DPJ’s Wire series delivers news and information straight from the source without translation.
Dinosaur fan convention returns to Phoenix August 2: Pop culture event features creator of “Jurassic Park” T.rex, panels, demos and dinosaur-themed exhibitors
From behind-the-scenes stories of Jurassic Park, to nostalgic jabs at The Land Before Time, Arizona’s original dinosaur fan convention Phoenix DinoCon devours movie and TV dinosaurs from 3 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Saturday, August 2 at the Phoenix Center for the Arts.
Jurassic Park special effects artist Michael Trcic. Photo courtesy of Trcic Studios.
Nationally unique within the fan event landscape in subject and scope, this 2nd annual dinosaur and kaiju party is suitable for ages 12 and above, but geared toward adults with an everlasting love for dinos. Phoenix DinoCon gives fans a chance to interact with pop culture experts, learn reptilian crafts, purchase locally-produced dinosaur art and even vote a legendary pop culture icon into the Bookmans and Phoenix DinoCon Hall of Distinguished Dinosaurs.
The convention’s extensive Jurassic Park and Jurassic World related programming provides a first-hand account of the original movie’s T.rex – from concept to life-sized, working model – by Sedona resident, sculptor and special effects artist Michael Trcic in the Phoenix DinoCon Tyrannosaurus Theater.
In addition to panels focused on Godzilla and Pacific Rim, Phoenix Dinocon explores appearances of dinosaurs in steampunk and tabletop games. Geologist Melanie Dolberg pits Hollywood dinosaurs against their scientific counterparts and FilmBar‘s Andrea Beesley heads a dinosaur-themed spin-off of her annual Phoenix Comicon signature event, the first-ever Phoenix Ultimate Geek Smackdown: Turbo Dinosaur Edition.
New this year to Phoenix DinoCon is the Diplodocus Demo Den, where fans gain hands-on drawing and crafting experiences like a special make-and-take opportunity: DIY mini-notebooks featuring the hunks of the “Jurassic Park” franchise, depicted in Tiger Beat likenesses.
Photo courtesy of NBMA Photography.
A Velociraptor Vendor Hall roars through the day with dinosaur-inspired local artists, crafters and business owners. Returning this year are Jon Garza and Damien Hernandez, who make dream dinosaur scenarios a reality on location with pencil and watercolor (think Ron Swansonasaurus or your pet Chihuahuas as dueling sauropods.)
Admission is $5 at phxdinocon.brownpapertickets.com or at the door on August 2 upon availability. After-party tickets to a screening of the ’90s B movie Adventures in Dinosaur City are available for $9 at thefilmbarphx.com/event/619291-adventures-in-dinosaur-city-phoenix.
