5:24 PM 4/9/1997
By RUTH RENDON
Copyright 1997 Houston Chronicle
American and Russian customs -- including an exhibit of Russian space artifacts traveling outside of Russia for the first time -- will come together in Nassau Bay this weekend during the second annual Russian Festival. Activities are planned at Space Center Houston, Nassau Bay City Park and other area sites.
The festival, celebrating Nassau Bay's sister-city relationship with Star City, Russia, as well as joint U.S.-Russian space ventures, opens today and continues through Sunday.
Festivities will start with a business luncheon today, followed by a business forum at Space Center Houston. At 5 p.m., state Sen. Buster Brown and state Rep. Mike Jackson will read the state Legislature's proclamation declaring Space Explorers' Day, which corresponds with the Russian Cosmonauts' Day and will be celebrated Saturday.
Following the proclamation, NASA dignitaries and Russian space officials will communicate with cosmonauts and American astronaut Jerry Linenger, who are aboard the Mir space station.
Visitors to Space Center Houston tonight will be entertained by the Caravan, strolling musicians performing on traditional Russian instruments.
From 6 to 7 p.m., festival-goers will be treated to a hot-air balloon glow outside of facility, The Clear Lake Symphony will perform.
The evening events at Space Center Houston are free. Space Center Houston is at 1601 NASA Road 1.
On Saturday, the festival will move to Nassau Bay Park, which is on Upper Bay Road, just south of NASA Road 1.
The day will start at 7 a.m. with a hot-air balloon inflation featuring Nassau Bay space-shuttle balloon, followed by an 8 a.m. fun run benefiting the Ronald McDonald Houses of Houston and Galveston and breakfast at 9:30 a.m. For fun-run details, call 281-333-5244.
Entertainment is planned at the park until 7 p.m. A variety of musical performances, theater presentations and dance acts will reflect both American and Russian culture.
A fireworks display is scheduled at 7 p.m. Admission to park events is free.
Also on Saturday:
An exhibit of Russian icons, paintings and photographs will be displayed 10
a.m.-4 p.m. at the Nassau Bay Hilton, 3000 NASA Road 1, and Russian heirloom
dolls will be shown at Days Inn, 2020 NASA Road 1.
A Russian film festival is scheduled 10 a.m.-noon and 2-4 p.m. at the
Holiday Inn, 1300 NASA Road 1.
The First in Space -- The Star City Cosmonauts' Collection will open at Nassau Bay City Hall, 1800 NASA Road 1.
The exhibit will be open to the public 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and noon-5 p.m. Sundays, through July 13. Admission is $5, with Nassau Bay residents admitted for $2.50.
For exhibit information, call 281-333-5700.
On Sunday, festivities will move back to Space Center Houston. From noon to 5 p.m., the center will celebrate Russian Festival Day. Discount tickets of $8.35 for adults and $6.35 for children are available at the Nassau Bay City Hall.
For more information about the festival, call 281-333-4211.