This release was issued under a previous government.

Oil Sands Discovery Centre - Fort McMurray

Astronomy Adventures is an out-of-this-world experience for the whole family. Visitors can enjoy cosmic crafts, stellar experiments and Planetarium Star Shows throughout the day. Black light puppet performances by the Odd-Lot Puppetry Society take place at 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30 and 3 p.m. Seating is limited for planetarium and puppet shows - early arrival is recommended.

The Oil Sands Discovery Centre is located at the junction of Highway 63 and MacKenzie Boulevard in Fort McMurray and is open Family Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call 780-743-7167 (dial 310-0000 for toll-free access in Alberta) or visit www.oilsandsdiscovery.com.

Royal Alberta Museum - Edmonton

In addition to free admission on Monday, February 20, the Royal Alberta Museum will offer half price admission between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, February 18-19.

All weekend long, interpreters will welcome guests to the regular and feature galleries. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore two new photo exhibits, Faces of Labour (open February 4) and Winged Tapestries: Moths at Large (opening February 18).

On Monday only, internationally renowned Green Fools Theatre presents Project: Whooping Crane, an outstanding story of friendship, dedication, struggle and survival. Wordlessly weaving together art, science, drama and music, the 55-minute show on the museum theatre stage features life-sized hand, rod, shadow, stilt, and bunraku puppets, marionettes and masked characters. Project: Whooping Crane is a breathtaking and inspiring ecological tale for all ages.

Project: Whooping Crane runs Monday, February 20, at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Seating is limited; no reserved seating - early arrival is recommended.

The Royal Alberta Museum is located at 12845 -102 Avenue, Edmonton, and is open Family Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call 780-453-9100 (dial 310-0000 for toll-free access in Alberta) or visit www.royalalbertamuseum.ca.

Government House - Edmonton

Government House, the stately former residence of Alberta’s Lieutenant Governors, features a selection of authentic historic furnishings and an art collection showcasing the lives and environments of the people of Alberta by many notable Albertan and Canadian artists. Government House tours run every hour on the half hour, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Government House is located on the grounds of the Royal Alberta Museum, 12845 - 102 Avenue, Edmonton and is open Family Day from 11a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Rutherford House - Edmonton

On Family Day from noon to 4 p.m., the whole family can step back to a time of simple family fun with a visit to the elegant home of Alberta’s first Premier and founder of the University of Alberta. Visitors will enjoy comparing their modern lifestyle with that of the Rutherford family in the early twentieth century. They can also trace the journey of Rutherford House after the family sold the residence in 1940: from fraternity house, to threatened structure, to provincial historic resource and heritage jewel. Crafts, old-fashioned games and cookies baked in a wood-burning stove round out the fun.

Rutherford House is located on the University of Alberta campus at 11153 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton and is open Family Day from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, visit rutherfordhousehistoricsite.org or call 780-427-3995 (dial 310-0000 for toll-free access in Alberta).

Reynolds-Alberta Museum - Wetaskiwin

Family Day visitors to the Reynolds-Alberta Museum will have a final chance to enjoy the museum’s current feature exhibit, Luxury Cars of the Roaring Twenties (closing February 29). Including a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost and the only Duesenberg on public display in Canada, Luxury Cars featuresmore than 25 rolling status symbols from the time when automobiles definitively came into their own as features of modern life.

The Reynolds-Alberta Museum is located at 6426 - 40 Avenue, Wetaskiwin, two kilometres west of town on Highway 13. Open Family Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.reynoldsalbertamuseum.com or call 780-361-1351 (dial 310-0000 for toll-free access in Alberta).

Royal Tyrrell Museum - Drumheller

Family Day is a great day for a family road trip to the Royal Tyrrell Museum. Throughout the weekend, the whole family can enjoy two free shows in the auditorium - Passion for the Past running every hour on the hour, and Behind the Scenes running every hour on the half hour. Also throughout the weekend, visitors can get their hands dirty by making their own fossil cast to keep - please note there is a material charge of $8 for this program.

On Monday, February 20, from 1:30 to 4 p.m., kids can show off their creativity and transform themselves into a duck-billed dinosaur by making their own free “head crest” hat to keep.

