Grasslands National Park held their Badlands Blast event on Saturday, showcasing southern Saskatchewan's unique fossil bed.

The event was designed to showcase the features that the park has to offer as well as to get young kids interested in paleontology.

Dr. Emily Bamforth, the paleontologist for the Royal Saskatchewan Museum at the T. Rex Discovery Centre, was in attendance, teaching and showing families the basics of paleontology.

The event is meant to give kids a sense of excitement about fossils by conducting an actual fossil dig to plant the idea of becoming a paleontologist in young children's minds.

Brenda Peterson, interpretive coordinator officer at the East Block of Grasslands National Park, said that paleontology is vital for preserving fossils found at the park.

"Like the fossils are resources of Grasslands National Park, and we protect them, but a fossil, when its exposed it will deteriorate, so by having the Royal Saskatchewan Museum work with us in our partnership, we can collect those good specimens and learn secrets of the environment and the animals that were here, and because this area was never glaciated, we can see down 66 million years."

Wagon rides, a BBQ, local musicians, and a kids pavilion were some of the other highlights of the event.

Peterson also said that it was a can't miss for families before school starts.

"It's this time of year where harvest is just starting, and maybe has already started for some, but this is the last chance before school to get together with friends and really have some fun."

Proceeds from the event will go back to the park to make sure that programs like this continue in the future.