Dickens fair facts for kids
A Dickens fair is a fun event that tries to bring back the feeling of Victorian England, like in the books by Charles Dickens. These fairs are usually held in the United States and are often open to everyone. Many of them are held around Christmas, inspired by Dickens' famous story A Christmas Carol.
At these fairs, you'll often see people dressed in old-fashioned costumes. There are also musical shows, plays, and lots of art, crafts, food, and drinks to buy. In England, similar events are called "Dickensian evenings." These are often organized by local businesses and councils to raise money for charity.
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What You'll Find at a Dickens Fair
These events are full of entertainment! You can enjoy plays, music, and watch people demonstrate old crafts. There might be dancing, parades, and even talks about history or books. Many performers dress up as characters from Dickens' novels. You might even spot someone pretending to be Queen Victoria!
How Dickens Fairs Started in America
The idea for these fairs in the United States began with Ron Patterson and his wife Phyllis. In 1963, they started the first "Renaissance Pleasure Faire" in California. This became a yearly event. Then, in 1970, they launched the "Great Dickens Christmas Fair" in San Francisco. This indoor event became very popular and inspired many other similar fairs across the country.
Dickens Events in England
In England, the town of Ware has hosted a special "Dickensian Evening" since the 1980s. It usually happens in the first week of December to welcome Santa Claus. People in Ware dress in Victorian costumes. Local businesses and volunteer groups set up stalls to sell food and gifts, raising money for charity.
You can watch short plays, like parts of A Christmas Carol, performed outdoors. There's also a craft fair and a nativity scene at St Mary's church. A choir sings Christmas carols, and you might see puppeteers and street musicians. There are also fairground rides and games in the town center.
A big moment of the evening is when the mayor turns on the Christmas lights. This is followed by a parade with costumed performers, dancers, horse-drawn wagons, and marching bands. After being paused for a few years, the event was expected to return in December 2022.
An American-style commercial theme park called Dickens World also opened in Kent, England, in 2007. However, it closed down in 2016.
See also
- Dickens World
- Renaissance fair
- Revels
- Neo-Victorian
- Steampunk
- Victoriana
