EUGENE, Ore. - (Dec. 3, 2010) - The University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History, in cooperation with FOOD for Lane County and KLCC, will present its annual Winter Solstice Celebration from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17. The event at the museum, 1680 E. 15th Ave., in Eugene, is free with a nonperishable food donation for FOOD for Lane County.

The community celebration will bring together cultural traditions, the science of the solstice and perspectives on sustainability.

"We want to celebrate cultures past and present and also consider how we as a community want to move into the future," says Ann Craig, assistant director for education at the museum. "Enjoying the diversity and similarities of winter traditions and combining that with environmental sustainability seemed like a great way to celebrate and engage our community."

The solstice celebration will kick off with family activities, basketry demonstrations, food and live music from The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts Jazz Academy, lead by Joe Manis. Performances will continue throughout the evening at the museum and the Many Nations Longhouse with songs and stories from Uncle Bunkle, storytelling with Anun Toké and dancing by the Chinese American Benevolent Society's Lion Dancers. Weavers Patricia Donohue, Sheila Tasker, KreeKree Snyder and Donna Sakamoto Crispin will demonstrate traditional basketry techniques with local materials.

Bikes from UO Outdoor Program will be onsite for visitors to pedal and help generate the electricity needed for the event. At 6:30 p.m., physics Professor Gregory Bothun will present "Environmental Cosmology and Planetary Citizenship," a lecture about becoming a more sustainable civilization by understanding the universe and adopting a cosmological perspective.

Past and Presents, the museum store, will offer nature-inspired and educational gifts for holiday shopping. Museum memberships will be available for those interested in purchasing a gift that gives throughout the year. Food and raffle tickets will be offered for purchase in the Galleria.

This year's actual winter solstice - when Earth's axial tilt is farthest from the sun - will occur at 3:38 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on Dec. 21. The solstice also marks the shortest day of the year and the first day of winter.

The UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History will close for winter break after Sunday, Dec. 19, and will reopen Wednesday, Jan. 5.

Contact: Judi Pruitt, UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History Assistant Director of Visitor Services, judip@uoregon.edu

Links: Museum of Natural and Cultural History website (natural-history.uoregon.edu/) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/oregonnaturalhistory)