxing of COVID-19 restrictions.
In March 2021, businesses voted in favour of renewing Northampton Town Centre BID for five more years until 2026, securing a significant £1.5 million to be spent on promoting the area. Businesses pay an annual levy into a collective pot which is used to deliver Northampton Town Centre BID events, initiatives and projects in line with the Northampton Town Centre BID Business Plan. The Board is governed by local business people who all give up their time as Board directors on a voluntary basis to help steer the project delivery in line with the Northampton Town Centre BID Business Plan.
For full information about the dinosaur event as well as details about offers and other activities, visit www.discovernorthampton.co.uk/the-dinosaurs-are-coming-to-northampton-town-centre/.
