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The Aurora Fossil Museum’s Fossil Festival won Best Children’s Program at ShowFest 2023 hosted by the North Carolina Association of Festivals and Events in Charlotte. The award was presented to Executive Director of the museum, Cynthia Crane on January 30. 

“We were thrilled to get it and bring it back, because it really represents the museum’s core values in providing an inclusive and safe environment for all,” Crane said. She said the Fossil Museum competed against 150 other festivals in North Carolina for the award. 

The Fossil Festival is held every Memorial Weekend in Aurora and is free to attend. The festival begins on Friday with a community cookout supporting the volunteer fire department and emergency services. Most of the Fossil Festival events are held on Saturday and Sunday. At the festival last year, attendees learned about and dug for fossils. There are silent and live auctions, displays from nonprofit organizations, a movie night, a parade, live entertainment, food and craft vendors, a glow party and dinosaur show. A Veteran’s breakfast concludes the long weekend. 

The Museum is gearing up for this year’s festival and continues to look for sponsors. “Any festival or event needs the support of the community,” Crane said. 

The Aurora Fossil Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and science education resource center. It offers those who attend opportunities to explore paleontology while highlighting the natural and cultural history of Eastern North Carolina. It is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the winter. Admission is free for the museum and fossil park. The museum is located at 400 Main Street in Aurora.