May 15 – 12:30 p.m.
Coffee and Conversation: Beasts Among Us
Museum Curator Nicholette Prince discusses the natural and cultural roots of some of the world’s most enduring mythological creatures. An informal tour of the exhibition Mythic Beasts follows the presentation.
Cascades Salon

May 16, 17 — 11 a.m., 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.
Mythical Unicorns of Vietnam
Celebrate the arrival of our favourite mythical creatures with these captivating Vietnamese Unicorn Dance performances which symbolize wealth and prosperity. Performed by the Vietnamese Buddhist Youth Association.
Grand Hall

May 16, 17 — 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Clay Creatures of the Three Realms
Join artist Erin Robertson and sculpt your very own mythical creature of the air, land or water using paper-clay and mixed media.
Gallery C Entrance

May 17 — 12:30 and 3 p.m.
Mythical Lions of China
Hailin Sun presents the traditional Chinese acrobatic Lion Dance, mimicking the moves of this guardian creature.
Grand Hall

May 28 — 7 p.m. (French)
Lecture: Mythic Creatures – A Canadian Bestiary
Art historian Dr. Edith-Anne Pageot takes you back in time as she links two fascinating visions of the animal kingdom: the famous Codex canadiensis (ca. 1700) by Louis Nicolas and the Bestiaire laurentien (1988) by Aboriginal artist Domingo Cisneros.
Theatre
Tickets $5

May 31 — 1 p.m. (French), 3 p.m. (English)
Coffee and Conversation: The Twinkling Stars — Mythic Creatures in the Night Sky
Astronomy enthusiast Carmen Nadeau discusses the origins and stories behind constellations named after mythical creatures, and shows you how to locate them.
Cascades Salon

June 13 — 2:00 p.m. (English)
Coffee and Conversation: A Terrible Beauty
Mythical creatures continue to fascinate us. Whatever their origin, appearance, activity or purpose, beings such as the windigo, Raven and the manticore are found throughout Canadian myth, folklore and legend. Dr. Rosemarie A. Hoey of Carleton University shares a variety of traits and tales associated with these fantasy creatures. A question-and-answer session follows.
Cascades Salon 

June 14 — 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (French); 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. (English)
On the Lookout for Bigfoot
A sasquatch knows when people are looking for it… And chooses who will be allowed to see it. Storyteller Joe Maple saw one back in 1808, and is here to tell you all about it. You may even catch a glimpse of Bigfoot yourself!  
Gallery C

June 27 and 28 — 10:30  a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Mythic Kite Wars
It’s a battle of the beasts on the Museum’s Waterfall Court! Join kite experts from Vent en Fête for a dazzling aerodynamic performance. Take part in a kite-making workshop from 11:00 a.m. to noon, and 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., and watch your very own imaginary creature take to the skies. Performance is weather permitting.
Cascades Salon and Waterfall Court

July 11 and 12 — 1:00 and 2:00 p.m.
Mythic Shadow Creatures
Stories of fearsome and friendly beings are told in performances of Indonesian-style dance and shadow puppetry. Shadow Puppet workshops from 11:00  a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Presented in partnership with the Embassy of Indonesia.
Grand Hall

July 22 to 26 — 11:00  a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Mythical Creatures in the Backyard
Lend artist Marc Walter a hand as he uses natural elements to create giant outdoor sculptures of mythical creatures, turning the Museum’s Waterfall Court into a fantasy garden guarded by creatures of the land, sea and sky.
Waterfall Court

July 24 — 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (French); 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. (English)
On the Lookout for Bigfoot
A sasquatch knows when people are looking for it . . . and chooses who will be allowed to see it. Storyteller Joe Maple saw one back in 1808, and is here to tell you all about it. You may even catch a glimpse of Bigfoot yourself!
Gallery C

July 25 (various times)
Stories and Legends of Mythic Beasts!
The entire family will enjoy these original tales from some of our most creative storytellers.
Main Lobby

11:30 a.m. (French) — Laurent Glaude talks about his trip to Scotland’s magical elf-inhabited island of Orcas, and his encounters with some unusual mythical creatures.

1:00 p.m. (English) — Ruth Stewart-Verget transports you to the mountains of Tibet, the great plains of China and the raging North Sea, where 2,000-year-old tales of mythical beasts are formed out of thin air!

2:00 p.m. (French) — Michel Farant brings the adventures of his character Ti-Jean to life as he faces imaginary monsters!

3:30 p.m. (English) — Tom Lips presents traditional stories from Europe, Asia and Africa, featuring mythical creatures of the land, sea and sky.   

August 8 and 9 — 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Mythical Unicorns of Vietnam
Celebrate the arrival of one of our favourite mythical creatures — symbolizing peace, happiness and prosperity in Eastern cultures — with captivating performances of the Vietnamese Unicorn Dance. Performed by the Vietnamese Buddhist Youth Association.
Grand Hall

August 8 and 9 — 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Gilded Beasts
Over this two-day period, Canadian artist Kathryn Finter, who specializes in fifteenth-century medieval painting and manuscript illumination, creates a bestiary page using gold leaf and tempera.
Gallery C Entrance

August 8 and 9 — 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Knights in Shining Armour
Rumour has it that mythical creatures have been found lurking throughout the Museum, and the Renfrews Knights are on a quest to hunt them down! Fear not, gentle visitor, for they have taken an oath to defend thee and protect thy Museum! 
Throughout the Museum

August 13 — 1:00 p.m. (English)
Coffee and Conversation: Mythical Meanings in Inuit Art
Dr. Norman Vorano, CMC curator of contemporary Inuit Art, depicts the mythical beasts found in Inuit art, and describes their meaning, symbolism and cultural importance.
Cascade Salon

August 18 — 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (French), 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. (English)
On the Lookout for Bigfoot
A sasquatch knows when people are looking for it . . . and chooses who will be allowed to see it. Storyteller Joe Maple saw one back in 1808, and is here to tell you all about it. You may even catch a glimpse of Bigfoot yourself!
Gallery C

August 22 — 8:00 p.m. to midnight
Mythic Bash!
Step into myths and legends for a fun, whimsical evening of music, magic, psychic readings, medieval-style combat demonstrations, fanciful foods and much more. Come as Beauty, Beast or even as a valiant knight, and invade the Museum.
Grand Hall
Tickets $10

August 29 — 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. (English)
Hunting Sea Monsters
The oceans and lakes of Canada have been home to some of the largest, most terrifying, and most famous sea monsters ever known. Canadian Museum of Nature paleontologist and children’s book author Stephen Cumbaa takes you on a hunt for these legendary sea monsters, and shares stories and images of some that were — and are — very real indeed! Gallery C Entrance

September 19 (various times)
Stories and Legends of Mythic Beasts!
The entire family will enjoy these original tales from some of our most creative storytellers.
Main Lobby

11:30 a.m. (French) — Laurent Glaude talks about his trip to Scotland’s magical elf-inhabited island of Orcas, and his encounters with some unusual mythical creatures.

1:00 p.m. (English) — Ruth Stewart-Verget transports you to the mountains of Tibet, the great plains of China and the raging North Sea, where 2,000-year-old tales of mythical beasts are formed out of thin air!

2:00 p.m. (French) — Join singer and storyteller Marc Delannoy to hear how Hercules challenged a lion, the Hydra, a magical wapiti, sea monsters and much more!

3:30 p.m. (English) — Tom Lips presents traditional stories from Europe, Asia and Africa, featuring mythical creatures of the land, sea and sky.