Giant dinosaurs will be roaming around Northampton’s main shopping streets this Saturday, (July 24) as part of the town centre’s first major post-lockdown event.
Families are invited to the free event, which kicks off three weeks of Jurassic-themed activities and offers, including a Dino Trail augmented reality app, Dino Diner Meal Deals and an interactive Dino Dome experience.
Northampton Town Centre BID operations manager Mark Mullen with one of the virtual dinosaurs from the Explore Northampton app
On Saturday, July 24, between 11am and 4pm, characters including Ritchie the Raptor, Zeus the T Rex and Tank the Triceratops will entertain the crowds throughout Market Square, Abington Street, and other parts of the town centre as Northampton will be transported back in time.
Retailers and food outlets will then be continuing the fun in the three weeks leading up to Saturday, August 14, with ‘Dino Diner Meal Deals’ in cafes and restaurants and other food outlets, special offers and ticketed activities.
A Dino Trail will be launched on the Explore Northampton app, where children and families can go on the hunt throughout the summer to find 10 friendly augmented reality dinosaurs which will come to life through smart phones in different locations around the town centre. The app needs updating if you already have it installed.
Mark Mullen, Northampton Town Centre BID operations manager, said: “We are gearing up for the first town centre event in more than 18 months and what better way to mark the relaxing of the restrictions than by welcoming a collection of dinosaurs to Northampton town centre?
“With a whole host of activities taking place throughout the day, the Dino Trail experience will really add to the excitement of seeing our supersized guests in the flesh, with young explorers able to open the camera on their phone and scan the area to find other digital dinosaurs.”
On July 31 there will be pre-bookable 30-minute sessions between 11am and 4pm in the Dino Dome, a 360° immersive video experience that will transport visitors back in time through the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous geological periods.
These free activities are being staged by Northampton Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) to make Northampton a better place to live, shop and work and are part of a refreshed calendar of activities to coincide with the relaxing of COVID-19 restrictions.
The dinosaurs will return for a special ticketed performance at The Deco theatre on August 13 and 14.
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/.
