Frequently Asked Questions
The festival is a Rain or Shine event.
Yes, but there are certain ticketed events and VIP opportunities.
The festival starts Friday, May 26, 2023, in the Aurora Fossil Museum’s Fossil Park. We will have a community picnic, games, opening ceremonies, and an outdoor movie. The movie will be free to watch. For more info on our Friday night Kick Off, visit our full schedule of events.
The NC Fossil Festival Parade will begin on Saturday, May 27th at 11 am on Main Street.
Yes, we will be selling NC Fossil Fest VIP Tickets. They will be available to purchase ONLINE ONLY beginning at 6 pm on Sunday, April 16, 2023. Ticket availability is on a first-come, first-serve basis, are non-refundable, and will be available online only until sold out.
Please follow signs posted on Hwy 33 for festival parking, including volunteer and handicap parking. General parking will be in the large field between Pearl and Chapin Streets.
The Festival Crew volunteers will be providing a free shuttle service for our guests who need assistance traveling to and from the festival to their car.
Basic first aid will be available at each NC Fossil Festival information booth and all Aurora Fossil Museum gift shop locations. Aurora MS will be located near the Aurora Fossil Museum’s Learning Center and Beaufort County Sheriff’s Department Deputies will be patrolling the festival.
NC Fossil Festival merchandise will be available while supplies last at each information booth and all Aurora Fossil Museum gift shop locations.
Fossil Pit Hours: Saturday, May 27, 2023 the fossil pits will open at 12:00 pm following the parade. They will close at 8:00 pm that evening. Sunday, May 28, 2023 the fossil pits will open at 10:00 am and close at 8:00 pm.
Please keep in mind that the Aurora Fossil Museum’s buildings, grounds, and Fossil Pits will be CLOSED to the public for the week beginning on Monday, May 22, 2023 so we can setup and prepare for the NC Fossil Festival. We will reopen the pits at 12:00 on Saturday, May 27, 2023 following the Parade.
Removal of bulk quantities of the fossil material is not allowed. Please see our Pit Rules for more info.
Small garden tools and screens (sifters) work best. The Aurora Fossil Museum will have digging tools available for sale in the Fossil Park on Saturday and Sunday. All purchases support the nonprofit Aurora Fossil Museum.
Only service animals are allowed.
Please refer to our Festival Rules on our website.
ATMs can be found in convenient locations within the NC Fossil Festival footprint.
Portable restroom facilities and handwashing stations will be available throughout the NC Fossil Festival footprint. No indoor facilities will be available during the festival.
Yes! We will have food vendors and food trucks.
Yes! The Aurora Fossil Museum (AFM) will be open during the festival and will have mini-gift shops located on museum grounds on Saturday and Sunday during the festival. For digging tools/supplies please go to our Fossil Park Gift Shop. For official AFM apparel and other items, please visit the AFM gift shop inside the Main Museum building.
The museum and festival are both ADA friendly and accessible.
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