Jurassic Quest in Vancouver

The interactive Jurassic Quest exhibition visits Vancouver and Abbotsford in May. It features realistic dinosaurs, rides and other fun activities for kids.

In 2023 the attraction is at the Vancouver Convention Centre on May 12th to 14th and at Abbotsford’s Tradex Centre on May 19th to 22nd. It’s impressive! The first weekend, when the exhibition is in Vancouver, includes Mother’s Day. When the attraction is in Abbotsford it’s during the Victoria Day Long Weekend.

THE CIRCUS IS IN TOWN!

The Royal Canadian International Circus is in town on the same weekends as Jurassic Quest in 2023. The circus is in Vancouver from May 11th to 14th and in Richmond from May 18th until the 22nd. It’s also in Surrey earlier in the month, from May 4th to 7th. It’s a great circus and highly recommended, especially for young families.

(TIP: If you use the promo code VANSBESTPLACES you can get 2-for-1 pricing on general admission!)

Dinosaurs at Jurassic Quest in 2023

Jurassic Quest is a huge exhibition full of large dinosaur models. The attraction visits different cities across North America each year including Vancouver in 2023. It also visited here in 2019, 2021 and 2022. With the help of paleontologists, the dinosaurs are all made to be life-size and as accurate as possible. The event is educational and full of family-friendly fun.

The Jurassic Quest attraction is interactive in various ways, so it’s not just about what you can see. In fact, the experience is very much geared towards children.

At the attraction the dinosaurs move in incredible ways, and some even walk with guests. Kids can enjoy special dinosaur-themed bouncy houses and even sit down for fun arts and crafts. Children can also dig for fossils like young paleontologists.

Another impressive component of the exhibition is that it features rides! Children can hop on the backs of animatronics and enjoy the thrilling experience of riding different prehistoric creatures.

In addition to the above, there’s a Quest for kids to do, hence the exhibition’s name. The Jurassic Quest is given to children in the form of a brochure. It’s a creative way of keeping everyone engaged. There are multiple clues listed on the brochure, each of which directs kids to different dinosaurs and areas of the building.

Everyone is encouraged to photograph their progress in the Quest. After completing all of the objectives, children can usually get a prize at the end of their visit!

Billing itself as “The #1 Dinosaur experience in North America,” Jurassic Quest tours Canada from January to June in 2023. It’s making a couple of stops in the Lower Mainland region.

Child on a Model T Rex

When and Where

The exhibition is in Vancouver for 3 days and then in Abbotsford for 4 days at different times during the month of May in 2023. The attraction sets up first at the Vancouver Convention Centre and then a week later at the TRADEX Centre.

Vancouver Dinosaur Exhibition

Jurassic Quest visits the Vancouver Convention Centre which is located at 1055 Canada Place. The exhibition runs there from May 12th to 14th in 2023 (which is the same weekend as Mother’s Day). On the Friday and Saturday, hours of operation are from 9:00 am until 8:00 pm. On the Sunday, it’s open from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm.

Abbotsford Dinosaur Exhibition

Shortly after its time in the City of Vancouver, Jurassic Quest sets up at the TRADEX Centre at 1190 Cornell Street in Abbotsford. The venue is right beside the Abbotsford Airport.

The exhibition at this second location runs from May 19th to the 22nd, so on the Victoria Day Long Weekend. On the Friday, Jurassic Quest is open from 1:00 to 8:00 pm. Saturday and Sunday hours are from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. Then, on the holiday Monday, the attraction opens at 9:00 am and closes at 5:00 pm.

Dinosaur at Vancouver Convention Centre

Jurassic Quest Admission Prices

As of January 2023, admission to Jurassic Quest costs the same at both the Vancouver and Abbotsford venues. Organizers recommend buying tickets online to guarantee entrance. They expect both events to sell out!

Rates vary depending on your age and whether or not you want unlimited access to rides. The Unlimited Rides pass includes admission and access to all animatronic rides, bouncy houses, fossil digging areas, and other activities. Or, you can buy the standard ticket and then pay for each activity that you decide to do.

Prices for the exhibition are listed below (with taxes and online service fees extra).

Kids Unlimited Admission (ages 2 to 10) – $45.00
Kids Standard Admission (ages 2 to 10) – $27.50
General Admission (ages 11 to 64) – $27.50
Seniors (ages 65+) – $22.00
Toddlers (under the age of 2) – Free
Activity Tickets – $6.00 per activity

Note: The prices above are subject to change. Also, the Unlimited Admission Passes are for children, not adults, and are good for rides on the one day (not on multiple days).

For tickets and the attraction’s official website, click jurassicquest.ca.

Posing for Photos with a Dinosaur at Jurassic Quest

Tips and Extra Information

Below are some suggestions and things that are good to know before you visit Jurassic Quest.

TIP #1: The rides and inflatable play structures are for children, not adults. They have a maximum weight limit of around 140 pounds per person and are limited to kids ages 12 and under.

TIP #2: While there are many activities suitable for all children, some do have strict height requirements. Only kids at least 36″ tall can experience the largest dinosaur rides and inflatable activities.

TIP #3: All kids who want to play inside the inflatable bouncy houses need to wear socks. Make sure to bring a pair for your child! If you forget, you can also purchase socks on-site for about $1.00.

TIP #4: When trying to complete the Quest objectives, look out for numbered Quest Spot signs around the venue. They should correspond to the same numbers as the clues. This was the case in 2022.

TIP #5: You can spend as much time as you want at Jurassic Quest, which is nice. On average, the exhibition takes up to about 2 hours to fully enjoy, and that’s including all the rides and activities. Some children though might want to stay all day!