– Hundreds of dinosaurs on Weymouth Beach to kick off half term-
What a way to start the season in Weymouth! Today’s Dino Race brought colour, crowds and more than 320 participants to the seafront, with runners of all ages donning inflatable dinosaur suits and racing along the beach in front of hundreds of spectators.
The event, delivered by We Are Weymouth, operating as the town’s Business Improvement District, has firmly established itself as a signature fixture in the town’s spring calendar. This year’s turnout exceeded expectations, with visitors travelling from across the UK form destinations such as Birmingham, Nottingham and London to take part and watch.
Adding to the excitement, animatronic dinosaurs roamed the town centre and beachfront throughout the day, drawing huge crowds and stopping shoppers in their tracks. From towering T-Rex appearances to close encounters with raptors, the lifelike dinosaurs created plenty of photo moments and helped extend the event buzz beyond the race itself, encouraging visitors to explore the wider town.
Prizes were awarded by Traitors star James Baker, who joined organisers on the beach to congratulate winners and pose for photos with participants. His appearance added an extra layer of excitement and attracted further spectators to the finish line celebrations.
Dawn Rondeau-Irvine, Chief Operations Officer at We Are Weymouth, said: “After months of planning, we are delighted that the event attracted hundreds of visitors from across the UK to Weymouth. With more than 300 registrations and large crowds gathering to watch, the turnout exceeded expectations. Weymouth BID, operating as We Are Weymouth, is extremely proud of this signature event, which marks the start of the season and highlights Weymouth as a fantastic destination to explore.”
With hotels, cafés and shops reporting strong trade, and mass coverage on social media, the event delivered not just entertainment but a tangible boost for the town centre and seafront businesses.
Weymouth’s annual Dino Run delivered excitement, colour and star appeal on Saturday, with a strong field of runners and two celebrity participants adding extra sparkle to the event.
Winner Nathan Wilmington stormed to victory in the 5k race, crossing the line in just over 16 minutes. Hot on his heels was James Hughes, who led for much of the course. Hughes admitted his elaborate dinosaur outfit slowed him down, laughing that he’s “determined to fix that for next year,” describing the race as a “crazy event” that he loved every minute of.
Joining the fun were two high profile competitors who proved a major hit with spectators.
James Baker, known from The Traitors on BBC, who presented the awards alongside the town’s Mayor and praised the incredible turnout and atmosphere, bringing plenty of humour and enthusiasm to the day.
“The sun shone on every dinosaur out there – and what a sight it was! Fantastic to see so many faces, young and old, all charging along Weymouth beach. I hope everyone comes back next year so it can get even bigger and mightier… a bit like some of those dinosaur costumes! This event is brilliant for the town, so well done We Are Weymouth – I’m delighted even more people supported it this year. And I hope everyone stays FAITHFUL to it next year!”
— James Baker, Faithful, BBC’s The Traitors
Also, on the start line was “Terry Rex”, the world record holding marathon runner famous for completing the fastest marathon (In Norway) dressed as a dinosaur. Running in his full inflatable costume, he became one of the standout sights of the event. Terry finished third and said he signed up the moment he heard Weymouth was hosting a dinosaur run.
Behind his playful eightfoot dino-persona is a deeply personal mission: Terry continues to raise money for cancer research in memory of someone close to him who died from a brain tumour. Several family members have also been affected, and he has undergone treatment himself.
“It’s a cause very close to my heart,” he said, adding that using fun and spectacle helps draw attention to issues that matter.
The Dino Race kicked off Weymouth’s Dino Week this February half term where visitors and locals can take part in dino events and activities all week long:
- Free dinosaur crafts
- A free AI Dino Trail
- The Dino Loyalty Card Trail – participants collect stamps from local businesses and enter a completed card to win a prize
- Jurassic Earth (ticketed experience), featuring live dinosaur encounters, a hatching dinosaur egg and baby hatchlings
- Five new fossils launching as part of the expanded free fossil trail
https://weareweymouth.co.uk/fossil-trail-2025/
