New season of Nature Nocturne parties kicks off on September 20 at the Canadian Museum of Nature

Where else in Ottawa can you party with a dinosaur or a blue whale?

Nature Nocturne—the popular Friday night social extravaganza at the Canadian Museum of Nature—returns this fall for another round of  exciting monthly events, each one with a different theme.

“Since the launch in January, more than 7,500 people have come to Nature Nocturne,” says Cynthia Iburg, who coordinates adult programs at the museum. “Themes have ranged from the Arctic to Star Wars, with a huge, positive response from the Ottawa community.”

Nature Nocturne is a unique program that combines mixing, mingling, gallery visits, new exhibitions, music, dancing, food stations, bars, crafts or some other form of artistic expression, and sometimes art installations as well. “Our 35-and-under target audience has really embraced the concept of socializing, dancing and museum discovery all in one place,” adds Iburg. “And where else in Ottawa can you party with a dinosaur or a blue whale?”

The glass Queens’ Lantern above the main entrance transforms into a hot and happening dance floor. DJ TDot, who has spun tunes at most of the Nocturnes, will be back for the new series. Live bands will often be on the roster too.

Visitors can wander through the galleries, which are open until midnight. Often, friends gather to take pictures of themselves next to the dinosaurs or big mammals. All photos tweeted with the hashtag #NatureNocturne are projected onto the big wall in the atrium, providing fun opportunities to see what others are up to during the night.

Another popular element is the crafting. “Adults like the opportunity to play,” says Iburg. “We’ve set up craft areas where, depending upon the theme of the night, you could make a colorful bug, inukshuk or a Star Wars foam figure. We’ll be continuing the hands-on activities in this upcoming series.”

The dates for the 2013-14 series are: September 20, October 25, November 22, January 24, February 28, March 28, April 25 and May 23.

Nature Nocturne runs from 8 PM to midnight. Tickets are $20 each (tax is included but food and beverages are sold separately). It is highly recommended that people purchase their tickets in advance, either online or at the door. For tickets and details about the program, visit nature.ca/nocturne.

The Canadian Museum of Nature is at 240 McLeod St, Ottawa. Follow the museum on Twitter (@museumofnature) or like the museum on Facebook.