SAN FRANCISCO, CA – (December 2019) The historic Cow Palace is being redesigned again Dickens's Londonnow in the 36th season, The Great Dickens Christmas Market now takes place on Saturdays and Sundays until December 23, 2018, to offer visitors an incomparable, wonderfully immersive holiday experience.

Holiday fantasies at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair

The Big Dickens Christmas Market and Victorian Holiday Party is very special and a festive treat that I want everyone to experience. The Dickens Fair is truly amazing! Illuminated to look like London in the sparkling setting sun, with over three acres of exhibition space, endless amusements, crafts and games, and fine dining and drinking to your heart's content. There are 800 performers, all dressed in period correct clothing, who take classes to learn how to act and speak in Victorian London. I suggest you put on a costume yourself and take in all the magic.

Step inside and be instantly transported to the streets of cheerful Victorian London as it celebrates Christmas in all its glory. Twilight-lit streets lined with shops, pubs, stages and dance halls filled with more than 800 people Victorian characters and the smell of roasted chestnuts and savory fare. Get yours Travel Map When you go in, stop immediately at the post office to secure your free tickets for the Cheeky French postcard review.

The Great Dickens Christmas market is crowded Holiday magic for the littlest guests, The Tinsel Green Children's Area features hands-on craft activities, old-fashioned games of skill and chance, and lively interactive shows. Young viewers will cheer for the hero and mock the villain in the children's melodrama, while Alice is there in the children's melodrama Mad Hatters Tea Party, or learn the tricks of the chimney sweep trade from the London School Miracle Sweeps. A delightful addition to the usual holiday entertainment where young people can get together Old Santa Claus every day at one o'clock Santa Claus stage, Drive with a hand drive adventure carousel, they cheer toy parade, and laugh at the antics of an authentic Brit Punch & Judy Puppetry.

Santa Claus at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair

Guests will welcome the return of the Comic opera “Trial By Jury” by Gilbert & Sullivan in the Victoria & Albert Bijou Music Hall – one of the most successful one-act operettas of all time, telling the story of ridiculous circumstances played out by characters who behave as if the events were completely normal. Be amazed by the world premiere of “Dr. Xander T. Culpepper's Miracle Elixir Show of Miracles“But don’t expect to take any of his miraculous magical tonic; The demand is simply too high! Also on the Pennygaff stagefresh from a year of studying at the Royal Shakespeare Companythe buffoon of London's most hilarious chimney sweep, Jim Chiminey is warmly welcome!

Experience Mr. Dickens' wonderful stories told by hundreds of living history characters on the streets. Meet Mr. Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Oliver Twist, Nancy and many more characters from Mr. Dickens. Queen Victoria walks the streets of London with Albert and her court to mingle with the guests as only the royal family is allowed to do. You can join in Mr Samuel Pickwick He himself and his fellow “Pickwickians” tour London spreading cheer and hilarity. There are celebrities everywhere in the city of London adventure club, or the Dickens Family Parlour, And the large exhibition stage All of this will undoubtedly take you back to a time long ago. Don't miss the brilliant inventor professor Flockmocker's workshop, and the international issue Silk Road Stage for exotic dances and special musical guest appearances.

For the The best of the fairstart a song or two Paddy West School of Seamanshipand then stroll down to Mad Sal's Dockside Ale House where Mad Sal himself will showcase bold new talents as well as tough favorites like the high-kicking dancers of the The Cancan Jewel in the Mad Sal's Dockside Music Hall. The gentlemen of Brass farthing gave the ladies a good, foamy beer with their exuberant songs Gin Alley Sally's Involve you musically in theirsSociety for the Appreciation of Libations and Spirits.' Later in the day the extremely popular and my favorite show production “The Outrageous”. “Perky French postcards Tableaux Revue” Delight adults over 18 with “Gods & Heroes,” a new episode from the personal life of Horatio And Letitia Everard. It's funny that I'm not allowed in with my camera… and neither is anyone else!

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair was originally produced in 1970 by Ron and Phyllis Patterson, inspired by their success Renaissance amusement market, which over time brought them to the San Francisco Bay Area Summer of love in 1967. The next generation, Kevin and Leslie Patterson, now along with their adult sons Andrew and Michael, have been producing the fair since 2000, continuing a 50-year family tradition and three generations of deeply immersive, historically authentic environmental theater. Anyone who loves and misses the authenticity of the old Renaissance fair will be thrilled and thrilled The Dickens Fairbecause thanks to the Patterson family's tireless attention to detail, all that old magic is still there and has never left.

