Dinostar to join in the fun as dinosaurs take to the streets
‘GREAT FUN’: Steve Plater at Dinostar
By Rick Lyon
A museum owner who has been scaring people in Hull for nearly 20 years is hoping to do a roaring trade when dinosaurs are let loose in the city centre at the weekend.
Dino Day, which will be brought to the city by HullBID, will feature a comedy duo of cavemen in their cave kart, the terror of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, and an array of other exhibits on Saturday, September 24.
Steve Plater, who opened Dinostar in Humber Street in 2004, said: “It’s terrific that HullBID will bring Dino Day to the city centre because dinosaurs do attract the crowds.
“Kids never grow out of dinosaurs. They keep the interest throughout their lives. I was fascinated as a kid and when I am on a beach now I keep an eye out for anything interesting in the sand.
SCARY STUFF: A T Rex will be on the loose in Hull city centre
“Dinosaurs are a bit scary and scary is fun, especially when they are all dead and you know they can’t get you and they’re not hiding in the wardrobe!”
Dino Day has been devised by street entertainment specialists Bigfoot Events and will take over Queen Victoria Square with attractions including a T Rex, a velociraptor, the comedy cavemen, a giant dinosaur egg and two cute petting baby dinosaurs with puppeteers.
There will be four different acts each giving three half-hour performances between 11am and 4pm. Other local businesses involved include Hull Culture and Leisure with their free AR Dinosaur Trail, as well as free dinosaur face painting and a colouring competition with dino-related prizes.
Steve opens his former fruit warehouse during school holidays and weekends and is now resuming his school visits, which take him all over the country. He’s also worked with Bigfoot Events and said local families are in for a treat.
DUO: Comedy cavemen
He said: “It’s easier for us to visit schools because then they don’t have to worry about transport. We’ve been to Manchester, Liverpool and London and we’ve worked with Bigfoot Events at holiday parks.
“They are very good – they interact really well and are very professional. I won’t be taking part in the shows but I will be setting up a mini museum with some of our more portable exhibits including the Allosaurus skull, which is like a T Rex but not as big.
“A lot of our artefacts are too big to take but hopefully people will get an idea of what we have and come here to see more. The message from me is that Dino Day will be great fun and we are here year-round!”
Kathryn Shillito, HullBID Executive Director, said: “There’s always a great response wherever dinosaurs are released and we’re expecting a day of fun and frights which will be great for families.
“The aim is to support city centre businesses by bringing in events which pull in the crowds and it’s great that some of our local retailers are taking part in Dino Day themselves.”