The Royal Tyrrell Museum is located six kilometres northwest of Drumheller on Highway 838 and is open Family Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call 403-823-7707 (dial 310-0000 for toll-free access in Alberta) or visit www.tyrrellmuseum.com.

Lougheed House - Calgary

Visitors can marvel at the George Webber Sandstone City photographic exhibit, get creative with children's sand art activities hosted by Heart Studio, pose for a vintage family photograph and participate in the museum's first-ever photo competition for adults and children in partnership with The Camera Store. Brunch will be available in The Restaurant (reservations: 403-410-9288).

Lougheed House is located at 707 - 13th Avenue SW, Calgary, and is open Family Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call 403-244-6333 (dial 310-0000 for toll-free access in Alberta) or visit www.lougheedhouse.com.

Frank Slide Interpretive Centre - Crowsnest Pass

The whole family will enjoy a day out at the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre. There will be special exhibits and presentations by the Bellevue Underground Mine and the Crowsnest Pass Museum.

Visitors can explore display galleries featuring first-hand accounts of Canada's deadliest rockslide, interactive computers, hands-on science displays and award-winning audio-visual presentations.

The Frank Slide Interpretive Centre is located 1.5 kilometres off Highway 3, in the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass and is open Family Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call 403-562-7388 (dial 310-0000 for toll-free access in Alberta) or visit www.frankslide.com

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump - near Fort McLeod

Celebrate the “Full Moon of the Eagle”, a special program featuring a traditional Blackfoot name transfer for Spirit the Eagle from the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre. Other activities include Napi’s Puppet Theatre, Alberta Birds of Prey, simulated archaeological dig program, children’s face painting, arts and crafts, and guided tours of the interpretive centre - celebrating 25-years in 2012.

10 a.m.

Facility opens - guided tours begin and run all day

10:30 a.m.

Living off the Land/Simulated Dig

11 a.m.

Napi’s Puppet Theatre - first showing

11a.m. - 3 p.m.

Kids’ Face Painting

Noon - 4 p.m.

Alberta Birds of Prey Display

1 - 3 p.m.

Family Crafts

1 p.m.

Napi’s Puppet Theatre - second showing

1:30 p.m.

Living off the Land/Simulated Dig

2:00 p.m.

Spirit the Eagle, of the Alberta Birds of Prey, receives a Blackfoot name

3 p.m.

Napi’s Puppet Theatre - third showing

3:30 p.m.

Living off the Land/Simulated Dig

All activities are on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is suggested upon arrival. 

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is located 18 kilometres northwest of Fort Macleod on Secondary Highway 785 and is open Family Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call 403-553-2731 (dial 310-0000 for toll-free access in Alberta) or visit www.head-smashed-in.com.

Remington Carriage Museum - Cardston

The Remington Carriage Museum celebrates Family Day with an old fashioned kids’ carnival featuring carnival games, old fashioned demonstrations and carriage rides (weather permitting).Game tickets are 25 cents each or 5 tickets for $1. A leather stamping activity and carriage rides are $2 per person. Visitors can also take part in The History Hunt, a fun and educational historical challenge in the gallery. The Family Day event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

All activities are on a first-come, first-served basis. Program activities and prices are subject to change.

The Remington Carriage Museum is located at 623 Main Street in Cardston and is open Family Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call 403-653-5139 (dial 310-0000 for toll-free access in Alberta) or visit www.remingtoncarriagemuseum.com.

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Media inquiries may be directed to:

Shauna Allen
Oil Sands Discovery Centre
780-743-7167
[email protected]

Deborah Andrews
Royal Alberta Museum
780-453-9100
[email protected]

Christine Taylor
Government House
780-427-2281
[email protected]

William Mitchell
Rutherford House Provincial Historic Site
780-427-3995
[email protected]

Robert Mein
Remington Carriage Museum
403-653-5139
[email protected]

Cynthia Blackmore
Reynolds-Alberta Museum
780-361-1351
[email protected]

Leanna Mohan
Royal Tyrrell Museum
403-820-6208
[email protected]

Cathy Pisony
Frank Slide Interpretive Centre
403-562-7388
[email protected]

Quinton Crow Shoe
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump
403-553-2731
[email protected]

To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.