“Every year we are inspired to be better than ever and are rewarded with the delight and surprise of our guests,” says Executive Director Kevin Patterson. “The holiday spirit of Charles Dickens and his London flourishes for several weeks – and we revel in the happiness and good humor of all in attendance.”

There are beautifully decorated shops and shopping carts offering fine crafts, imaginative clothing and accessories, jewelry, toys, and decorations for the holidays. Small accessories that you would never have thought would be discovered with great pleasure by buyers of all ages and desires.

One of my favorite sellers is the Sculptor cart, Rebecca love, who creates unique handcrafted ceramic life masks and body casts. Years ago I commissioned one of each for my wife Sandy, and they are actually some of our most treasured pieces of art at home. It is a pleasure to meet and work with Rebecca. There are also tiles and pottery, in styles and designs that only Rebecca can make. Take a look at their latest African masks.

Even though I don't play, I love it too Stephen Joynes' Fiddle Shop. Based in Palo Alto, California, Stephen performs restorations and repairs and runs his stand out of his love for the instruments. He told me, “I work from home.” My workshop is in my garage and my back yard…this is a retirement job for me…I travel to the West Coast and set up my instrument shop at music festivals. “Spreading the joy of music, especially among children, is a very rewarding pastime.” Anyone can appreciate the workmanship of these beautiful instruments. For more information, check out Steve Joynes on Pinterest.

Steven Overstreet Designs are a supporting pillar The Great Dickens Christmas Marketas well as Renaissance fairs everywhere. “I design my clothing for women to celebrate their inner and outer beauty.” I use color and texture as my fundamental tools. I dye most of the fabrics I use myself, mixing a range of colors not available any other way. Silk velvet is one of my favorite fabrics because of its incredible softness, drape and feel against the skin. “My designs, inspired by the Pre-Raphaelite art movement of the Victorian era, are romantic, sexy and artistic.”

Don & Andrea Thompson'S, Velvet chaos offers all kinds of robes, skirts and dresses as well as cheeky “underwear”. You'll also find unique capes and coats for everyone, including velvet, silk and colorful cotton fabrics. The Thompson's create beautiful wardrobes for discerning adults and beautiful children. Come and enjoy our kindness and joy! The photos here are a small sampling of what is on offer and the ladies who help you try on a garment are charming and skilled at their craft.

When visiting merchants, the “AI R” symbol indicates merchants who handcraft the goods they sell. I encourage everyone to support artists of all genres and media.

WHEN: Open Saturday, November 17, and runs Saturdays and Sundays (and the Friday after Thanksgiving) through December 23, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m

WHERE: The Cow Palace Exhibition Halls, 2600 Geneva Avenue, Daly City, CA

PRICES: Tickets are select day. Visit dickensfair.com to reserve your desired date.

General admission (13+): $30.00

Children aged 5-12: $14.00

Children under 5: Free

Group tickets: For groups of 20 people or more, please contact ti*****@gg************.com,
415-668-0525

Active military: 1st and 2nd weekend Free entry:

Active military members receive FREE admission the first and second weekends!

(November 17th, 18th, 23rd, 24th and 25th only; photo ID required.)

The Scrooge special (Twilight ticket offer, available at the door only):

Adult Twilight Tickets, $18.00, Children's Twilight Tickets, $10.00, available after 3:00 p.m.:

Parking is available for $12 (charged by Cow Palace).

The fair offers a convenient shuttle service from the Glen Park BART station

More Dickens Fair on social media: Instagram DickensFair, Facebook Dickens Fair, Twitter Dickens Fair

Contact me, Greg Autry, on social media: Facebook Facebook.com/GregAutryPhoto, Twitter @CGARegAnd Instagram gregautry.cga . There are always more pictures!

*All images ©2018GregAutry ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

• 

  Greg is a photographer and writer specializing in fashion, art and editorial. He covers luxury brands for Splash Magazine, including fashion shows, art, charities, stage performances, travel and all types of events. Organizers and producers specifically and repeatedly ask about Greg because his articles and photographs are of the highest quality and are often picked up in national media. Greg is also available for freelance assignments. Author – magazine article and upcoming bio-novel about the artist Julian Ritter. Photographer – commercial fashion and editorial photography. Artist – oil painter

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The post The Nice Dickens Christmas Truthful – a Pleased and Extraordinary Christmas For All – Splash Magazines appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

The Bay Area is a center of artistic expression, attracting artists, writers and musicians from around the world to live, work and create. We present some of the offers here.

