"Old Fashioned Christmas at the Canal" will be celebrated this weekend, Dec. 13 and 14. Visitors are invited to glimpse what life was like 150 years ago, during the canal period.

This will be the 18th year for the event, sponsored by Carroll County Wabash & Erie Canal Inc. Admission is free

Hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday at Canal Park, Delphi. All buildings in the park will be open during those hours.

Santa will greet children from 3:30 to 4 p.m. on Saturday and from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Parents are welcome to take pictures.

Visitors to the Reed Case House can tour its furnished rooms and be treated to punch and cookies. Kathy McGraw, dressed in Victorian costume, will sing Christmas songs at the Case House from noon to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Other music at the Old Fashioned Christmas will be provided by the Carroll County Community Band.

At the Canal Center, various crafts will be on display, including pottery, soaps, hand-made-jewelry, watercolor note cards, and wood crafts. Christmas cookies and hot apple dumplings will be for sale. There will also be some craft demonstrations.

Also in the Canal Center, museum galleries and interactive exhibits will tell the story of the canal.

The Bowen Cabin, which houses the Cabin Crafts Gift Shop, will feature hand-made Christmas gifts. Also lending to the Christmas spirit will be simmering potpourri and warmth from the fireplace.

Among other buildings open will be the log schoolhouse and the blacksmith shop.

Horse-drawn carriage rides will be available Sunday afternoon, and pony cart rides will be offered both Saturday and Sunday.

Weather permitting, children can explore the playground canal boat, and the whole family can take a walk on the trails.