The holiday season at the Old Port: magical! A new tradition with the Final Countdown on New Year's Eve

At the Science Centre: the Holiday promo!

MONTREAL, Dec. 11, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The Old Port and the Montréal Science Centre invite people to come and enjoy the magic of the holiday season with a wide array of activities for the entire family.

This year, the Old Port is inviting young and old alike to experience the start of a new tradition with the New Year's Eve celebrations on December 31. New Yorkers celebrate New Year's Eve in Times Square, Rio de Janeiro parties on the beaches of Copacabana, and now Montrealers will be gathering at the Old Port.

At the Science Centre, by adding $5 to their IMAX^®TELUS ticket, visitors will have access to all the exhibitions currently on display, including the play "Le Grand bal de Noël" and the latest exhibition, MUSIK: From Sound to Emotion.

The Final Countdown at the Old Port
Starting at 10 p.m. on December 31, head over to the Grand Ball at Place Jacques-Cartier, presented by Fééries du Vieux-Montréal. At 11:59:50 p.m., Montrealers are invited to the Final Countdown, followed by New Year's fireworks presented by TELUS, which promises to be the most spectacular and impressive display ever presented at the Old Port.

The festivities continue with the New Year's Party courtesy of Coca-Cola. For the first time, people are invited to welcome in 2013 by dancing under the stars until 2 a.m. The promenade across from the Jacques Cartier Quay will be transformed into a huge dance floor with a central stage and a disc jockey. For this occasion, the Skating Rink will be open until 2 a.m.

TELUS Fire on Ice
The TELUS Fire on Ice fireworks extravaganzas are back every Saturday at 8 p.m. until January 5. This year's theme ties in with the exhibition Musik: From Sound to Emotion, presented at the Montréal Science Centre. Each display will highlight an era in popular music that has captured the imagination, from the 1950s to the 2000s. Featured will be Elvis, the Beatles, Bowie, Cher, Leloup, Lady Gaga, Madonna and many others.

The Skating Rink at the Old Port
For the holiday season, from December 22 to January 6, the Skating Rink will be open every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. With its natural ice ring, it is the largest outdoor rink in Montréal. Located on the shores of the majestic St. Lawrence, it offers breathtaking views of the historic district and the city skyline. The Skating Rink is the perfect place to experience the joys of winter to the sounds of an exciting musical program, beginning at 7 p.m.:

• Classical Mondays
• World music Tuesdays
• Alt rock Wednesdays
• Romantic Thursdays
• 80s and 90s Fridays
• Rhythm Saturdays
• "Chansons françaises" Sundays
• Ballroom matinees, Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon

New tree
The holiday season is the perfect opportunity to welcome an original new creation that symbolizes this season of peace and celebration: a magnificent stylized tree nine metres in height. The reusable metallic structure, which is located on Île Bonsecours, is decorated with sparkling energy-efficient LED lights in two shades of white. This dazzling tree will be lit up every evening until the end of winter.

Holiday promo at the Montréal Science Centre
The Montréal Science Centre has a tempting offer for visitors: by adding $5 to their IMAX^®TELUS movie ticket, they'll have access to all the exhibitions on display, including "Le Grand bal de Noël" and MUSIK: From Sound to Emotion.

Three films showing at the IMAX^®TELUS

Santa vs the Snowman 3D: celebrate the spirit of Christmas with this animated 3D classic, overflowing with good cheer and surprises. Lost in the far North, a snowman comes upon Santa's village.

Rocky Mountain Express: Named best film of 2012 by the Giant Screen Cinema Association, Rocky Mountain Express takes the audience on an unforgettable steam train journey through the magnificent Canadian Rockies.

To the Arctic 3D: Tied for the Giant Screen Cinema Association's best film of 2012, this film transports viewers into the lives of a mother polar bear and her two seven-month-old cubs as they struggle to survive in a frigid environment of melting ice, immense glaciers, spectacular waterfalls and snowy peaks.

Exhibitions at the Montréal Science Centre

Musik: From Sound to Emotion gives visitors the opportunity to discover how music can express a whole range of emotions, as they create their own piece of music using a digital music player. With guidance from musicians and scientists in the exhibition's seven zones, they'll choose a rhythm, different melodies and timbres to make their own composition, which they can then share with friends. To celebrate Simple Plan's 10^th year, take a look at how they started and their current success around the world.

Don't miss the permanent exhibitions:

Clic! The Zone for Curious Young Minds is a new space just for kids aged 4 to 7. In a captivating atmosphere, surrounded by shapes and colours, children take part in building a house, designing a rollercoaster, creating shapes and patterns, and blending colours. Each game becomes an opportunity for learning.

• idTV
• Mission Gaia
• Science 26
• Cargo and Technological Showcases.

Ninth edition of the "Grand bal de Noël," a play at the Montréal Science Centre Theatre
(From December 26th until January 6th)
Three musical penguins have tottered in from their far-off ice floe to join the celebrations at the North Pole. But when they arrive, the doors to the party are shut in their faces. To gain entry, they have to write an original Christmas carol on the spot. For Amatin, Ademain and Atemplein, composing a carol in just a few minutes is quite the challenge! Will they find the inspiration they need?

For schedules and more details:
http://www.centredessciencesdemontreal.com/
http://www.vieuxportdemontreal.com/la-patinoire-des-quais.html

Old Port
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Montreal Science Center
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twitter :  @sciencemontreal

TO DOWNLOAD HIGH-RESOLUTION PHOTOS OF WINTER AT THE OLD PORT, CLICK HERE: http://www.vieuxportdemontreal.com/media 

The Old Port of Montréal thanks its principal partner, the Government of Canada.

The Montréal Science Centre acknowledges the support of its presenting partners Hydro-Québec and TELUS, also partner of the IMAX^®TELUS theatre, as well as Yamaha Canada Music, sponsor of the exhibition Musik.

The Old Port thanks its partners TELUS, Sleeman, Coca-Cola and ESKA, and Van Houtte, official partner of the Skating Rink at the Old Port.

 

SOURCE: Old Port of Montréal Corporation

Felipe del Pozo
Publicist
514.283.5879 
Cell: 514.838.4726 
[email protected]