Christmas dances (with boa): One of the Bay Area's most beloved holiday dance traditions returns this week for a five-week run at multiple venues across the region. We're talking about Smuin Contemporary Ballet's annual “Christmas Ballet” program, a joyful mix of works that range from elegant to sassy and silly, touching on styles such as traditional and contemporary ballet, jazz, tap, swing and more. This year's show includes world premieres by Amy Seiwert, the company's artistic director, and former Smuin choreographer Nicole Haskins. Also on the program are classic dance favorites by the company's late founder Michael Smuin, including “Bach Magnificat,” “Gloucestershire Wassail” and “Licht bensh'n,” as well as some of Michael Smuin's more playful works, including “Christmas Island,” “Droopy Little Christmas Tree.” and of course “Santa Baby,” a work that features the company’s “longest feather boa in the world.” The program lands at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek with performances Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Future performances include Dec. 1 and 2 at the Sunset Center in Carmel; 7th–10th December at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts; and 14-24. December at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. An LGBTQ+ Night performance on December 19th at the YBCA will feature popular San Francisco drag queen Lady Camden (a star of Season 14 of RuPaul's Drag Race). Tickets are $25-$119. For a complete schedule, tickets and more information, visit www.smuinballet.org.

Charming, goofy chimney sweep Jim Chimney is among the many characters who populate the Great Dickens Christmas Fair & Victorian Holiday Party, taking place Saturday through December 17 at the Cow Palace in Daly City. (Courtesy of Zoart Photography/Great Dickens Christmas Fair)

The Dickens, they say: We have a hunch that living in a Dickens novel probably wouldn't be nearly as fun as hanging out at the annual holiday event in Daly City that the legendary author inspired. The Great Dickens Christmas Fair & Victorian Holiday Party, as the event's full name is, returns to the Cow Palace this weekend with its large and bustling recreation of Victorian London. It is packed with attractions for adults and children. The older group can enjoy port and chocolate tastings, enjoy afternoon tea, tackle a Sherlock Holmes Experience mystery, have a pint or two at the Jekyll and Hyde pub or the slightly cheekier Mad Sal's Dockside Ale House and admire the Grand Spectrum of performances on seven stages, from Irish singers to Bedouin belly dancers, comedians and jugglers to actors portraying numerous Dickens characters. For little ones, there's a self-guided children's tour of London, as well as the chance to meet Santa Claus and the popular Punch and Judy puppet shows. Most of the entertainment and interactive content is suitable for both children and adults. Of course there are all sorts of British delicacies to sample, from fish and chips and bangers and mash to meat pies and all sorts of biscuits, chocolate and other sweet treats, as well as a wide range of liquid refreshments. And yes, there are knick-knacks and other items for sale for holiday shoppers. The fair opens Saturday and runs Saturdays and Sundays (and the Friday after Thanksgiving) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Dec. 17 at the Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Ave., Daly City. Day passes are $25-45 ($18-30 after 3 p.m.), with children under 5 admitted free. A full pass costs $160. Go to dickensfair.com.

Los Cenzontles recently released “Son Con Son, En el Suelo Americano,” a collaboration with Grupo Mono Blanco. (Courtesy of Los Cenzontles)

Freebie of the week: Los Cenzontles, the nationally known East Bay band that specializes in performing and recording traditional and original Mexican roots music, has been busy lately. (Of course, this is nothing new for the group, which is affiliated with the San Pablo Cultural Arts Center and the school of the same name.) You can stream the fruits of their labor online. Last month, a new album was released that marked a reunion with Grupo Mono Blanco, the famous band from Veracruz, Mexico. The two began working together in the late 1980s, when Los Cenzontles (“cenzontles” means “mockingbirds”) started out as a youth band made up of cultural academy students. Their findings helped spark a revival of Mexican folk music called son jarocho. Earlier this year, Los Cenzontles, which has forged musical connections with iconic artists from Linda Ronstadt to Los Lobos and many others, teamed up again with Grupo Mono Blanco and hired acclaimed Cuban musician Kika Valera, a master of the cuatro, a guitar, which the band uses a variety of Latin music styles. The result was the album “Son Con Son, En el Suelo Americano,” which is streaming on Spotify, YouTube and other sites. If you'd like to purchase it (we're sure Los Cenzontles would appreciate it), it's selling for $12 on the group's website. Meanwhile, Los Cenzontles continues to release songs, music videos and musical films that you can enjoy for free on its website as well as on YouTube and Vimeo. Go to www.loscenzontles.com.

