|
Celebrate the Academy’s 150th Anniversary
September 6 & 7, 2003
San Francisco (July 18, 2003) - On the first weekend of
September, the Music Concourse in front of the Academy will be transformed
into an outdoor festival in honor of the California Academy of Sciences’
150th year. The weekend outdoor festival will feature two full days of
live music, a giant Century Ferris wheel, free birthday cake and dozens
of nature-inspired activities for families. More than 20,000 people are
expected.
Mark your calendar for Saturday, September 6 from 11 am
to 8 pm and Sunday, September 7 from 11 am to 6 pm. The festival is free
and open to the public. Visitors who ride bikes or take public transit
will also receive free admission to the museum. As always, museum admission
is free for all members.
Throughout the weekend, the Academy will showcase science
demonstrations, naturalist interpretations of live animals, solar viewing,
live music, children’s entertainment, street festival foods and free
cake.
In addition to learning more about our environment, festival
revelers will enjoy two full days of headline musical acts on the main
stage in the historic Spreckles Temple of Music band shell. Musicians
include American Ragtime, the Golden Gate Park Band, Lee Press-on and
the Nails, Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums, Swing Session, Vivendo de
Pão, and one for the kids, The Banana Slug String Band.
Other highlights of the two-day festival include these free
programs:
Wild Cats
Guaranteed to “wow” children and adults alike, wild cats from
around the world will be on view. Naturalists bring live cats on stage
to discuss the cats’ delicate habitats and natural behaviors. Visitors
will be able to view a Canadian Lynx, a Siberian Lynx, a Cougar, and a
Cheetah each day.
 |
| Great horned owl,
Bubo virginianus; photo: Gerald And Buff Corsi/CAS |
Raptor Rap
Learn about predator prey relationships when these birds of a feather
are on the children’s stage with a naturalist. See a Great Horned
Owl, a Peregrine Falcon, an American kestrel, and a Turkey Vulture on
stage each day.
Hither, Slither, and Yon
Slithery snakes and raucous reptiles will be on hand in this program,
when naturalist Chris Giorni brings a Red-tailed boa, a Burmese Python,
an African spurred tortoise as well as frogs, toads and lizards on stage
to discuss the habits and habitats of these slippery friends.
Bat Ma’am Patricia Winters
In the full light of day, view a variety of bat species found in California
on stage with Bat Ma’am Patricia Winters. Ms. Winters, or Bat Ma’am,
introduces to audiences the ecological importance of these night flying
creatures.
Draw Me a Story
Ane Rovetta uses the art of storytelling and illustration to teach listeners
about nature. As an accomplished illustrator and naturalist, Ms. Rovetta
weaves and illustrates tales (and tails) to the young and young at heart,
teaching her listeners about the natural world.
The American Tradition of Ragtime
Enjoy popular dance hall and theater music from the turn of the last century.
Using original ragtime orchestrations from director David Reffkin's large
collection, the group performs lively and engaging selections from its
musical repertoire. Ragtime is arguably the first truly American form
of music, predating jazz.
Taiko: The Art of Japanese Drumming
The internationally renowned San Francisco Taiko Dojo, led by Master Artist
Seiichi Tanaka, was the first taiko group in the U.S. and continues to
lead the way in modern taiko interpretation worldwide. In this program,
senior ensemble members Heidi Varian and David Gonzalez present the four
elements of taiko–communication, respect, power, and spirit.
Presidio Performing Arts Foundation Children’s Dance Theatre
Dancing Across Cultures is the Presidio Children’s Dance Theatre’s
highly successful performance of the folk dances of 25 nations. It is
fast paced and exciting with authentic and colorful costumes from the
folklore traditions.
And More...
• Eco Maze
• Red Panda Acrobats
• Rolling Rainforest
• Marine Mammal Center Whale Bus
• Story Time
• Solar Viewing and Paper Cup Planetariums
• Scientific Demonstrations
# # # #
|
