Calendar
This calendar brings together palaeontological events from around the region and beyond, including public lectures, field trips, conferences, and museum exhibitions. It’s a helpful resource for anyone interested in palaeontology, from amateur enthusiasts to professional researchers.
Events are listed to the best of our knowledge and are updated regularly. Whether you're looking to attend a fossil talk, join a dig, or simply stay informed about what's going on in the palaeo world, we hope you'll find something of interest.
If you know of an upcoming event that you think should be included, please feel free to contact us at eric.campbell@albertapaleo.org with the details. I'd be happy to add it to the calendar!
October 2025
Legend
External - hosted by Royal Alberta Museum
Presentation: Ice Age Horses
Saturday, October 4, 2025, 2:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Imagine this place we call Alberta over 10,000 years ago, when Ice Age horses roamed the land! Come and learn about the stories that their bones tell and how scientists at the museum piece together the past.
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Time: 2:30 PM – 2:45 PM
Location: Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton, at the Roundhouse
Age Group: 6 and up
Cost: Free with admission
For more details, see https://royalalbertamuseum.ca/whats-on .
External - hosted by Royal Alberta Museum
Presentation: Dino Dentist
Sunday, October 5, 2025, 2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Oh my! What big teeth you have! Feast your eyes on some dino skulls and learn about the science of chewing.
Date: Saturday, October 5, 2025
Time: 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Duration: 30 minutes
Location: Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton, various locations
Age Group: 3 and up
Cost: Free with admission
For more details, see https://royalalbertamuseum.ca/whats-on .
External - hosted by Royal Alberta Museum
Presentation: Ice Age Horses
Saturday, October 11, 2025, 2:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Imagine this place we call Alberta over 10,000 years ago, when Ice Age horses roamed the land! Come and learn about the stories that their bones tell and how scientists at the museum piece together the past.
Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025
Time: 2:30 PM – 2:45 PM
Location: Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton, at the Roundhouse
Age Group: 6 and up
Cost: Free with admission
For more details, see https://royalalbertamuseum.ca/whats-on .
External - hosted by Royal Alberta Museum
Presentation: Dino Dentist
Sunday, October 12, 2025, 2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Oh my! What big teeth you have! Feast your eyes on some dino skulls and learn about the science of chewing.
Date: Saturday, October 12, 2025
Time: 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Duration: 30 minutes
Location: Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton, various locations
Age Group: 3 and up
Cost: Free with admission
For more details, see https://royalalbertamuseum.ca/whats-on .
External - hosted by Barney's Adventure Park
Dinos After Dark - Halloween Event
Friday, October 17, 2025, 6:00 p.m. - Saturday, October 18, 2025, 9:00 p.m.
Dinos After Dark is back for another weekend! 🦕👻
Get ready for a spine-tingling Halloween adventure at Barney’s Adventure Park in Drumheller!
Event Schedule:
MINI SCARE - October 18th Only
Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Perfect for the little ones! We’ll dial down the scary for a family-friendly experience featuring:
- Pumpkin Bowling
- Fun activities throughout the park
- Pumpkins available for purchase (while supplies last!)
Dinos After Dark - Both Evenings
Dates: October 17th & 18th
Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Be prepared to be scared! 😱
Experience the ultimate haunted trail adventure with dinosaurs and Halloween thrills!
Pricing:
- $10 Entry for Non-Season pass holders
- FREE for Season pass holders (included in your pass!)
Location: Barney’s Adventure Park, Drumheller
Perfect for Halloween thrill-seekers and dino enthusiasts looking for a unique spooky adventure!
For more details, see https://www.barneysdrumheller.com/events-2/ .
External - hosted by University of Saskatchewan Palaeobiology Club
Palaeo-Pumpkin Carving
Friday, October 17, 2025, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
🎃 Join us for our second palaeo-pumpkin carving! 🦕
Get ready for a fun evening combining paleontology and Halloween creativity!
What’s Included:
- Movies - Enjoy paleontology-themed films
- Snacks - Refreshments provided
- Patterns - Fossil and dinosaur-themed carving templates
Perfect for students, paleontology enthusiasts, and anyone who loves combining science with seasonal fun!
Pricing:
- $12 for club members
- $15 for non-members
Date: Friday, October 17, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Geology 161
Come join the University of Saskatchewan Palaeobiology Club for an evening of movies, snacks, and creative pumpkin carving with a prehistoric twist!
For more details, see https://artsandscience.usask.ca/geology/students/undergraduates/palaeobiology-club.php .
