Cairns Dinosaur Festival organisers hit back at social media criticism

Organisers of a prehistoric themed festival promising to bring life-sized theropods, sauropods and stegosaurs to the streets of Cairns have hit back at claims criticising the event.

ORGANISERS of a prehistoric themed festival promising to bring life-sized theropods, sauropods and stegosaurs to the streets of Cairns have hit back at claims criticising the event.

Dinosaur Festival Cairns, marketed as the biggest prehistoric travelling animatronic science exhibition in Australia, has been plagued by social media rumours which accuse organisers of delays in the supply of pre-purchased tickets and responding to emails.

Large animatronic science exhibits will be on display at the Dinosaur Festival Cairns in September. Picture: Dino Festival Australia Team

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The festival is currently advertising its Cairns exhibition, to be held in September at the Showgrounds.

“I have tried to message about tickets not being sent to my email. Can someone please get back to me,” Terri Ann Barnham wrote on social media.

“Can someone please respond to my emails regarding tickets purchase,” Lisa Ruggeri wrote.

The comments are among dozens of complaints that have flooded the event’s social media pages in recent weeks.

Large life-sized dinosaurs will be on display at the Dinosaur Festival Cairns in September. Picture: Dino Festival Australia Team

But a spokesperson for the festival cited the success of “recent successful events in Adelaide and Toowoomba” and said Cairns residents would be wowed by the exhibition, which would bring 18 life-size dinosaurs to the region, along with amusement rides and other activities.

The spokesperson said the event was an “edifying, educational experience for kids”.

“The exhibition is not only fun to examine up close but children have a unique opportunity to learn a lot about the dinosaur(s) tragic 150 million-year-old mass extinction story and embrace the importance of conservation,” the spokesperson said.

The Dinosaur Festival Cairns offers an opportunity for children to learn about history and walk among animatronic dinosaurs . Picture: Dino Festival Australia Team

Handle My Complaint CEO Jo Ucukalo said concerns had been raised around the event’s ticket purchasing system.

“My biggest concern is the way you have to pre-purchase the tickets directly through the website,” she said.

Ms Ucukalo advised people to always check reviews or talk to others who had already attended an event to see if they had a positive experience, before purchasing tickets.

The Cairns Dinosaur Festival will be held on September 9-13.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $17 for kids (aged 2 to 13), $20 for senior card holders and kids under two enter free.

Originally published as Cairns Dinosaur Festival organisers hit back at social media criticism