The Silkwood Ensemble, including artistic director Rhiannon Giddens, brings the tour of its “American Railroad” project to Berkeley on Friday evening. (Courtesy of Adam Gurczak)

To the west, ho! – in music: What an outstanding convergence of musical forces is taking place on the stage of Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley on Friday evening! As part of its “Illuminations: 'Individual and Community'” series, Cal Performances presents the Grammy-winning Silkroad Ensemble and its current artistic director, Pulitzer Prize-winning singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Rhiannon Giddens, now touring with their project “American Railroad”. The program is designed to illuminate the diverse communities and cultures that contributed to westward expansion with the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. It includes African American, Chinese, Native American, American folk and Irish traditional music, including a piece commissioned by Grammy-award winning composer and singer Cécile McLorin Savant. Participating members of the Silkroad Ensemble include Giddens on banjo and vocals; Mazz Swift, violin and vocals; Wu Man on pipa, Sandeep Das on tabla; Haruka Fujii, drums; Shawn Conley on bass; Karen Ouzounian, cello and vocals; Kaoru Watanabe on Japanese flutes and percussion and Michi Wiancko on violin. They will be joined by guest artists Francesco Turrisi, frame drum and accordion; Niwel Tsumbu on guitar; Pura Fé Crescioni, lap steel guitar and vocals and Yazhi Guo on Suona. Performance time is 8:00 p.m., with a panel discussion taking place first on the mezzanine at 6:30 p.m. and a community conversation following the program. For tickets, $38-$90, go to calperformances.org and (510) 642-9988.

The Jupiter String Quartet plays music reminiscent of major civil unrest at a concert Sunday evening at the Kohl Mansion in Burlingame. (Courtesy of Todd Rosenberg)

Turmoil in the strings: “Upheaval” is the theme the Illinois-based Jupiter String Quartet chose for Sunday night's concert at the Kohl Mansion in Burlingame because most of the pieces to be played were composed during times of great unrest. Beethoven's powerful Quartet No. 8 in E minor, one of the famous “Rasumovsky” quartets, forms the core of the program, and is preceded by Irish-English composer Elizabeth Maconchy's Quartet No. 3, inspired by her support of the struggling Republicans Francisco Franco's forces in 1930s Spain. Guggenheim fellow Nathan Shields' new quartet “Medusa” follows, with references to Caravaggio's disturbing paintings that evoke themes of social and political violence. Carlos Simon's “Elegy” is a tribute to black American victims of police violence, and the first half of the program ends with William Bolcom's wistful piece “The Graceful Ghost,” originally written for piano in the 1970s in memory of the composer's father became. Show time is 7:00 p.m. at 2750 Adeline Drive in Burlingame. Find tickets. $25-$58, at musicatkohl.org.

The post Finest Bets: Smuin’s ‘Christmas Ballet,’ Dickens Honest, Los Cenzontles, Silkroad Ensemble, Jupiter String Quartet   appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

The Bay Area is a hub of artistic expression, attracting artists, writers and musicians from around the globe to live, work and create. We highlight some of the offerings here.

Christmas dances (with boa): One of the Bay Area’s most beloved Christmas dance traditions returns this week for a five-week run at several area venues. We’re talking about Smuin Contemporary Ballet’s annual “Christmas Ballet” program, a joyous mix of works ranging from elegant to sassy and silly and touching on styles including traditional and contemporary ballet, jazz, tap, swing and more. This year’s show includes world premiere numbers by company artistic director Amy Seiwert and former Smuin choreographer Nicole Haskins. Also in the program are classical dance favorites by company founder, the late Michael Smuin, including “Bach Magnificat,” “Gloucestershire Wassail,” and “Licht bensh’n,” as well as some of Michael Smuin more playful works, including “Christmas Island,” “Droopy Little Christmas Tree” and, of course, “Santa Baby,” a work that features what the company bills as the “world’s longest feather boa.” The program lands at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts for performances at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Future performances include Dec. 1-2 at the Sunset Center in Carmel; Dec. 7-10 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts; and Dec. 14-24 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. A LGBTQ+ Night performance on Dec. 19 at YBCA features popular San Francisco drag queen Lady Camden (a star of Season 14 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race”). Tickets are $25-$119. Find a complete schedule, tickets and more information at www.smuinballet.org.

