Please join Burpee Museum as we celebrate our 27th annual PaleoFest event on March 6 – March 8, 2026!
Things To Do At PaleoFest!
PaleoFest weekend has a lot going on! Like every conference or festival, there are activities for different audiences and levels. Different ticket types will get you into different experiences. Explore everything PaleoFest has to offer! From pop-up exhibits to special workshops, you won’t want to miss any of the action happening this weekend.
Paleo Meet & Greet
Snap a photo, grab an autograph, or chat one-on-one with rotating paleontologists. Don’t miss this chance to connect with the experts! The meet and great booth is available with general admission and all ticket types!
What Ticket Type is Needed?
General Admission Tickets get you a chance to meet the paleotologists!
Who Can I Meet?
The full schedule will be released in February. Different paleontologists will be available in 30 min sessions throughout Saturday and Sunday time slots.
What Should I Bring?
Many of our speakers have published books that they would be happy to autograph. All have published in scientific journals as well. Check out the giftshop for items you can bring as well!
PaleoWorkshops
Each year, beginning and intermediate learners can enrich their PaleoFest experience with a hands-on Paleo Workshop. Join Burpee educators for an engaging session that includes a creative, take-home activity. Paleo Workshops require separate registration and are not included in general admission.
View Workshop Details:
Come face-to-face with living animals whose ancestors shared the world with dinosaurs. Uncover the traits that helped them survive the asteroid impact and use real fossils to rebuild the Cretaceous ecosystem.
Tickets that include at least one PaleoWorkshop:
View Workshop Details:
Meet the “celebrity” dinosaurs, reptiles, and other rock stars that have recently rewrote the history books—from Jane’s dramatic reclassification to a new species flying above her head, to bizarre horned giants. See how new discoveries constantly evolve our understanding of this competitive ancient world.
Tickets that include at least one PaleoWorkshop:
View workshop Details:
Geared toward a younger audience than the other workshops. In this hands-on lab, kids will build their own “teen tyrant” and learn how scientists change their minds when new evidence is found.
Tickets that include at least one PaleoWorkshop:
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why Attend A Workshop?
Workshops are popular a hands on experiences that enhances your PaleoFest adventure with a small group setting that dives into a special topic that requires more explanation from our educators than we could cover in a mere pop up exhibit. The activity is more in depth and provides a more hands on experience to make something to take home.
What Ticket Type is Needed?
Workshops are not included with General Admission tickets.
To participate in a PaleoFest workshop, a workshop-inclusive ticket is required.
🎟️ Workshop Tickets for Individuals
Workshops can be purchased individually with the following options (each includes General Admission):
👨👩👧👦 Coming with a Group of 4 or More?
Save by choosing one of our group and family packages, which include workshop access:
What Age should attend Workshops?
The workshop class is open to all ages, Survivors of the Cretaceous and Cretaceous Rock Stars are best for youth to adult guests- no background expertise required. The Nano T. rex craft lab is geared for our youngest learners with a focus on making your own cretaceous predator craft.
When are Workshops
Each workshop will run 3 times on Saturday and 3 times on Sunday. They are in the 2nd and 3rd floor classrooms.
10:30am, 1:00pm. 2:30pm
Preregistration is required to reserve a seat. These workshops are popular, and are likely to sell out. Get tickets today!
What are the 2026 Workshops?
Information is coming soon!
Pop-Up Exhibits
During PaleoFest, the entire museum transforms with exciting mini-exhibits, games, and hands-on experiences! All pop-up stations and exhibits are included with general admission or any ticket type!
Preview of Select Stations:
2026 Stations will be released soon!
All ticket types including general admission can engage in the pop-up exhibits! Explore our 2025 pop up exhibits to get a taste of what is in store for you!!
Cranial Ornamentation
Why all this head gear? Examine modern, and prehistoric animal frills, horns, and so much more!
Cause for Calamity
There were several mass extinctions throughout time. What happened, and why did so many species die out? Would you survive!?
Parental Care
Prehistoric animals have left clues to how they mothered and fathered in the fossil record. Where they good parents?
Microfossils
Huge dinosaurs are amazing, but what abou the little creatures running under their feet like lizards, frogs, and even mammals? The fossil records of these tiny animals teach us a lot of the enviornment that the dinosaurs inhabited.
PaleoLab Open
The windows to the PaleoLab are open and the fossil preparation team is ready to share all kinds of special “in-progress” treasures. Learn how we take a fossil from the ground to exhibit and all the prep that is needed!
