Lyme Regis Fossil Festival drew thousands into the town over the bank holiday weekend, to enjoy everything fossil themed.

The event was a family-friendly programme of science, discovery and fun celebrating the geological heritage of the Jurassic Coast.

The event which was cancelled earlier this year was saved in March by Lyme Regis Museum with the backing of the Lyme Regis Town Council and other key partners including the Geologists’ Association, The Etches Collection, the Jurassic Coast Trust and the Natural History Museum.

Alongside the Festival’s free programme of talks and guided walks, visitors were able see exhibitions including fossil collections and hands-on demonstrations from The Natural History Museum, The Etches Collection and Dinosaur Isle, meet famous authors including Ian Whybrow, Author of ‘Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs’ and Dr Tom Sharpe Author of 'The Fossil Woman: A Life of Mary Anning' watch live performances such as A Wonderful Adventure’s ‘Mary Anning and the Sands of Time’ amazing puppet show and meet the ‘Rock Showman’ who took visitors along the seafront with his show ‘Volcanoes are Oresome’.

Family visitors were thrilled to meet real-life dinosaur ‘Rexy’ as well as ‘Mary Anning’ who met groups at the Museum and accompanied them to to her new statue where she performed a show about all her ‘best bits’.

Throughout the weekend, visits to Lyme Regis Museum were free-of-charge and the Museum hosted craft activities, book signings and storytelling alongside its own collection of exhibits. The weekend also saw the launch of ‘Mary Anning’s Thunderbolts’, a brand new exhibition installed in the Museum for 2023.

Visitor Sinead Allen brought her family to the event and had a fantastic time exploring everything that was on offer. She said “We had an amazing two days exploring the Fossil Festival. There was so much to see and do lots to learn and lots of fun to be had. Thank you to the staff and volunteers at Lyme Regis Museum for saving this amazing event – we’ll be back!”

Exhibitor, The Yorkshire Fossil Hunter, who had a stall in the main marquee was thrilled with the attendance at the Festival, he said “A huge thank you to the amazing team who helped to put this together at such short notice. It was a huge success and I can’t wait for next year now!”

Bridget Houseago, Museum Director of Lyme Regis Museum who were the main organisers of the event, said “The Fossil Festival was fantastic, it was wonderful to see so many people in the museum and around the Festival site enjoying the programme of talks, walks, workshops, and performances. Many thanks to all the participants, volunteers, guides, speakers, performers, and authors who helped make the event such a success.”

Lyme Regis Museum and its partners have confirmed that the popular event will return next year on 8th/9th June.