The most magical Christmas story in Cumberland

An ephemeral theatre featuring 50 actors, singers and musicians who will transport you back in time to the most enchanting of Christmas tales. This is what awaits you at the Fief de Cumberland Mills in the charming Beauceron village of Saint-Simon-les-Mines. A new tradition is born!

Please note: For the 2025 edition, all tickets have been sold out. Get on the waiting list on their website (link in french) to be among the first for next year.

I’ve loved Christmas ever since I was a little girl. I’m from the generation of “ciné-cadeau” and big holiday cooking days “with lots of chatting and laughter and my hands full of flour”. We had a lot of great traditions at home. My mum had a gift for creating magical moments during this time of year. One of them was story time. My mum would make some incredible sweet treats, of around twenty different varieties. These were then reserved for the big visit during the Christmas festivities, but also for that magical moment with her.

One of our favourite stories was Un Chant de Noël. I still remember the blue cover, which I found so majestic and intriguing.

I was delighted to learn that this fabulous Christmas story, adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens, was coming to life in Beauce at St-Simon-les-Mines every December for six intimate, exclusive performances.

The first chapter | 45 min outdoors

Here’s the story of my incredible evening in the Fief of Cumberland Mills:

Accompanied by my family, we arrived in the snow at the heart of this unique heritage site. Like the hundred or so people around us, we felt very privileged to enter this intimate setting… where time seems to stand still. We’re warming ourselves around the outdoor fireplaces when, suddenly, a clock chimes.

Two locals with British accents astonish my two daughters and quickly immerse us in the story. We are asked to put away any technological devices as the clocks take us back to the year 1900.

Pampered guests

And yes, we are the honoured guests of Mr and Mrs Thomas John Taylor, head of the Cumberland fief, who are delighted to welcome us to celebrate Christmas with them. Accompanied by Miss Labonté and Mrs Rockford, we meander along the paths of Harbottle Gardens, meeting the various characters who left their mark on the history of Cumberland Mills at that time.

We have the pleasure of discovering seven animated outdoor tableaux along the path that leads us to the church. The production is refined and the actors’performances keep us on the edge of our seats in every scene.

The second chapter | 75 min inside the church

Situated on a small hill in the heart of the Beauce forest, St Paul-de-Cumberland’s church is the oldest stone church in the region (1847), with its original furnishings. This authentic church is the perfect setting to continue our adventure. On the porch, beadle David Wintle greets us and it’s then that we meet the infamous Sam Miller, alias the Christmas Grinch, who calls out to us like the villagers of Cumberland. He is incredibly detestable. His authentic acting draws us in for even more veracity. At this point, we’re no longer spectators, but literally part of the story.

We take our seats inside the church for an extraordinary theatrical and musical experience, where the true story of Cumberland merges with my favourite Christmas story, through the songs and traditional Christmas music. What we experience inside this church is indescribable. Each song transports us through a range of emotions. I can’t tell you the feeling that overwhelmed me during the “Minuit Chrétien” sung by a man in his seventies. You could feel all the veracity in his voice. It brought tears to my eyes. The highlight of the show is when the real Saint Nicholas appears in the room. At that very moment, we are deeply convinced that Santa Claus really does exist. The eyes of my daughters and everyone else in the audience bear witness to this.

What really moved me was to see the authenticity and genuine enjoyment of the fifty or so volunteers who put on this magical tale. It’s a truly disarmingly sincere show that has nothing to envy from the great theatrical productions.

A new tradition is born!

The next day, still deeply affected by my experience, I promised myself that I would share the story of my incredible evening and return to experience this enchantment again with my family and friends. When you discover this real gem, your greatest desire is to share it with others. The only problem is that tickets for the 6 annual performances sell out far too quickly, which is a testament to the emotions generated by experiencing the Christmas magic at Cumberland Mills.

I’m telling you, the sparkle that fills our hearts after that evening leaves a real mark. That evening, when I left the Cumberland Mills Fief, I felt privileged. As a mother, my heart was filled with happiness, for I had just inscribed a new tradition in my daughters’ hearts through the most enchanting of Christmas tales.

All tickets for the 2025 edition have been sold out. Sign up for their newsletter on their website (link in french) to be the first to know about next year’s event.

Photos: Caroline Fournier, photographer

Christmas enchantment in Cumberland

516 Re Taylor, Saint-Georges

The Christmas enchantment at Cumberland Mills takes spectators on a magical Christmas adventure. The songs, the traditional Christmas music and the emotions will make this an unforgettable experience. Duration: 2 hours

Friday 12 December 17:30 – SOLD OUT | 20:30 SOLD OUT

Saturday 13 December 16:30 – SOLD OUT | 19:30 SOLD OUT

Sunday 14 December 16:30 – SOLD OUT | 19:30 SOLD OUT