The charmingly silly chimney sweep, Jim Chimney, is among the large cast of characters populating The Great Dickens Christmas Fair & Victorian Holiday Party running Saturday through Dec. 17 at the Cow Palace in Daly City. (Courtesy Zoart Photography/Great Dickens Christmas Fair)

The Dickens, you say: We have a hunch that living in a Dickens novel would probably be nowhere near as fun as hanging out at the annual Daly City holiday event the legendary author has inspired. The Great Dickens Christmas Fair & Victorian Holiday Party, to use the event’s proper full name, returns to the Cow Palace this weekend, with its large and bustling re-creation of Victorian-era London. It’s chock full of attractions for adults and kids. The older set can enjoy port and chocolate tastings, sip their way through a high tea, tackle a Sherlock Holmes Experience mystery, knock back a pint or two at the Jekyll and Hyde Pub or somewhat naughtier Mad Sal’s Dockside Ale House, and marvel at the wide array of performances on seven stages, from Irish singers to Bedouin belly dancers to comedians and jugglers to actors portraying scores of Dickens’ characters. For the young ‘uns, there is a self-guided Children’s Tour of London, as well as opportunities to meet Father Christmas and the popular Punch and Judy puppet shows. Most of the entertainment and interactive stuff, for that matter, is suitable for both kids and adults. Of course, there are all kinds of British delicacies to sample, from fish and chips and bangers and mash to meat pies and all manner of cookies, chocolate and other sweet treats, as well as a full range of liquid refreshments. And, yes, there are knickknacks and other items for sale for holiday shoppers. The fair opens Saturday and runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays (plus the Friday after Thanksgiving) through Dec. 17 at the Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Ave., Daly City. Daily tickets run $25-$45 ($18-$30 after 3 p.m.), with kids under 5 admitted free. A full-run pass runs $160. Go to dickensfair.com.

Los Cenzontles recently released “Son Con Son, En el Suelo Americano,” a collaboration with Grupo Mono Blanco. (Courtesy Los Cenzontles) 

Freebie of the week: Los Cenzontles, the nationally renowned East Bay band that specializes in performing and recording traditional and original Mexican roots music, has been busy of late. (Of course, that’s nothing new for the group associated with the San Pablo cultural arts center and school of the same name.) You can enjoy the fruits of their labor streaming online. Last month, it released a new album that marked a reunion with Grupo Mono Blanco, the famed band from Veracruz, Mexico. The two began collaborating in the late 1980s when Los Cenzontles (“cenzontles” translates to mockingbirds) was getting its start as a youth band composed of students at the cultural academy. Their results helped spark a revival of the Mexican folkloric music known as son Jarocho. Earlier this year, Los Cenzontles, which has forged musical bonds with iconic artists ranging from Linda Ronstadt to Los Lobos and many more, reunited with Grupo Mono Blanco and brought in acclaimed Cuban musician Kika Valera, a master of the cuatro, a guitar used in a variety of Latin music styles. The result was the album “Son Con Son, En el Suelo Americano,” which is streaming on Spotify, YouTube and other sites. If you want to buy it (we’re sure Los Cenzontles would appreciate it), it sells for $12 on the group’s website. Meanwhile, Los Cenzontles continues to post songs, music videos and music films that you can enjoy for free on its site, as well as on YouTube and Vimeo. Go to www.loscenzontles.com.

Silkwood Ensemble, including artistic director Rhiannon Giddens, brings the tour of its “American Railroad” project to Berkeley on Friday night. (Courtesy Adam Gurczak)

Westward, ho! – in music: What a stellar convergence of musical forces is taking place Friday night on stage at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley!  Cal Performances, as part of its series “Illuminations: ‘Individual and Community,’” is presenting the Grammy-winning Silkroad Ensemble and its current artistic director, the Pulitzer Prize-winning singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Rhiannon Giddens, now on tour with their “American Railroad” project. Conceived as a way to illuminate the multiple communities and cultures that contributed to the westward expansion with the building of the Transcontinental Railroad, the program features African-American, Chinese, American Indian, American folk and Irish traditional music, including a piece commissioned from Grammy-winning composer and vocalist Cécile McLorin Savant. Participating Silkroad Ensemble members are Giddens, on banjo and voice; Mazz Swift, violin and vocals; Wu Man on pipa, Sandeep Das on tabla;  Haruka Fujii, percussion; Shawn Conley on bass; Karen Ouzounian, cello and vocals; Kaoru Watanabe, on Japanese flutes and percussion and Michi Wiancko on violin. Joining them are guest artists Francesco Turrisi, frame drums and accordion; Niwel Tsumbu on guitar; Pura Fé Crescioni, lap-steel guitar and vocals and Yazhi Guo on suona. Performance time is 8 p.m., with a panel discussion taking place in the mezzanine lobby first at 6:30 p.m. and a community conversation following the program. Find tickets, $38-$90, at calperformances.org and (510) 642-9988.

