DUNDURN — This quaint Saskatchewan town witnessed an extraordinary gathering as people of all ages, donning inflatable-dinosaur costumes, flocked to the streets for the Dino Challenge on Saturday, July 1, Canada Day. This unique costume street party aimed to surpass the current Guinness World Record set by Portland, Oregon, with 380 participants in the previous year.
Undeterred by a drizzle, the jubilant atmosphere persisted as "dinosaurs," accompanied by their families and friends danced and revelled throughout the day on the bustling Main Street, just outside the renowned Big Mur's Tavern. Big Mur’s owner Gary Grady organized the event and hosted the festivities in front of his establishment.
Among the enthusiastic participants were Louise Black and Neil Tiettemore, a couple from Saskatoon. They stood out in their matching inflatable T-Rex bone costumes adorned with captivating LED lights that illuminated the crowd as dusk descended.
Tiettemore revealed that their decision to join the celebration stemmed from their weekly visits to Big Mur's, where they savour what they deem to be one of the finest $2 burgers in the region. Upon spotting the event poster, they eagerly embraced the opportunity to be part of this momentous occasion.
"We were immediately drawn to this event and purchased the costumes four months ago. Being here has been immensely enjoyable. The turnout exceeded our expectations, and the weather has been pleasant, not excessively hot or cloudy," shared Tiettemore.
"We want to be unique and the LED lights look even more spectacular when darkness falls. They change colours too, which is simply awesome. Halloween is our favourite season; we have over 50 costumes at home. We love dressing up and are ecstatic to be part of this historic event. We eagerly await the official announcement and the following Guinness World Record certificate," added Black.
Grady proudly declared that an astounding 1,163 "dinosaurs" participated in the festivities, surpassing Oregon's record threefold. Overwhelmed by the turnout, Grady expressed his gratitude, having initially anticipated breaking the record due to the large number of pre-registrations.
"With the early entries we received, we anticipated a figure around that range. However, we never expected such an overwhelming response. We were pleasantly surprised by the extraordinary turnout," Grady revealed to SASKTODAY.ca.
Now, the organizers await confirmation from the Guinness World Records, which will validate their triumph over Oregon's previous record. Grady explained that all relevant data, including numbers and photographs, will be mailed to the organization, with a decision expected within the next month.
Most participants chose to don T-Rex costumes, while some opted for triceratops, brontosauruses, velociraptors, and pterodactyls. Grady emphasized that the event aimed to promote Big Mur’s Tavern and showcase the charming town of Dundurn. The organizers plan to hold the event again next year to surpass their record.
"What began as a modest idea quickly gained momentum. The excitement was contagious, resulting in an unforgettable day of revelry and merriment. We will engage in discussions and plan for next year with great enthusiasm," Grady concluded, beaming with joy.
