Heureka’s new dinosaur exhibition draws autumn-break crowds

Autumn school holidays brought crowds to Heureka science centre in Vantaa, Yle reported, as visitors explored its new dinosaur exhibition. School breaks begin in most of Finland on Monday.

The exhibition, called The Evolution of Dinosaurs, opened on October 3 and presents the lives and extinction of prehistoric animals that died out 66 million years ago. It features 20 life-size robotic dinosaurs, including a Tyrannosaurus rex, and will remain open until March 2028.

Ulpu Mustonen, 13, and her brother Aulis, 12, travelled from Turku with their godmother, who has made a habit of taking them to Heureka during the autumn break. Aulis said the exhibition was well made but he would have liked more interactive elements.

The siblings jumped when a sound came from the mouth of a 15-metre-tall Datousaurus above them. Ulpu explained that it was a plant-eater with a long neck that could reach leaves in treetops. Aulis added that most dinosaurs ate plants and pointed to the creature’s small teeth.

Both said they were glad to have a week away from school. Ulpu reminded other holidaymakers to get enough sleep, saying eight hours was important.

In week 42, from October 12 to 16, schools are on break in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Tampere, Turku, Jyväskylä, Kuopio, Joensuu and Vaasa. In week 43, from October 19 to 23, the break is scheduled in Oulu, Pori, Lahti, Lappeenranta, Rovaniemi, Kotka and Kouvola.