In Drummondville, the Village québécois d’antan turns into the Illuminated Village Desjardins during the holidays. We go there to live or relive the warm traditions of yesteryear.
On foot or in a horse-drawn carriage, travel through the streets lined with illuminated houses. About twenty houses from different eras (1850-1900-1950) are open to visitors.
Come in ! It’s not embarrassing to be there as they say.
Photo provided by Village québécois d’antan
We circle the village on foot or by car.
essentials
At the General Store, we stop for old-fashioned treats like fudge or homemade fudge. There are also the famous potato sweets at the Caisse populaire Desjardins. La Beignerie is popular for its old-fashioned donuts, baked on-site.
Here and there you have the opportunity to buy handicrafts or local products.
Whether we go to mass or not, it’s hard not to be moved by the picturesque character of the little church and the nativity scene. From time to time the priest meets the visitors.
With the children, a stop at the village school is essential, where the brightest will have the pleasure of receiving an official letter from Santa Claus.
Photo provided by Village québécois d’antan
The picturesque character of the small church.
Animated Places
In several houses, musicians, singers and dancers, including the Mackinaw troupe, make the box vibrate in the bottom of the wooden box. The mood is also upbeat with Christmas carols.
Elves come to Santa’s Den to annoy visitors and amuse the children. In the warm woodcutter camp, storyteller Claude Larivière from Animtout will amaze you with his stories.
Everyone is invited to take part in a snowball fight, a bit like La guerre des Tuques. The giant slide down the street, on the other hand, is a reminder of the days when we spent all our winters playing outside in the utmost simplicity.
For many local Quebecers it’s a return to their roots and for brand new Quebecers from elsewhere it’s a great opportunity to explore.
THE ILLUMINATED VILLAGE OF DESJARDINS
▶ Schedule: up to and including December 31 (except December 25), from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m
▶ Entrance Fees: $30 per adult, $24 per child (3-17 years), $80 per family of four (2 adults and their children)
▶ Online Reservations: villagequebecois.com
Other trip ideas
Slide to the north
In Piedmont, the Glissades du Domaine des Pays d’en Haut stands out with its 61 slopes of all levels of difficulty. We slide with an amazing variety of accessories ranging from tubes to snow bobs.
▶ slides.approx
Visit the Ecomuseum Zoo
On Montreal’s West Island, this zoo, home to Quebec animals, has a special program for the holiday season. Naturalist guides will introduce wolves, otters and other animals several times a day.
▶ zooecomuseum.ca
Alain Demers is the author of the book Rediscover Quebec: 101 Destinationspublished by Editions du Journal.