Winterlude kicks off at Museum of Civilization – Feb. 5

February 5, 2010 · Filed Under Festivals in the News, News

By Tony Lofaro
The Ottawa Citizen

OTTAWA — The 32nd edition of Winterlude opens Friday night at the Canadian Museum of Civilization with a splash that includes, among other special effects, a musical fireworks show.

The opening events take place indoors and outside the museum beginning at 7 p.m.

The evening includes The National Parcs, three musicians and a VJ who use strong lyrics and visuals to promote positive environmental messages in their show Timbervision. As well, those attending will see The Mythical Creatures on Stilts showcase with larger-than-life animal characters on stilts, and Nite-Lite, an interactive installation by artist Alexandra Gonzalez-Vucina that borrows from the concept of Lite-Brite, the popular toy from the ’60s and ’70s.

Glacialis is an original performance piece by composer/percussionist Jesse Stewart who produces sounds from very unlikely sources. H2Orchestra features a hydraulophone, the world’s first and only water-based musical instrument which was invented by Canadian artist Steve Mann. Their performance will be in an outdoor bathtub.

Fireworks beginning at 8:50 p.m. will explode to musical accompaniment and can be viewed from the museum grounds, Major’s Hill Park or from Jacques Cartier Park. The fireworks soundtrack will be broadcast live on CHIN Radio, 97.9 FM.

After, DJ Misstress Barbara spins tunes outdoors in a giant bubble. Improvised dance moves to the music of DJ MIsstress Barbara will come from Thomas Clair, Rhonda Dextor, Driven Dance and Culture Shock. And inside the museum, Saltarello, a three-piece band from Rouyn-Noranda will perform instruments from different cultures.

Over at Major’s Hill Park, the Flying Canucks will showcase their freestyle ski and snowboard skills with extreme sports demonstrations. Jacques Cartier Park will also be the scene for the Tethered Hot Air Balloon that lights up and presentations of winter-inspired, short animated films will be screened on a giant snow screen.

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Tags: Canada’s Capital Region, Canadian Museum of Civilization, National Capital Commission, NCC, Ottawa Festivals, Rideau Canal Skateway, winter festival, winterlude