Special gem-themed activities and life size T-Rex balloon sculpture February 14 to 16, 2009
Family Day Long Weekend is filled with fun at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) where young visitors can mine for gems, pan for gold, and design crowns and tiaras from Saturday, February 14 to Monday, February 16, 2009. The weekend’s activities – inspired by the recent opening of the Teck Suite of Galleries: Earth’s Treasures and the current Nature of Diamonds exhibition – kick off Saturday with the unveiling of a diamond-themed ice sculpture on the Bloor St. Plaza, followed by a live ice sculpting demonstration in the afternoon. Indoor activities take place throughout the Museum from 11 am to 4 pm and are included with general ROM admission.
Ice will not be the only thing sculpted on Family Day Long Weekend. A life-size T-Rex balloon sculpture, by master balloonist Mark Verge, awaits visitors in the Hyancith Gloria Crystal Court. This 39-foot (11-metres) must-see sculpture consists of 1,400 balloons. Watch for dinosaur mascots Gordo and Gertie who will be touring the Museum and welcoming families to pose for pictures, and special appearances by Harry from the hit children's show Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs.
Canada Court will be buzzing with activity all weekend. Here, children can design their own gemstone crowns and tiaras and construct scientific diamond models to take home, sift through mine gravel for gems, and pan for gold. The Hands-on Biodiversity Gallery is filled with interactive fun, including touch tables and live bees, frogs and fish. In the CIBC Discovery Gallery young visitors can try on armour and costumes, and dig for dinosaur bones.