Shindig this weekend

The annual Dino Shindig, named Montana's Event of the Year by the Office of Tourism and Business Development, is set to take place this weekend in Ekalaka. Visitors will be in town from all over the world to hear lectures from leading paleontologists, partake in kids activities, and dance the night away.

Beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, kid's can check out an array of activities on the museum lawn. Some of these activities include a fossil dig pit, face painting, arts and crafts, dino mini-golf, a photo booth, a bat booth and even a live animal booth. At 12:30, everyone in attendance is invited to watch a robo rex bite force demonstration. At 9 p.m., a bat walk will take place. Starting at 8 p.m., there will be live music at Dawg House Pub. Other highlights throughout the day will include 30 minute art classes inside the old school house and shaved ice on the museum lawn.

In addition to all of the family fun on Saturday, there will also be 13 lectures from leading paleontologists taking place at the Lutheran church. Most of the lectures are between 20 and 30 minutes long and all are open to the public. In between lectures, event goers are invited to bid on a wide array of silent auction items. A speaker round table discussion that will conclude the day's lectures is scheduled for 4 p.m.

On Sunday, while those that pre-registered for the dig are out, a celebration will take place at Medicine Rocks State Park. This event starts at 10 a.m. and will conclude with a free lunch at 12:15. From noon to 4 p.m. there will also be a butterfly pinning workshop at the museum. This workshop does have a $75 materials fee. Attendees will pick up a new skill and get to take home three butterfly mounts to begin their own collection.

Don't miss out on a fun, educational weekend in Ekalaka. Stop in at the museum or visit cartercountymuseum.org for a full schedule of Shindig events.