There are just five weeks left of Dippy the dinosaur’s stay at Norwich Cathedral and plans are now being put in place for a spectacular farewell for the Natural History Museum’s iconic Diplodocus cast – with a special preview event for emergency services workers.
Dippy at Night will see the much-loved dinosaur spectacularly lit up in an entirely new way in the Nave of Norwich Cathedral, giving visitors the chance to experience a different side to the nation’s favourite dinosaur in the final days of his nationwide tour. They will also be able to explore the rest of Dippy’s medieval home in all its evening splendour and discover even more dinosaurs under the moonlight in the Cloister.
A special Blue Light Dippy at Night preview will be taking place on Sunday 24 October. Blue Light workers are invited to apply for free tickets via bluelighttickets.co.uk
Please click on the time slots below to apply for tickets:
7pm
7.30pm
8pm
8.30pm
Following the preview evening, Dippy at Night will be open to the general public on October 25-26 and 28-30.
The Dean of Norwich, the Very Revd Jane Hedges, said: “We hope Dippy at Night will be a very special celebration of our wonderful prehistoric guest who has brought so much joy to so many people during his stay here at the Cathedral.
“At the same time, we also wanted to take this occasion to say a heartfelt thank you to all the emergency services workers who have worked so tirelessly throughout the Coronavirus pandemic over the last year and a half.
“Our special Blue Light Dippy at Night preview event is just a small token of thanks for all that they do and we hope those who choose to join us with their families will have a wonderful time.”
Norwich Cathedral is organising the Blue Light Dippy at Night preview event in partnership with The Lady Dannatt, the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, who will be there along with other civic dignitaries to welcome the emergency services workers and their families.
The Lady Dannatt said: “This is a brilliant opportunity for Norfolk to say an enormous thank you to all our outstanding Blue Light Services who have been so fantastic during the pandemic.”
As well as seeing Dippy lit up in spectacular style by Viking Stage Lighting, people will also be able to enjoy the return of the 21 GoGoDiscover T. rex sculptures that decorated Norwich’s streets this summer. The T. rexes, which formed a citywide trail organised by children’s charity Break and Wild In Art, will all be on display under the stars in the Cathedral Cloister for Break’s Farewell for Now event that will also be open during the Dippy on Tour exhibition’s daytime opening hours.
Visitors will also be able to wander around the wider Dippy on Tour exhibition, with artist Mark Reed’s wave of 3,000 fish set to look especially stunning in the evening light, meanwhile the east end of the Cathedral will be open for people to explore the building’s magnificent Norman architecture by night.
Blue Light workers are invited to apply for free tickets for the Blue Light Dippy at Night preview on Sunday 24 October via bluelighttickets.co.uk
Please click on the time slots below to apply for tickets:
7pm
7.30pm
8pm
8.30pm
Following the preview evening, Dippy at Night will be open to the general public on October 25-26 and 28-30 from 7pm to 9.30pm. Entry is free and there is no need to book in advance although people may need to queue during busy periods.
The daytime exhibition Dippy on Tour: A Natural History Adventure also continues at Norwich Cathedral until Saturday 30 October 2021. Entry to the daytime exhibition is free and there is no need to book in advance (unless part of a group of more than six people).
The exhibition is usually open 10am-4pm Monday to Friday, from 7pm until 9pm on Friday evenings and from 9.30am to 5.30pm on Saturdays. Visitors are advised to check our opening hours webpage before visiting as there are sometimes changes to opening hours due to Dippy’s home in Norwich being a busy working Cathedral.