Research Lectures
From around the world, paleontologists, geologists, and other scientists and science enthusiasts gather at Burpee Museum for the PaleoFest research lecture series. Research Lectures require separate registration and are not included in general admission.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why Attend the Lectures?
PaleoFest lectures are a must for anyone passionate about science and discovery! Each year, we bring together world-renowned paleontologists and rising stars in the field to share groundbreaking research and fascinating insights. From newly published findings to work in progress, these engaging presentations cover a wide range of paleontological topics and are designed to captivate science enthusiasts of all ages and expertise. Don’t miss your chance to learn from the best and be part of this dynamic exploration of prehistoric life!
What ticket type is needed?
Lectures are NOT included in general admission tickets.
Lecture Passes can be purchased a la Carte:
(Perfect if you’re choosing individual events or a single day)
Lecture Passes can be purchased in package deals:
(Best value for lecture lovers)
Not ready for a full day of lectures?
Try a lecture peek!
(Shorter sessions • great first taste)
Do you have a group of 4 or more? Save by choosing package deals
What is the format?
Each speaker talks for 20 min and then has about 10 min for question and anwer time. There are generally two speakers, live auction items, and then a short break before talks resume.
Who are the speakers?
Speakers come from universities and governmental agencies throughout the world and are different annually.
Speakers are announced here
The full calendar of speakers times will be found here once it is released
Which Day(s) should I attend?
Tickets can be purchased for Saturday OR Sunday. Ticket packages that include both dates, or both dates + keynote saturday dinner are a better deal than buying each date separately.
We think you should come for all the talks becuase the agenda is packed with must-see speakers!
When is the Keynote?
Saturday Night!! The 2026 Keynote Dinner: Meet Dr. Jingmai O’Connor from the Field Museum as she discusses the world-famous “Chicago Archaeopteryx” and the spectacular evolution of flight.
🎤 Tickets that include the PaleoFest Keynote
* NB: The VIP Family does not include all daytime lectures, but it does include lecture peeks!
What is the Member's Night Talk?
Geared toward our amazing museum members, this event in 2026 is a special tribute to our cornerstone dinosaur: Jane!
This event is FREE for members. Just another perk for joining the Burpee family!! Thank you Burpee Members!!
Kick off your weekend with a special event for all abilities and curiosities.
Join Dr. James Napoli, one of the lead authors of the groundbreaking 2025 Nature paper which leads to the reclassification of “Jane.” Hear the inside story of how Nanotyrannus was officially recognized as a distinct species.
Learn more about this event here!
Tickets that include Friday Night Talk
How Are Speakers Recruited?
Burpee Museum’s Director of Operations and Research, and head paleontologist Josh Mathews leads the recruitment process each year. Speaker choices are influenced by recently published material, ongoing projects, availability, location, and several other factors.
Lecture Peek
For the first time, Burpee is offering a PaleoFest Lecture Peek for the curious. Attend one lecture on Saturday or Sunday. Join paleontologists, geologists, and other scientists from around the world as they share their latest research in Burpee Museum’s PaleoFest lecture series. Lecture Peeks require separate registration and are not included in general admission.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why a Peek at Lectures?
PaleoFest lectures are a must for anyone passionate about science and discovery! To encourage our youngest emerging scientists, or other curious public, we want to open the doors for a taste of the awesome science shared at PaleoFest. We are sure you will come back for more!
Who can we see with a "lecture peek"
You can attend one talk and Q&A session for one speaker of your choice. We welcome young people! If you can only stay for a portion of the talk, we are happy for you to join us.
Speakers are announced here
The full calendar of speakers times will be found here once it is released
What is the format?
Each speaker talks for 20 min and then has about 10 min for question and anwer time. There are generally two speakers, live auction items, and then a short break before talks resume.
When is the Keynote?
The keynote speaker in 2026 is Jaing Mai O’Conner. This talk is not eligible for a lecture peek.
He will be speaking on Saturday evening at the PaleoFest Dinner & Keynote event. Tickets can be purchased for the keynote and dinner only, or consider a PaleoResearch package that bundles all the amazing speakers into one discounted ticket!!
What is the Member's Night Talk?
Geared toward our amazing museum members, this event in 2026 is a special tribute to our cornerstone dinosaur: Jane!
This event is FREE for members. Just another perk for joining the Burpee family!! Thank you Burpee Members!!
Kick off your weekend with a special event for all abilities and curiosities.
Join Dr. James Napoli, one of the lead authors of the groundbreaking 2025 Nature paper which leads to the reclassification of “Jane.” Hear the inside story of how Nanotyrannus was officially recognized as a distinct species.
Learn more about this event here!
Tickets that include Friday Night Talk
What Ticket Type is Needed?
