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Enjoy the magic of “First Light” at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons

A “Top 100 Event” for Ontario, Sainte-Marie’s famous “First Light” event returns for its 12th year evenings November 24-25-26 amidst the spectacular glow of over 3,000 candles.

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Best Western Highland Inn  Comfort Inn Midland Little Lake Inn Bed & Breakfast More photos on First Light Ontario Festivals of Light

This year’s First Light event will continue the tradition of hands-on activities and enchanting historical ambience that has made First Light a must-see event for over a decade. Visitors can begin their journey with an inspiring introduction by First Nations Interpreter Chris Walser, followed by a fascinating encampment set up at the entrance to the historic site.   Beautiful candlelit paths will then lead to a variety of fun family activities.  Children can write their own Christmas cards with historic quill pens and make a Christmas mitten craft.  A wolf craft will be presented by Festival du Loup, and the blacksmith’s forge will come alive with 17th century ironworking.  Sainte-Marie’s cookhouse will be filled with tasty Christmas food samples sure to delight all who enter.   Wye Marsh returns with its popular Birds of Prey, and historic re-enactors La Compagnie Franche de la Marine will thrill crowds as they demonstrate musket drill in period costume.  In the visitor foyer, little folks will love making corn husk dolls plus a fun soldier craft offered by Discovery Harbour, as well as a seasonal craft by The Métis Nation of Ontario.

“First Light” has become famous for wonderful music, and this year’s event offers a terrific mix of Franco-Ontarian performers and area groups.  Michel Payment will perform lively Franco-Ontarian folksongs in the Sainte-Marie Chapel, Vincent Therrien will sing and play in the Boivin building, and La Famille Lefaive plus Jill et les Bucherons will share great toe-tapping music each evening in a French Café at Restaurant Sainte-Marie.  In Sainte-Marie’s atmospheric longhouses The Red Spirit Drum Group and The Christian Island Drum Group will thrill visitors with their stirring First Nations drumming and singing. Many community and school choirs will present a wide selection of seasonal music over the three nights of the event.

For visitors interested in some early Christmas shopping, a selection of exceptional artisans will be in the Sainte-Marie Museum and the Sainte-Marie gift shop will be open each night.

The dynamic “First Light” event will be presented at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons evenings November 24, 25, and 26 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  Admission is $8.00 per person with a non-perishable food item that will be donated to The Salvation Army food bank.  Children ages 5 and under are free. For information call (705) 526-7838.

Special Notes:  Please be advised that with the exception of service animals, pets are not allowed on the historic site for this event.  Overflow parking will be available at Doral Industries, 100 Wye Valley Road.  Free shuttle buses will run to Sainte-Marie throughout each evening.

Note for Media:
Four advance pics and a suggested cutline
are also included as attachments with this Release.

Media Contact:
Bill Brodeur
Coordinator,
Marketing and Media Relations
Huronia Historical Parks   (705) 528-7692  
E-mail: bill.brodeur@ontario.ca