Step into Winter Wonderland - Weekends in December!

EFM USA Today

HELP US WIN USA TODAY'S "BEST NEW MUSEUM"

We’re thrilled to share that Edelman Fossil Park & Museum has been nominated for Best New Museum in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards! This exciting recognition highlights our mission to inspire wonder, spark discovery, and connect visitors with the ancient world while protecting our planet’s future. We’re incredibly honored by the nomination, and now we’re turning to our amazing community for support. Your vote can help us bring home the win! Voting is open from November 24 at 12:00 PM through December 22 at 11:59 AM.
winter time at EFM

Unwrap Adventure This Holiday Season

Celebrate the holiday season at the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum, where dinosaurs meet festive cheer! Step into our beautifully decorated museum and enjoy a lineup of seasonal events for all ages. Have breakfast with Dino Claws, count down to the Noon Year’s Eve Asteroid Drop, and experience Winter Wonderland Weekends filled with hands-on activities, pop-ups, and holiday magic. From sparkly and sustainable decor to prehistoric fun, it’s the most wonderful time of the year to visit!
experience dinosaurs in virtual reality

Give the Gift of Dinosaurs

This holiday, delight the explorers, adventurers, and dinosaur lovers in your life with prehistoric fun and hands-on discovery! Give the gift of adventure with an EFM gift card, a membership for a full year, or explore our Holiday Gift Guide for treasures perfect for curious minds of all ages. Don’t forget to browse unique gifts online and in-store at Darwin & Co.
Edelman Fossil Park & Museum in Mantua, NJ

Become a Member

Members enjoy unlimited admission for a full year to the museum, 50% off our quarry dig experience, and other exclusive Member benefits! Memberships begin on your first visit. Already a member? Be sure to book your museum reservations!

Tickets Now Available

Plan Your Visit Today!

Memberships & Digital Gift Cards

Reserve your membership at Edelman Fossil Park & Museum

Become A Member

Members enjoy unlimited admission for a full year to the museum, Quarry Dig visits are available for $20 each (50% off), and other exclusive Member benefits!

Buy A Membership
Gift an Edelman Fossil Park & Museum membership

Gift a Membership

Give the gift of adventure and discovery with an EFM membership, offering year-round access to prehistoric wonders and hands-on experiences for all ages!

Gift a Membership
E-Gift cards: Edelman Fossil Park & Museum

E-Gift Cards

Surprise someone with an EFM e-gift card—your ticket to unforgettable encounters with ancient wonders and thrilling dino-themed adventures!

BUY AN E-GIFT CARD

Member Reservations

Plan Your Visit & Book Premium Experiences

Already a member? Reserve your date and time for guaranteed entry. Enhance your visit with a Quarry Dig Experience or free-roam Virtual Reality Experience. Your membership discount will apply at checkout.

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Darwin & Co. Online Store

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Groups & Rentals

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Groups & School Trips

We're excited to welcome your group to EFM. Let's work together to plan a perfect day out at the museum!

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Volunteering

Join us! Help create positive change in the world as an EFM volunteer.

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Private Events and Rentals

Host your special event in our stunning museum and beautiful garden spaces.

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Distance from major cities

Distance to Edelman Fossil Park from Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington D.C.Map it!

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • Breakfast with Dino Claws & Friends

    December 7, 14, 21


    1. Sundays: December 7, 14 & 21 | 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
      Edelman Fossil Park & Museum


    3. Kick off your Sunday mornings with Dino Claws and friends at our festive holiday breakfast! Enjoy a delicious breakfast, get creative with dinosaur and holiday-themed ornament-making, including pipe cleaner snowflakes, and meet Dino Claws & friends for fun photo opportunities!


    5. Plus, hear from Dr. Kenneth Lacovara, the paleontologist who discovered one of the largest dinosaurs ever, Dreadnoughtus, as he shares stories from the prehistoric world.


