Wander Minnesota: Omnifest 2015
The weather is unreliable at best in January for Minnesota, but if you need to escape the reality of cold, snow, and/or slush and mud, check out the annual Omnifest at St. Paul's Science Museum of Minnesota. The festival runs through February 19. Plan ahead and pre-order tickets, especially for weekends—this is a popular event.
As always, the Science Museum has a diverse and highly regarded collection of films to enjoy while wallowing in the expansive Omnitheater. This year's choices will take you from D-Day to ocean depths and out into space.
"D-Day: Normandy 1944" is an enormous tribute to the WWII turning point, showing the hundreds of "Skytrains" leaving England on the eve of D-Day. Last year marked the 70th anniversary of this critical battle. Tom Brokaw narrates and pays tribute to the people who lost their lives during this operation.
From 1944 to current events. "Hubble" takes viewers out into space and allows them to watch as astronauts conduct repairs on the Hubble Space Telescope and view some of the amazing images this telescope has collected.
"The Greatest Places" is a Science Museum original film that visits seven extremely geographically diverse places on earth, including the Namib Desert, home to the highest sand dunes in the world.
"The Living Sea" uncovers mysteries and beauties of the oceans, including humpback whales and colorful coral. Narrated by Meryl Streep with music by Sting.
"Flight of the Butterflies" follows the migration of monarch butterflies, tiny, delicate creatures who annually undertake one of the longest migrations on earth. This is sure to be spectacular on the Omnitheater screen.
What else is happening in our state? Be sure to check out the 10 p.m. Sunday night WCCO newscasts, where you can learn more in the weekly segment, Finding Minnesota.
