by Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com

Dinosaurs are cool. And in the spirit of showcasing some of history’s most interesting species, the Webb Schools’ Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology hosted its annual Fossil Fest Saturday.

“A lot of people don’t know that Southern California is probably one of the best places to be a paleontologist in the country,” said Alf Director Andrew Farke. “So, it’s a really great event to be able to bring all of that expertise and knowledge and enthusiasm together and share that with the public at a place like the Alf Museum.”

(L-R) Rebecca Ware and her daughter Olivia, 4, at the Alf Museum’s Fossil Fest on Saturday. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

Exhibitors and paleontologists from the Alf, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, Western Science Center, University of California, Riverside’s Earth and Planetary Science Department, UCLA Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, Southern California Paleontological Society, USC Paleosciences Research Consortium, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, Orange County Parks, Bone Clones, and Western University of Health Sciences were on hand to interact with some 400 people at the event.

“This museum just completely blew me away with the level of depth that it has and how much like science is available,” said North Hollywood resident Cameron Clow. “It’s very interesting.”

Preparation began in November 2024 according to Gabriel-Philip Santos, director of visitor engagement and education at the Alf and co-host of PBS’s “Eons.”

Kayden Causey, 1, interacts with the Alf Museum’s sedimentary rock and fossil area during Saturday’s Fossil Fest. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

“I find it very important, especially these days, to get people to not just think about science as a job, but we really want them to think about wonder, inspiration and just the pure awesomeness of the world, even if our creatures are all dead,” Santos said. “… To inspire questions and inspire wonder of the world, that’s what we really love doing.”

Though Fossil Fest has been an Alf staple for at least 20 years, many locals remain unaware of the rich resource in their own backyard.

“What we often find is people don’t know that there’s a major paleontology museum in Claremont,” Farke said. “And we’ll hear from people, ‘Oh, I’ve lived in Claremont for 30 years and I never knew that this museum was here.’ I think part of it is getting our name out there, building enthusiasm, showcasing the great work that our students and our faculty and our staff are doing … and being able to give back to the community.”

Farke touted the far reaching impact of the Alf.

Miles Andres, 3, checks out at a cast of a Limnoscelis fossil, a reptile-like tetrapod, Saturday at the Alf Museum. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

“It’s important that we’re here because it’s a way for people to connect with themselves, with the history of our planet, and to get a little picture of where we fit in the big picture,” he said.

The Alf is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. General admission is $12, $9 for students, seniors, and children 5-18, and free for kids under 5. More information is at alfmuseum.org.