The Jupiter String Quartet plays music reminiscent of great unrest at a recital Sunday evening at the Kohl Mansion in Burlingame. (Courtesy Todd Rosenberg)

Turmoil in the strings: “Upheaval” is the theme the Illinois-based Jupiter String Quartet has chosen for Sunday night’s recital at the Kohl Mansion in Burlingame, as most of the pieces to be played were composed in times of great unrest. Beethoven’s powerful Quartet No. 8 in E minor, one of the famed “Razumovsky” quartets, anchors the program, and it will be preceded by the Quartet No. 3 by Irish-English composer Elizabeth Maconchy, inspired by her support of the Republicans fighting off Francisco Franco’s forces in 1930s Spain. Guggenheim Fellow Nathan Shields’ new quartet, “Medusa,” follows, with references to the unsettling paintings by Caravaggio that evoke themes of social and political violence. Carlos Simon’s “Elegy” pays homage to the Black American victims of police violence, and the first half of the program concludes with William Bolcom’s wistful rag, “The Graceful Ghost,” originally written for piano in the 1970s in memory of the composer’s father. Performance time is 7 p.m. at 2750 Adeline Drive in Burlingame. Find tickets. $25-$58, at musicatkohl.org.

The post Best Bets: Smuin’s ‘Christmas Ballet,’ Dickens Fair, Los Cenzontles, Silkroad Ensemble, Jupiter String Quartet   appeared first on Local News Matters.

The post Greatest Bets: Smuin’s ‘Christmas Ballet,’ Dickens Honest, Los Cenzontles, Silkroad Ensemble, Jupiter String Quartet   appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – (December 2019) The historic Cow Palace will once again be transformed into Dickens’ London, now in its 36th season, The Great Dickens Christmas Fair will run Saturdays and Sundays now through December 23, 2018, offering visitors a delightfully immersive holiday experience without rival.

Holiday Fantasies at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair & Victorian Holiday Party is something very special and a holiday treat I urge everyone to experience.The Dickens Fair is truly astounding!  Lighting to look like London in the twinkling setting sun, with over three acres of exhibitions endless amusements, Crafts, and Games, along with Fine Food & Drink to your hearts content. There are 800 hundred cast members, all dressed historically accurately and taught, in classes, how to act and speak as it was done, back in Victorian London. I suggest you don a costume yourself, and take in the whole of the magic.

Walk in and be immediately transported to the street of Merry Victorian London as she celebrates Christmas in all her finery. Twilight-lit streets with shops, pubs, stages and dance halls filled with more than 800 Victorian characters and the aromas of roasted chestnuts and hearty fare.. Pick up your Traveling Map as you go in, and immediately stop at the Post Office to secure your free tickets  for the Saucy French Postcard Review.

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair overflows with holiday magic for the youngest guests, offering hands-on craft activities, old-world games of skill and chance, and lively interactive shows in the Tinsel Green Children’s Area. Young audience members will cheer the hero and jeer the villain at the children’s melodrama, join Alice at the Mad Hatters’ Tea Party, or learn the tricks of the chimney-sweep trade from the Miracle Sweeps of London School. A delightful addition to the usual holiday entertainments, youngsters can meet Old Father Christmas each day at one o’clock on the Father Christmas Stage, ride on a hand-powered Adventure Carousel, cheer the Toy Parade, and laugh at the antics of an authentic British Punch & Judy puppet show.

Father Christmas at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair

Guests will welcome the return of the Gilbert & Sullivan comic opera “Trial By Jury” in the Victoria & Albert Bijou Music Hall – one of the most successful one-act operettas of all time telling the story of ludicrous circumstances played out by characters who behave as if the events are perfectly normal. Be astounded by the world premiere of “Dr. Xander T. Culpepper’s Miracle Elixir Show Of Miracles,” but don’t expect to walk away with any of his miracle magical tonic; demand is simply too high! Also on the Pennygaff Stage, fresh from a year studying at the Royal Shakespeare Company, the buffoonery of London’s most hilariously silly chimney sweep, Jim Chiminey is welcomed back!