Lectures and Lecture Peeks are not included with General Admission tickets.
To attend PaleoFest lectures, a lecture-inclusive ticket is required.
🎟️ Lecture Peek Tickets (À La Carte)
Lecture Peeks can be purchased individually with the following option:
Lecture Peeks Included in Group & Family Packages
The following packages include Lecture Peek access:
Prehistoric Games
PaeloFest 2026 will launch our newest creative venture…a special board game. Play once, or play again and again! Roll the dice with your future: will you survive the Cretaceous Trail?
Frequently Asked Questions:
What Ticket Type is Needed?
The pop-up gaming station is included in all ticket types including general admission.
When will games be available?
The games will be ongoing throughout Saturday and Sunday’s event. Join in with new friends, or bring old friends and start a new game!
What ages should play?
The game is designed for all ages to enjoy, but the more mature payers will be able to make the game more interesting and complex!
Food & Drink
Spending a full day at PaleoFest is easy with on-campus food and drink options.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What Ticket Type is Needed?
Food and drink are available for purchase to all ticket types including general admission.
When will food be available?
Burpee has vending machines that are available throughout the event. The food vendor, Rusty Drum, will be selling Breakfast and Lunch options from the Mahlburg Auditorium
Can I bring my own food?
Sure! Please refrain from eating in the exhibit areas, but instead eat in the dining area in Mahlburg Auditorium.
PaleoArtists
Taking scientific evidence such as fossils and scientific description, the PaleoArtist creates scientific illustrations or sculptures that depict prehistoric life. Their work makes environments never seen by humans come alive! Burpee is excited to bring two PaleoArtists to the 2026 Paleofest!
Frequently Asked Questions:
What Ticket Type is Needed?
PaleoArt speakers are not included in General Admission. The 2025 PaleoArtists will be speaking in the Riverview Lecture Hall and are part of the Research Lecture packages.
Not ready for a full day of lectures? Try the lecture peek!
Can Families Attend?
Yes! We encourage all ages to explore science at PaleoFest. Not ready for a full day of lectures? Just want to see the PaleoArtists? Try a lecture Peek. There will be an artist before lunch on both Saturday and Sunday!
Lecture Peeks can be purshased a la carte:
Lecture Peeks are included in Packages:
What if I want to be a PaleoArtist?
Super! Start by talking to some of the scientists and artists at PaleoFest! If you are local, two Burpee educators teach classes in PaleoArt through the Art of the Earth series.
PaleoFest History & Trivia
Since 1999, Burpee Museum has hosted a multi-day paleontology festival in Rockford Illinois.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How did PaleoFest start?
Before Burpee’s had a bonefied (excuse the pun) paleontology program, staff decided to test the idea of bringing famous paleontologists to Rockford and share their research with the general public. Would anyone come?
The first PaleoFest in 1999 proved that there was a great interest in this format, and the festival has grown exponentially since then!
Who are some notable PaleoFest Alumni?
While there are too many noted paleontolgists to list them all here, a quick taste of the quality of speakers includes:
Jack Horner, Bob Bakker, Mary Schweitzer, Kristi Curry Rogers, Lindsay Zanno, Steve Brusatte, Kirk Johnson, Diego Pol, Sanaa El-Sayed, Thomas Holtz, Kay Behrensmeyer, Tsiory Andrianavalona, Thomas Carr, Hans-Dieter Sues, Tyler Keillor, Larry Witmer, and many, many more!
Who was the worst speaker in PaleoFest History?
Hands down Scott Williams. Gotcha.
Who Speaks at PaleoFest the most?
A. Scott Williams
B. Thomas Holtz
C. Holly Woodward
D. Thomas Carr
Find out during the lectures. Are you right? Wina prize!
Who Traveled the Farthest to Speak?
A. Tsiory Andrianavalona
B. Diego Pol
C. Sanaa El-Sayed
D. Steve Brusatte
E. Michael Henderson
Find out during the lectures. Are you right? Win a prize!
Request Help
While we try to make PaleoFest events and options clear, sometimes people just need a little help! We are happy to assist you in planning your weekend as well which package is best for you. Coming in from out of town? We are happy to help you navigate your adventure through the form below.
About Burpee Museum’s PaleoFest
Since 1999, PaleoFest has become an internationally recognized and respected program that celebrates the science of Paleontology. PaleoFest is an exemplary program to excite, educate, and inspire all people in science. This 3-day event includes many educational programs and activities for all levels of interest in paleontology. Each year, PaleoFest attracts nearly 2,000 visitors and some of the biggest names in the field.