Holiday Traditions Program at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

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News Release Date: November 26, 2014
Contact: Ryan Koepke, 219-395-1882

Celebrate “Holiday Traditions in the Dunes” on Saturday, December 6, from 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Enjoy live holiday music and dance, tour two historic homes all decked out in their holiday finest, let the kids make their own holiday decorations, and even get a free taste of some traditional holiday treats. You don’t even have to get chilled thanks to a free shuttle bus that runs between Chellberg Farm and the Bailly Homestead.
 
Tour the Chellberg farmhouse between noon and 3:00 pm 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 as you view the holiday decorations. In the kitchen, see holiday treats being cooked on an old-fashioned woodstove while you savor a Swedish Christmas cookie and see 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. A free shuttle bus takes you back to the parking lot.
 
Stop by the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center at 3:00 pm for a special performance by the dance group Nordic Kids. Watch or join in on dances that celebrate the Scandinavian heritage of some of our early dunes settlers. You can also let the kids settle down a bit by making some traditional holiday decorations in the visitor center’s activity room.
 
At the Paul H. Douglas Center, stretch your legs a bit on the beautiful Miller Woods Trail. Then, warm up with some free hot chocolate and snacks while the children recycle some common household materials to make their very own holiday decorations.
 
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.

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