    7. Tickets are going fast - grab yours soon for a dino-mite morning full of holiday cheer and prehistoric fun! Tickets: $35 per person


    9. This is a ticketed event and does not include museum admission. If you would like the visit the galleries after this event, you may add-on museum admission during checkout for $15 per person.



  • Winter Wonderland Before Time

    Every Weekend in December


    1. Winter Wonderland Before Time ❄️

    2. Every Weekend in December!

    3. Celebrate the season - prehistoric style!


    5. Join us every weekend in December for Winter Wonderland Before Time at the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum, where holiday cheer meets ancient adventure.


    7. Throughout the holiday season, experience a beautifully and sustainably decorated museum with trees and lights , enjoy seasonal flavors and specials at Quarry Grounds Café, and discover winter-themed treasures at the Darwin & Co. store - the perfect stop for unique holiday gifts that make a big impression.


    9. Enjoy festive pop-ups and hands-on programs for all ages, including:



    12. 📸 Holiday Photo Ops

    13. 🦕 Dinosaur “Snow” Excavation

    14. ❄️ Indoor Snowball Frenzy

    15. 🔬 Live Science Demonstration

    16. ✨ Campfire Story Time in Discovery Forest

    17. 🎄 Dinosaur Ornament-Making & Snowflake Art Stations

    18. ☕ Seasonal Flavors & Treats at Quarry Grounds

    19. 🛍️ Gift Shopping at Darwin & Co.

    20. 🍃 Learn How to Gift Wrap Sustainably



    23. …and more exciting seasonal surprises!



    26. Make your December dino-mite - plan your visit today!

    27. All activities are included with museum admission: Plan your visit today!



  • Noon Year's Eve: Asteroid Drop

    December 31


    1. 🦖 Noon Year’s Eve: Asteroid Drop!


    3. Wednesday, December 31 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
      Edelman Fossil Park & Museum


    5. Countdown to the new year - prehistoric style! 🎉


    7. Be part of the first-ever Noon Year’s Eve: Asteroid Drop at Edelman Fossil Park & Museum, where the excitement blasts off before bedtime! When the clock strikes noon, we’ll drop our very own asteroid into the quarry to celebrate the end of one era and the start of another - just like the dinosaurs (but way more fun!).


    9. Keep the celebration going with a high-energy dance party, noisemaker-making, crafts & activities, a New Year’s Resolution Tree, and more family fun throughout the museum.


    11. Bring your young paleontologists for an unforgettable way to roar into 2026! 🥳



    14. Tickets:

    15. • Members: Adults $20 | Children $15

    16. • Non-Members: Adults $40 | Children $30


    18. This is a ticketed event that includes access to museum and galleries.


    20. Let's party like it's 66 million years ago!

  • Holiday Shopping Nights at Darwin & Co.

    Wednesday Dec 3, 10, 17 • 5-7PM


    1. Make your Wednesday evenings in December merry and bright! 🌟


    3. Join us December 3rd, 10th, and 17th from 5–7 p.m. for extended holiday shopping hours at Darwin & Co., located at the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum. Shop our array of unique, educational, and local gifts for everyone on your list - from dino fans to nature lovers - and come ready to decorate your own piece of wrapping paper for your purchases! Quarry Grounds Café will have a special mulled cider available for purchase among other goodies. Unwind in our beautifully decorated lobby space and enjoy an evening of peaceful holiday shopping! 🛍️ Free event-no tickets or admission required. Please note: Museum galleries will be closed during shopping nights.

  • Citizen Science Sundays

    Every Last Sunday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM


    1. We’re delighted to introduce Citizen Science Sundays - a free, hands-on program where visitors of all ages can take part in real scientific research. Held every last Sunday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM, before the museum halls open to the public, these sessions spotlight a unique citizen science project each week. Guests can explore new tools, contribute data, and connect with both local and global scientific efforts.


    3. For more information, check out our citizen science blog: https://www.efm.org/learn/citizen-science-sundays


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