Events This Weekend From the Virginia Museum of Natural History

Sign-up your family or group today for an event like no other and help the museum build a 20-foot-long, 10-foot-high dinosaur balloon sculpture inside The Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont Hall of Ancient Life!

World-renowned "airigamist", Larry Moss, and his team of artists will teach participants the art of airigami, as you, family and friends help build the near-life-size sculpture made of biodegradable balloons!

Reservations are currently being taken for families and groups wishing to participate in the event on Saturday, April 20 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday, April 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To reserve your time, simply contact Charlotte Harter at 276-634-4162 or charlotte.harter@vmnh.virginia.gov and name the time you would like to participate. Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis.

"Elastic Park", free for anyone who is covered by a museum membership, is offered as a name-your-own-price event for non-members. The museum encourages all non-members to consider paying the regular museum admission rates, but only requires a minimal payment of $1 per visitor.

Please pass the word along to anyone you think might be interested in participating in this unique opportunity! We hope to see you there!!

"Elastic Park" is made possible by the support of Didi Pancake, HD Web Studio and RTI Martinsville.

On Saturday, April 20, the museum is also offering the annual Earth Day Family Festival at the Smith River Sports Complex! There will be a variety of games, crafts and activities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.! Enjoy the inflatable playhouse, as well as live music by Kim and Jimbo Cary! Even better, a minimum admission rate of $1 will also get you into the museum to take part in "Elastic Park" or vice versa! Free for members! Shuttles will run between the sports complex and museum throughout the day.

No reservations are necessary for the Earth Day Family Festival. Come on out anytime between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and enjoy the fun outside!

Special thanks to the Smith River Sports Complex, Martinsville and Henry County YMCA, and the Martinsville Middle School's SEMAA program for helping make this event possible.