WEST SPRINGFIELD – For those who are interested in Christmas, the winter season and old-fashioned traditions, then Yuletide at Storrowton is a must for this year’s holiday bucket list.

The Yuletide celebrations, which will take place from Dec. 1 to Dec. 8 at the museum, will include Yuletide Weekend, the Yuletide Open House Tours and the Lantern Light Evening. The free winter festival aims to bring the community together to celebrate the winter season with traditional Yuletide activities, entertainment and shopping in the historic village. Volunteers will also serve as costumed guides throughout the week.

During Yuletide, the Storrowton Village will be transformed into a winter wonderland from the 19th century, featuring wreaths, swags, garlands, fresh evergreens and natural materials throughout the museum. All of the seasonal decor will be donated and designed by area garden clubs, florists and designers.

“It’s really fun to see the village just light up. It has become a part of people’s traditions and holiday experiences. Last year, we had birth announcements and engagements here,” said Storrowton Village Museum Director Jessica Fontaine. “Our requirements for the decorations are that they have to be 19th century inspired – so nothing to do with religion or Christmas – and we ask that they have some sort of natural element included in it.”

Participating clubs and florists include the Agawam, East Longmeadow, Wilbraham, Springfield and West Springfield Garden Clubs; the Garden Club of the Westfield Woman’s Club; Beverly Germain of Springfield’s Bev’s Beauties; Flowers by Webster; Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School Horticulture Department, Storrowton Village Museum Garden Club and the Eastern States Exposition Landscape department.

Kicking off the celebrations will be Yuletide Weekend from Dec. 1 to Dec. 2. The weekend will be packed with entertainment and activities, according to Fontaine, and highlight the ways in which New England celebrated the coming of the winter season.

“The bulk of when people come is that free weekend, and that’s why we pack it with entertainment,” she said. “There’s great things for people that are history lovers who want to learn the history of the season, and how we got to the Christmas holiday, as well as just for people who love to see beautiful decorations.”

Yuletide Weekend will feature demonstrations of 19th century blacksmithing, hearth cooking and letterpress. Local printer John Barrett, owner and proprietor of Letterpress Things in Chicopee, will show visitors one of the oldest printing styles, including the equipment, tools and supplies needed for the trade.

Other activities to be featured throughout the Village will include:

Dec. 1

• 11 a.m. – Village Opens. Wrapping paper making in the Potter Mansion (free, open until closing); Candle dipping in the Greenwich Barn ($2, open until closing); Letterpress Printing, Broom Making and Tin Smithing Demos in the Greenwich Barn (open until closing)

• 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. – Santa in the Greenwich Barn

• 11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. – Readings of “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” and “A Christmas Carol,” plus a reading and signing of “The Big E Book,” with author Ashley Kelleher • 12 p.m. – Ice Sculpting demonstration with Mike Rondeau on the Village Green

• 1 - 1:45pm – Gail White – Stories of Native Americans in Winter in the Meeting House

• 2 - 4 p.m. – Santa & Mrs. Claus in the Greenwich Barn

• 3 - 3:45 p.m. – Ann-Marie Messbauer – Fiddle Music of the Season in the Meeting House

• 4 p.m. – Village Closes

Dec. 2

• 11 a.m. – Village Opens – Wrapping paper making in the Potter Mansion (free, open until closing); Candle dipping in the Greenwich Barn ($2, open until closing); Letterpress Printing, Broom Making and Tin Smithing Demos in the Greenwich Barn (open until closing)

• 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. – Santa in the Greenwich Barn

• 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. – Caroling throughout the Village with the Connecticut Yuletide Carolers, begins at the Meeting House

• 1 - 1:45 p.m. – Stan Svec – Traditional Fiddle Music & Storytelling

• 2 - 4 p.m. – Santa & Mrs. Claus in the Greenwich Barn

• 4 p.m. – Village Closes

Although Christmas and Yuletide remain a focal point of the weekend, Fontaine added that the museum makes a point to emphasize the celebration of the winter season, rather than Christmas, and include other religions and groups into the activities as well.

“One piece to understand is that, from the museum side, we’re celebrating the winter season because, in the 19th century, people weren’t widely celebrating Christmas yet,” said the director. “There’s also a talk about Native Americans in the winter and how they celebrated the season. Our staff is trained to talk about how, although there were predominantly Christian backgrounds in New England, we know Native Americans were here, as well as a small pocket of Muslims and a small pocket of Jewish individuals.

“We try to make the space inclusive for everyone, no matter what culture you come from,” she continued.

A pop-up Holiday Sweet Shop will also offer hot beverages and home baked treats, provided by Storrowton volunteers and staff. Proceeds from this sale will benefit the educational programs at Storrowton Village Museum.

Aside from Yuletide Weekend, the Yuletide Lantern Light Evening will take place on Dec. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. Visitors will be able to shop in the Village & Christmas Shop, listen to the music of Stan Svec in the Meeting House and stop by Potter Mansion for self-serve Cocoa Cafe and holiday cupcakes.

“This is a ton of fun because you get to see the buildings in a totally different way. We light all the spaces with as much candle and lantern light as possible,” said Fontaine. “We have a few lights for safety on, but it is really dimly lit it and it really gives you a sense of how buildings like these would’ve looked at night in the 19th century.”

Admission is $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Children ages 2 and under are free.

The Yuletide celebrations are a part of the museum’s larger mission statement to educate in a fun and interactive way. The Storrowton Village Museum is an non-profit, educational arm of the Eastern States Exposition. It presents hands-on school programs and guided tours of its historic buildings throughout the year, including its seasonal 19th century-themed events.

“Our goal is to educate in a fun way that includes something for everyone. We always try to make our events family-friendly and inclusive of different cultures,” said Fontaine. “Our volunteers are fantastic, they can talk to the youngest child all the way to someone who has come through the museum over and over again – and can still engage them in a way that’s going to help them gain even more from the experience.”

Parking at the museum will be free for all of the Yuletide activities. For more information, call the Village at 205-5051 or visit StorrowtonVillage.com.