Monthly Meeting
Monthly Meeting: October 2025
Friday, October 17, 2025, 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Tako Koning, Consulting Geologist - “Joggins, Nova Scotia” Abstract & Bio
Abstract
The Joggins Fossils Cliffs has been described in the literature as a “Coal Age Galapogos” (Calder, 2017). The world-famous fossils-rich cliffs at Joggins have been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their outstanding geological story of the “Coal Age”. Approximately 320 million years ago, the continents were assembled into one huge land mass, the supercontinent Pangea and tropic rainforests covered the region. From fossilized trees that stood 30 meters high to the remains of the earliest known reptile, Hylonomus lyelli, Joggins Fossil Cliffs hold essential information about the development of life on earth during the Carboniferous. The fossil cliffs reveal the world’s most complete record of terrestrial life during the Carboniferous. The cliffs are still actively evolving – the powerful tides from the Bay of Fundy continue to erode the rock face so that new fossils come to light every year (Calder, 2017, Joggins Fossils Cliffs Field Guide, 2024).
Bio
Tako Koning is Holland-born and Alberta-raised. He graduated from the University of Alberta in 1971 with a B.Sc. in Geology and with a B.A. in Economics in 1981 from the University of Calgary. He has worked as a petroleum geologist, exploration manager, vice president exploration for approximately fifty years including thirty years living and working in Indonesia, Nigeria and Angola. From age ten, he was already fascinated with paleontology and that fascination has continued to the present day. This presentation is based on a one-day visit in 2024 made by Tako to Joggins Fossils Cliffs and includes an extensive review of all available relevant literature.
External - hosted by Royal Alberta Museum
Presentation: Ice Age Horses
Saturday, October 18, 2025, 2:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Imagine this place we call Alberta over 10,000 years ago, when Ice Age horses roamed the land! Come and learn about the stories that their bones tell and how scientists at the museum piece together the past.
Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025
Time: 2:30 PM – 2:45 PM
Location: Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton, at the Roundhouse
Age Group: 6 and up
Cost: Free with admission
For more details, see https://royalalbertamuseum.ca/whats-on .
External - hosted by Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum
Years of Discovery Documentary Premiere & Museum Social
Saturday, October 18, 2025, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Calling all dinosaur enthusiasts and history buffs!
Join us for a star-studded evening at the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum:
Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Event Highlights:
- Documentary Premiere: “Years of Discovery”
- Q/A Session: Meet palaeo heroes including Dr. Phil Currie, Dr. Eva Koppelhus, Dr. Bert Hunt, Katalin Ormay, Al Lakusta, Doreen Lakusta, Dr. Emily Bamforth, and more!
- Museum Social: Bar, music, and mingling with fellow dinosaur fans
Admission:
- Members: FREE
- Special Anniversary Non-Member Offer: $15
RSVP: Click here to RSVP
Learn more about the documentary: Years of Discovery Doc
For more details, see https://dinomuseum.ca/events/years-of-discovery-screening-and-social-members-night .
External - hosted by Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology
RTMP's Silent Disco
Saturday, October 18, 2025, 7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Dance among the dinosaurs at the Royal Tyrrell Museum’s 18+ Silent Disco.
Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025 Time: 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM Location: Royal Tyrrell Museum
External - hosted by Royal Alberta Museum
Presentation: Dino Dentist
Sunday, October 19, 2025, 2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Oh my! What big teeth you have! Feast your eyes on some dino skulls and learn about the science of chewing.
Date: Saturday, October 19, 2025
Time: 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Duration: 30 minutes
Location: Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton, various locations
Age Group: 3 and up
Cost: Free with admission
For more details, see https://royalalbertamuseum.ca/whats-on .
Fossil Sorting
Search for Microfossils!
Sunday, October 26, 2025, 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Use microscopes to search for tiny fossils to aid the research of Dr. Jessica Theodor and Dr. Alex Dutchak of the University of Calgary. We will be examining the matrix (soil) from the Saskatchewan Cypress Hills Formation (Middle Eocene about 50 million years old). We will be using microscopes in room B140 at Mount Royal University.
Registration is not required, but if you let Mona Trick (cell: (587) 578-4579 or giftshop@albertapaleo.org) know that you are planning to attend, then she can inform you if we need to cancel this session. No experience is required. Due to the delicate nature of this work, only those 12 years and older are allowed to search for the microfossils. Bring tweezers or a small paint brush to pick the tiny fossils from the soil and a pen to label your finds. All of the fossils found will be kept by the University of Calgary for their research.
We are very grateful to Mount Royal University for allowing us to use their microscopes and lab.