The Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the biggest public event in the museum’s history. Taking place on Saturday 22 August 2026, The Big Jurassic Birthday Bash will bring together local businesses, charities, conservation organisations and community groups for a day of education, hands on activities, and celebrations across Kimmeridge.
Since opening in 2016, The Etches Collection has welcomed visitors from around the world, supported internationally significant scientific research and helped establish Kimmeridge as one of the UK’s most important locations for Jurassic marine fossils. Ten years on, the museum is marking the occasion by turning the spotlight on the wider community that has played such an important role in its success. Working alongside a range of local partners, including Clavell’s Restaurant and the Kimmeridge Fine Foundation Wild Seas Centre, the event will showcase the very best of Kimmeridge’s natural heritage, local businesses and community spirit. Visitors will be encouraged to explore the village, discover local attractions and take part in activities throughout the day. The celebration also coincides with the 25th anniversaries of both the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and the Kimmeridge Wild Seas Centre, making 2026 a particularly significant year for the village and the wider Dorset coast.
To make the event even more awe-inspiring, traders and artists will be set up in the shadow of our newest exhibition, the UK’s biggest Allosaur and the only real dinosaur on display in Dorset: Big Sara. At 10 metres long, with 8-inch claws, she makes one hell of a backdrop for browsing some of the very best prehistoric goods on the market.
Steve Etches MBE, founder of The Etches Collection, said: “It’s hard to believe ten years have passed since we opened the museum. What started as a personal collection has grown into something far bigger than I ever imagined. This event is our way of celebrating everything we have achieved over the last decade and the location that makes us so special.”
Tickets for the Big Jurassic Birthday Bash are available now through The Etches Collection’s online shop.
