Christmas at the Canal in Delphi on Dec. 6 offers free events steeped in history

Lafayette Journal & Courier

DELPHI, IN — Wabash & Erie Canal Park invites families and friends to step back in time and experience a free Christmas celebration.

Christmas at the Canal will be Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1030 N. Washington St. in Delphi.

According to a news release, “This event is the park’s heartfelt gift to the community during a season when every dollar counts: admission, parking, activities and tours are all completely free of charge. Visitors will be welcomed into a winter wonderland of yesteryear, where the sights, sounds and scents of an old-fashioned Christmas come to life.”

In the Canal Center’s reception hall, dozens of local artisans will offer a variety of handmade goods.

The heart of the celebration takes place in the park’s 1850s Pioneer Village, where costumed interpreters make history come alive. Families can visit Santa Claus in one of the charming log cabins and snap a photo to remember the day, the release said.

Cozy fires will burn in the cabins’ hearths as volunteers demonstrate historic trades and crafts, oand visitors can sample warm cider and cookies while learning about life in an Indiana canal town nearly two centuries ago.

Free tours will be offered of both the Wabash & Erie Canal Museum and the restored 1844 Reed Case House. The museum’s hands-on exhibits and interactive models provide a fun, educational look at Indiana’s transportation history, while the Case House offers a glimpse into the elegant architecture and domestic life of the 19th century.

Guests can join in a carol singalong in the park’s historic White Chapel, or enjoy live music in the Reed Case House, where the pump organ will share traditional holiday tunes.

“Christmas at the Canal is one of our favorite traditions,” Mike Tetrault, executive director of the Wabash & Erie Canal Park, said in the release. “It’s our way of giving back to the community that supports us all year long.”