14 July, 2023
A dinosaur extravaganza which proved a roarsome success by attracting thousands of people into the city centre last summer will return next month with the reptiles running loose for another fright fest.
Dino Day, which is organised by HullBID and presented by street entertainment specialists Bigfoot Events, will be back in King Edward Street and Queen Victoria Square with free attractions including a T-Rex, a velociraptor, comedy cavemen and more.
City centre businesses will join in the fun with their own displays and with the chance to win prizes and take advantage of money-saving offers.
The Holiday Inn Hull Marina will be hosting a children's party with free food and drink for the first 50 explorers, a dino dig, and prizes for the best dinosaur-related outfit or costume.
Steve Plater, co-owner of Hull’s own Dinostar museum in Humber Street, took part in Dino Day last year and has previously worked with the organisers at other events.
Steve said: “It was extraordinary last year. The number of people in Queen Victoria Square and also coming down to the Fruit Market to our museum was remarkable. It was terrific fun for the city centre all round.
“This year we’ll have some new exhibits in our mini museum and I’m sure there’ll be some really exciting shows by the team from Bigfoot Events. It’s really impressive to see the way they interact with the children and families – it’s a proper performance and Queen Victoria Square is a great location.”
Superbowl UK will be a newcomer at Dino Day this year but joined in the fun for Superhero Day in May.
George Smith, Business Development & Brand Executive at Superbowl UK, said: “Superhero Day was great for the team at Superbowl UK. It was great to be out in the city centre engaging with the local community and we’re excited to be out giving our discounts, goody bags and our very own game of Spin To Win for the people of Hull to play and win some fantastic prizes!
“We’re hoping for more of the same when we join HullBID again for Dino Day and showcase the Superbowl UK brand to the people of Hull and the surrounding areas.”
Lost City Adventure Golf will join the businesses adding to the fun of Dino Day with the promise of plenty of money-saving offers.
Jackie Baker, Operations Manager at Lost City Adventure Golf in St Stephen’s, said: “We’re really excited to be a part of HullBID’s Dino Day and we will be bringing our offsite events set-up with gazebo, a one-hole putt green and our Lost City mascot Ollie.
“We will be encouraging people to come and have a go at getting a hole in one on our green with the chance to win a ‘gold coin’ which will get one person in free for an 18-hole course with us. Ollie the orangutan is very much looking forward to meeting the dinosaurs and will feel very at home with the Dino handlers!
“We are looking forward to getting amongst the public to raise awareness of our offers and deals, and give away some vouchers so people can enjoy freebies with us over the summer months in our amazing rainforest-themed interactive adventure golf and Tiki bar and restaurant.”
Kathryn Shillito, HullBID Executive Director, said: “Dino Day was a first for us last year and you could say it was a roaring success! It attracted huge crowds and everybody joined in the fun.
“The retail, food and beverage businesses did really well from it last year and they’ll be looking to build on that this year because they’ll have a much better idea of what to expect.
“Also this year there are more city centre businesses taking part and that’s great because it shows they recognise the benefits for business from putting on these big events which pull in the crowds and generate business for everybody.”
Dino Day will return on Friday 4 August in King Edward Street and Queen Victoria Square, between 10am and 4pm.