Experience Mr. Dickens’ wonderful stories portrayed by hundreds of Living History characters throughout the streets. Encounter Mr. Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Oliver Twist, Nancy, and many more of Mr. Dickens’ characters. Queen Victoria, along with Albert and their court, walk the streets of London to mingle with the guest, as only Royalty may. You may join Mr. Samuel Pickwick himself and his fellow “Pickwickians” as they tour London, spreading hilarity and mirth. Throughout London town there is the illustrious Adventurers’ Club, or the Dickens Family Parlour, and the Great Exhibition Stage that will all no doubt, take you back to a time long ago. Do not miss genius inventor Professor Flockmocker’s Workshop, and the internationally themed Silk Road Stage for exotic dance and special musical guest appearances.

For the Best of the Fair, catch a song or two at the Paddy West School of Seamanship, and then stroll down to Mad Sal’s Dockside Ale House where Mad Sal herself will be hosting bold new talents as well as bawdy favorites like the high-kicking dancers of the Le Cancan Bijou in the Mad Sal’s Dockside Music Hall. The gentlemen of Brass Farthing lift a frothy good ale with their rollicking songs and the ladies of The Gin Alley Sally’s musically include you in their ‘Society for the Appreciation of Libation and Spirits.’  Later in the day, the extremely popular and my favorite show production, the outrageous “Saucy French Postcards Tableaux Revue” delight adults over 18 with “Gods & Heroes,” a new episode in the private lives of Horatio and Letitia Everard. Funny how I’m not allowed in with my camera …and no one else is, either!

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair was originally produced by Ron and Phyllis Patterson in 1970, inspired by their successful Renaissance Pleasure Faire, which they brought to the San Francisco Bay Area during the Summer of Love in 1967. The next generation, Kevin and Leslie Patterson now joined by their grown sons Andrew and Michael, have produced the Fair since 2000, continuing a 50-year family tradition and three generations, of deeply immersive, historically authentic environmental theater. For those who love and miss the authenticity of the old Renaissance Faire, you will be dazzled and delighted at The Dickens Fair, as all of that old magic is right here and has never left thanks the Patterson family’s tireless attention to detail.

“Each year we are inspired to be better than ever and are rewarded with the delight and surprise of our guests,” says Executive Director Kevin Patterson. “The holiday spirit of Charles Dickens and his London flourishes for several weeks – and we revel in the merriment and good cheer of all who attend.”

There are beautifully appointed shops and carts offering fine artesian crafts, fanciful clothing and accessories, jewelry, toys, and ornaments’ for the holidays. Little accouterments you would never imagine are discovered with regular delight by shoppers of all ages a desires.

One of my favorite vendors is the cart of Sculptor, Rebecca Love, who creates one-of-a-kind hand crafted ceramic life mask and body castings. Years ago I commissioned one of each for my wife Sandy, and they are indeed part of our most treasured art pieces at home. Rebecca is a delight to know and to work with. There is also tile and pottery , in styles and designs only Rebecca can make.  Take a look at her newest African Masks.

Though I do not play, I also love Stephen Joynes’ Fiddle Shop. Based in Palo Alto California, Stephen does restorations and repairs, and operates his booth out of love for the instruments. He told me, `I work out of my house. My workshop is in my garage and backyard…this is a retirement job for me…I travel the west coast and set up my instrument shop at music related festivals. Spreading the joy of music, especially to children, is a very gratifying pastime.’ Everyone can appreciate the workmanship that goes into these beautiful instruments.   See more at Steve Joynes, on Pinterest.

Steven Overstreet Designs are a mainstay at The Great Dickens Christmas Fair, as well as Renaissance Faires everywhere. `I design my clothing for women to celebrate their inner and outer beauty. I use color and texture as my basic tools. Most of the fabrics I use I dye myself, mixing a palette of colors that are not available any other way. Silk velvet is one of my favorite fabrics because of its incredible softness, its drape and the feel of it against the skin. My designs, inspired by the Pre-Raphaelite art movement of Victorian times, are romantic, sexy and artful.’

Don & Andrea Thompson’s, Velvet Bedlam offers all apparitions of gowns, skirts, and dresses as well saucy “under things.”You will also find unique capes and coats for all, including velvet, silks and colorful cotton fabrics. The Thompson’s create beautiful wardrobe for discerning adults and fine lovely children. Come enjoy our friendliness and cheer! The photos here are a tiny sample of what is offered and the Ladies helping one try-on a garment are delightful and expert at their craft.

When visiting the vendors  the `A I R’ symbol displayed by some denotes merchants who  handcraft the wares they sell. I encourage everyone to support Artists in all genres and mediums.

