The Jurassic Park dinosaurs are here!
And so is a full slate of fall festival activities starting Friday at Kukui Grove Center.
The ultimate family dinosaur adventure, Jurassic Empire, opens Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. at KGC, and will have openings on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and a final Sunday run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. before moving on to another Jurassic location.
A variety of family oriented activities fill the prehistoric journey covering the Jurassic through the Ice Age periods, where dinosaurs and other mammals ruled the planet more than 150 million years ago.
The main exhibit of the Jurassic Empire features more than 50 life-sized, ultra-realistic dinosaurs in their natural habitat. Other featured exhibits include hands-on interaction with dinosaurs, riding a baby dinosaur, and riding a 12-foot animatronic t rex and triceratops.
Tracey, a friendly t rex, greets guests every three hours, and there is also a fossil dig where young paleontologists can dig up ancient bones, experience 9D virtual reality rides, and a Jurassic-themed bounce area with dinosaur inflatable bounce houses, and more for an admission fee.
“We also need to provide exciting activities that don’t have an admission fee,” said KGC’s Melissa McFerrin-Warrack. “We have a bunch of free activities for everyone, starting with Freaky Fridays presented by the Aloha Dance Studios.”
Freaky Fridays happen on Oct. 14, 21, and 28 between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. with special flash mob performances punctuating a variety of Halloween games, activities and prize drawings.
“This is the first in-person gathering since the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Tiffany Dick of the Aloha Dance Studios. “The ghouls and monsters have been cooped up too long. They can’t wait to get out again.”
Coming on the heels of Freaky Fridays, Spooktacular Saturday and More — because Monday is not Saturday, a Howl-oween Doggie Costume Contest starts the Halloween calendar Saturday, starting at 2 p.m. with the Dog Fanciers Club of Kaua‘i. Registration opens at 1:30 p.m., followed by a costumed dog parade led by the Showtime Characters’ Pluto through the shopping center.
Other spooktacular events include the Halloween Movie Night featuring “Hocus Pocus” on Oct. 22 and the Monday Pau Hana Market Pumpkin Giveaway for keiki that starts at 3 p.m. on Oct. 24 while supplies last.
w Info: kukuigrovecenter.com
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
