Kids and their families can dig for fossils during the Jurassic Quest exhibition.

The largest traveling show celebrating all things dinosaur is coming to The Expo.

Fossils, life-size scientifically accurate replicas, rides and more exhibiting 105 million years of prehistoric animals will take over The Expo, 1 Peninger Road, Central Point, Friday through Sunday, Aug. 18-20. Hours of the show are from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. 

The show’s main focus is on dinosaurs, but it also features various forms of life from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, said Nick Schaefer, a customer experience specialist in education for Jurassic Quest.

He prefers to be known by his show persona, “Prehistoric Nick, Fossil Expert,” he said. Over his years with the company, he’s earned the title as he conducts the fastidious research required to keep the show’s true-to-life, actual-size dinosaurs scientifically accurate.

It isn’t uncommon for the understanding of a dinosaur’s features to change within a matter of months depending on discoveries and new research.

“I do what I can to keep up to date. One of the biggest challenges is spinosaurus,” he said.

The spinosaurus — best known as the dinosaur to eat a cell phone in the “Jurassic Park III” movie — was discovered in 1912 by a German scientist. The only complete skeleton of the species was in a museum in Munich. It was destroyed by Allied bombing in World War II, Schaefer said. Only in the last couple of decades have scientists have been able to piece back together an understanding of the spinosaurus.

“Until recently, we still didn’t have a full specimen like we do with T-rex. We have 30 to 40 T-rex skeletons,” he said.

A spinosaurus specimen is currently being excavated, he said, and in the process the world’s understanding of what this animal looked like has changed, from the shape of the sail on its back to its status as a quadruped.

The show often updates its dinosaurs when they require maintenance or if new information necessitates changes in the dinosaurs’ appearance, depending on the pace of paleontology and the size of the necessary changes. Several species of dinosaur have gained and lost feathers over the years.

The jury is still out on T-rex’s potential feathers, Schaefer, said. Of the few skin impressions available for the species, none show feathers. But they are from parts of the body where scientists believe the animal would not need feathers, he said. Sometimes the public has expressed the opinion that dinosaurs with feathers are “less scary.”

“I think people who say that have never encountered a cassowary,” Schaefer said. Cassowaries, native to Australia and New Guinea, are often described as the world’s most dangerous bird.

In addition to the life-size dinosaurs, the show features a bounce house, rides, arts and crafts and a “baby dinosaur experience.”

Research points to potential long-term benefits for kids with an interest in dinosaurs. 

“Dinosaurs are kind of a gateway science — kids with a sustained interest, like dinosaurs, tend to do better in school and they’re more likely to go into STEM fields,” he said. 

Asked about his favorite part of the show, Schaefer’s answer was two-fold — the fossil experience with its mixture of real and replica fossils, and the reaction of visitors as they see the dinosaurs for the first time. His dedicated research translates into a passion for education at shows. While working the shows, he routinely sees “kids, literally all ages” experience joy, surprise and curiosity all at once.

“When they come through the doors, that look of amazement. The number of times I’ve heard kids say, ‘This is the best day ever!’” Schaefer said.

Cameras are encouraged, strollers are welcome and socks are required for children to enjoy inflatables at the show, according to the Jurassic Quest Facebook page.

Tickets range from $19 to $36. For tickets and more information, see tickets.jurassicquest.com/centralpointor2023. For questions about the event, text 844-346-6411.