Winterlude at the Canadian Museum of Civilization

GATINEAU, QC, Feb. 4 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Museum of Civilization is proud to partner with the National Capital Commission (NCC) for this year's launch of Winterlude! As the official site for the launch of the festivities taking place from February 5 to 21, 2010, the Museum invites the public to get an early start this Friday and enjoy all the activities to celebrate the opening of this 32nd edition of this annual winter celebration.

In addition to fabulous programs offered outside, great surprises await you inside the Museum. For example, families can visit for free all of the Museum's exhibitions from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. , enjoy arts and crafts, and take part in interactive performances and activities at the Canadian Children's Museum until 9 p.m. The Grand Hall will also be the place to be when the band The National Parcs performs its newest show from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. , while the Saltarello trio opens a musical world without borders from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Events also include special artistic presentations such as mythical creatures on stilts; Glacialis, where the composer and percussionist Jesse Stewart will create original music for instruments built out of ice, and H2Orchestra, which highlights the hydraulophone, the world's only contemporary water-based musical instrument, invented by Canadian Steve Mann . Visitors can also dance the night away to the sounds of DJ Misstress Barbara or be amazed by the Nite-Lite, a large-scale installation by artist Alexandra (Alita) Gonzalez-Vucina that borrows from the concept of the Lite-Brite.

The NCC and the Museum invite both young and not-so-young to a spectacular fireworks display at 8:50 p.m. This dazzling 20-minute musical fireworks extravaganza will showcase an incredible soundtrack. Don't miss this special presentation that will make the launch of Winterlude an unforgettable experience!

The Canadian Museum of Civilization is Canada's largest and most popular cultural institution, attracting more than 1.2 million visitors each year. Its primary role is to preserve and promote the heritage of Canada for present and future generations, thereby contributing to the promotion and enhancement of Canadian identity. It is home to the Canadian Postal Museum and the Canadian Children's Museum. The Museum is the centre for research and public information on the social and human history of the country.

For further information: Media information: Charles Cardinal, Media Relations - NCC, [phone], [email protected]; Stéphanie Verner, Media Relations Officer, [phone], [email protected]; Denise LeBlanc, Media Relations - NCC, [phone], [email protected]