The community is invited to celebrate “Holiday Traditions in the Dunes” on Saturday, December 5, from 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. There will be live holiday music, tour two historic homes all decked out in their holiday finest, children can make an ornament, and even get a free taste of some traditional holiday treats.
A free shuttle bus that runs between Chellberg Farm and the Bailly Homestead will also be available.
Tour the Chellberg farmhouse and learn all about the Christmas customs brought to this area by Swedish settlers. Volunteers, in traditional dress, will share the legends of Jul Tomte (Santa) and Santa Lucia.
In the kitchen, a woodstove provides warmth to accompany Swedish Christmas cookies and a display of a typical holiday feast.
Walk the trail or take a free shuttle to the Bailly Homestead, a National Historic Landmark, to discover the French-Canadian holiday customs that may have been practiced by pioneer Joseph Bailly and his family. Listen to traditional stories and songs in the homestead, see a traditional food display and get a taste of Yule Log cake. At the fur cabin, learn about the winter activities of the fur traders and warm up with some hot apple cider.
Explore modern holiday traditions all afternoon at either the park’s Visitor Center or Paul H. Douglas Center.
While at the visitor center, the Eastern National Bookstore offers some gift ideas. At the Paul H. Douglas Center, there is a trail through Miller Woods after which free hot chocolate and snacks are available to warm guests.
For more information on this or other programs at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, visit the park website at www.nps.gov/indu/-planyourvisit or contact our information desk at 219- 395-1882.
