The community is invited to experience the simple warmth and beauty of Christmas past as our historic village brings to life the holiday traditions of yesteryear with Vermilionville’s Old Time Christmas. The program begins on December 8-12 and resumes again on December 15-18 and December 22-23 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. There will also be a family day on December 12 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. where everyone can experience our historic village during the holidays. Visitors will have the chance to take a self-guided tour with a special event program to see firsthand some of the Christmas and New Years traditions from the 17 and 1800s like making santons ("little saints"), candles, soap, natural decorations, citrus pomanders and more.

Nearby, at the L’Hangar á Bateau (Boat Shed), you will meet Papa Noël, the French Santa Claus, who was actually a trapper that would deliver presents such as candy, money or small toys. You may also spot Papa Noël checking out the bonfires down by Le Petit Bayou. Children would light a bonfire and leave their shoes by it so Papa Noël knew where to stop. They would also leave carrots for Papa Noël’s donkey Gui, which is French for Mistletoe.