Events
A Dickens Of A Time: 10 Charles Dickens Festivals For The Holidays
Slide Nr 1Beloved around the world for his tales both heartwarming and harrowing, with a penchant for pulling heartstrings and issuing sharp social criticism in the same stroke of the pen, Charles Dickens is almost as synonymous with Victorian England as Queen Victoria herself. And thanks to the ongoing success of his classic 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, in some ways he has become synonymous with the festive holidays as well. That explains why these communities deck the halls each year by donning top hats and hoop skirts, and throwing a Victorian-themed bash that even Ebenezer Scrooge couldn’t begrudge… [Photo: Clem Rutter]
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Events
A Dickens Of A Time: 10 Charles Dickens Festivals For The Holidays.
Slide Nr 4Holly Dickens Festival in Holly, Michigan, US – Perhaps it’s the enduring legacy of Dickens’ writings, the authenticity of his characters, or the American preoccupation with all things charmingly British – whatever the reason, most of the world’s Dickens festivals take place in the USA. Holly, a village about an hour outside of Detroit, holds the distinction of hosting America’s oldest and longest-running Dickensian event. The festival is spread across three weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas (late November to mid-December), with highlights including the traditional Christmas tree-lighting ceremony, a parade in Holly’s historic downtown, and the grand Fezziwig’s Ball. If you’re in need of some Victorian duds to complete your look, check out the Dickens Holly Shoppe that pops up every year. [Photo: Holly Dickens Festival via Facebook]
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Events
A Dickens Of A Time: 10 Charles Dickens Festivals For The Holidays.
Slide Nr 5Dickens Village Festival in Garrison, North Dakota, US – Michigan winters not quite chilly enough for you? Head north – and then keep going – until you arrive in Garrison. The so-called “Christmas Capital of North Dakota” is in rare form during the first 3 weekends of December, with an impressive array of events and attractions – from top-hat decorating, parades, strolling Dickens characters and horse-drawn carriages, to a craft vendor fair, wine and cheese tours, a quilt show, English High Tea and live performances of A Christmas Carol. And don’t worry about rushing from one event to the next – just hop aboard the festival’s vintage double-decker bus, Queen Elizabus. [Photo: Dickens Village Festival via Facebook]
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Events
A Dickens Of A Time: 10 Charles Dickens Festivals For The Holidays.
Slide Nr 6Dickens Village Festival in Carlyle, Saskatchewan, Canada – Purportedly inspired by the festivities in Garrison, the small town of Carlyle (about an hour north of the US-Canadian border) throws its own Dickensian bash each year on the first weekend in December. Carlyle’s festival is a truly local affair: not only is it run by volunteers and funded entirely from the proceeds of the community’s biannual Dickens Sale of donated items, but funds raised at the festival go to local initiatives, like renovating the community theatre. Highlights of the event include High Tea, free horse-drawn carriage rides, a rock-and-roll-themed adaptation of A Christmas Carol, and the pop-up Fezziwig’s Family Pub serving up food, drink and free live music. [Photos: Dickens Village Festival via Facebook]
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