Today highlights a first of its kind event at the Fort la Reine Museum in Portage la Prairie.

Museum curator Tracey Turner explains they're holding a Christmas event entitled "A Dickens Christmas".

"We're open all day Saturday from 11 to 4. This is a real pleasure for us, because it's the first time we've been open for a Christmas event. They can expect to see the Fort La Reine Museum in a winter landscape. Hopefully the snow hasn't all melted yet. But the weather will be beautiful."

Turner outlines some of what you'll see,

"The museum buildings are opened in the village. We have horse-drawn sleigh-rides coming in and out throughout the centre courtyard to pick people up and take them down the country lane for a sleigh-ride, which is such a classic Christmas experience. In the village itself we have villagers that will be able to interact with you, and talk to you about the buildings and their community -- animate the village, so to speak. "

She says there'll be outdoor as well as indoor activities.

"The main building is focus for some really wonderful holiday performances. And we have a world class carolling quartet. Some of the Winnipeg Singers are coming to Portage to present Christmas carols, and those will be fabulous. We have some characters form the Prairie Players that will be presenting some of their special characters from Charles Dickens' a Christmas Carol, so you'll be able to be up close with Ebenezer Scrooge, and Jacob Marley, and the Ghost of Christmas Past, and Bob Cratchet. And you'll see some performance by them. We have also a hand-bells duo that will be playing in concert. So, all day long there will be performances in the main building. So, come and go. Whenever you arrive there' be artistic stuff for you to take in and experience. Back in the museum setting we have Father Christmas in the Fort. So, we're doing a little bit of a different spin -- a little more of an old worldly kind of Father Christmas. And he's set up around his workshop with a stable of animals so kids can come and get a picture snap with Father Christmas or some animals, and really experience that sort of classic Christmas old-fashioned experience."

Turner explains she is excited to offer an event like this to the community.

"I am incredibly excited, because when we do something like this it's kind of magical. When we open our doors and do and event like this, we're basically taking a picture from time and ,making it come alive for people. And that's a real special thing, and it's fleeting, right? It's one day only. It's magical and it's a real privilege to be able to offer the community something like this, and utilize our resources in such a way that has people getting to enjoy the museum in a different way. And that is exceptionally, for me, rare. And it's a very special experience. I think also we're able to touch families and people in a way that's very personal, because more and more Christmas, becomes so commercial and de-personalized. We're really kind of trying to make come alive some of the traditions that I think are very special and almost iconic in terms of being Christmas experiences, so, it's special. And also, obviously, from a business perspective, being able to offer a winter event raised our profile as a museum. And of course allows us to garner support and further our programming and our exhibitions for next year,so, it's always a good thing."

She gives details on admission

"We have regular admission charges. Our Museum admission for adults is $10 for adults, $8.00 for students and seniors. $5 for children. And $25 for a family of two adults with three kids or youth. It's really reasonable, and of course for four and under it's free."

In case not enough snow remains for the sleigh ride, a wagon ride will be switched instead. The bells still will be ringing either way.

"It says we're doing things right, if we have a really good turnout for a first-time event like this. It says we're really hitting those markers, and blending cultural experience with a bit of entertainment. And when you do that, and the response is there, it means you're doing something right. It gives us support from those funders and those folks that see those numbers and say, 'This institution deserves funding to do the programming for the community. They're really working hard.' So, it gives us the response that we're delivering what the community wants. And hopefully that's where we get to. You want to be a resource of the community, and you want to be place where they can go and experience something that they can't get anywhere else. That's what you're really trying to do. And connect with history. If we can do that in an entertaining way, and in an real authentic way, then we really succeeded."