WHEN: Opens Saturday, November 17 and runs Saturdays and Sundays (plus the Friday after Thanksgiving) through December 23, 2018, 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

WHERE: The Cow Palace Exhibition Halls, 2600 Geneva Avenue, Daly City, CA

PRICES: Tickets are Select-Day. Visit  dickensfair.com to reserve your preferred date.

General Admission (13+): $30.00

Children ages 5-12: $14.00

Children under 5: Free

Group Tickets: For groups of 20 or more, contact ti*****@gg************.com,
415-668-0525

Active Military: 1st & 2nd Weekends Free Admission:

Active Military personnel will receive FREE Admission on First and Second Weekends!

(November 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 only; photo I.D. required.)

The Scrooge Special (Twilight Ticket offer, available only at box office):

Adult Twilight Tickets, $18.00, Child Twilight Tickets, $10.00 both available after 3:00 pm:

Parking available for $12 (charged by the Cow Palace).

The Fair offers a convenient shuttle from the Glen Park BART station

More Dickens Fair on Social Media: Instagram DickensFair, Facebook Dickens Fair, Twitter Dickens Fair

Connect with me, Greg Autry,  on Social Media:  Facebook  Facebook.com/GregAutryPhoto,  Twitter  @CGAGreg,  and Instagram   gregautry.cga . There are always more pictures !

*All Images ©2018GregAutry ALLRIGHTS RESERVED

The post The Nice Dickens Christmas Honest – a Completely happy and Extraordinary Christmas For All – Splash Magazines appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Mrs. Hoggshead, proprietress of Cuthbert’s Tea Shoppe (established 1774), said in real life she goes by the name of Sue Honor, is a lawyer, and has lived in Pacifica for 12 years. Ms. Honor also noted she has participated as a character of the Annual Great Dickens Fair & Victorian Holiday Party since 1977. While she has been proprietress of her Tea Shoppe since the Fair’s first days at the Cow Palace — she has also spent her “Fair” days as other characters, including the Queen. She named her tea shoppe after her husband Cuthbert Hoggshead, also a Pacifican, when he is, of course, not in Victorian London.

The couple’s daughter, Sarah, has joined in the family business over the years playing such characters as Nancy and Bet, both of “Oliver Twist,” as well as Royal Princess. Sarah’s 5-year-old daughter, Angelisee, will join Mrs. Hoggshead in the kitchen this year as Assistant Baker.

“Our son Benjamin has also been many characters over the years,” the proprietress stated, mentioning Smike from “Nicholas Nickleby,” as well as Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger both of “Oliver Twist” fame.

It should be noted that one of those characters, at least, might have been quite the Dickensian pickpocket. But the tea shoppe owner was not one to point a finger, unless she was pointing out one of the lovely items on the Cuthbert’s Tea Shoppe menu. Items which include scones with butter, cream, lemon curd and jam, sticky toffee pudding, trifle, and tea sandwiches of every variety including salmon, cucumber, watercress, and egg mayo — all naturally served with teas of the finest pedigrees.

“We are renowned for our rum cake,” Mrs. Hoggshead stated emphatically. “In fact, it was featured on the Food Channel. We also offer sandwiches for the kids such as peanut butter and honey, and cream cheese and jam. Delicious! And such a variety of teas — Orange Spice, Darjeeling, English Breakfast, jasmine and an African red tea. And there’s always hot chocolate for the youngsters.”

While Mrs. Hoggshead may spend her work week as an attorney, on the weekends leading up to the Fair, she and her husband are builders.

“We have pre-made, 8-foot by 4-foot wall flats,” Hoggshead said. “We screw them together, then do the electrical — wall lights and chandeliers. We also put up the kitchen shelves and put the plumbing in. We are the first full-service restaurant at the Dickens Fair.”

The Hoggshead family takes care of all the paint, the decorations and has brought in every bit of furniture, except the chairs. When not in use, the family stores everything from tables, to refrigerators and stoves in giant crates. Forty people work in the shoppe with Mrs. Hoggshead, who is not easily seen as she is in the back cooking.

“I go by the title, ‘Grand Poobah,’” she laughed.

The idea of the Tea Shoppe came to the Missus, when she was playing Queen Victoria at the Fair’s former locale, San Francisco’s Pier 45.

“The Queen’s party would enjoy tea and the audience members who watched wanted tea as well,” the former Queen said. “When the Dickens family went to the Cow Palace, we decided then and there, we would have a tea shoppe. Our first shoppe was probably one-sixteenth the size it is now and we had lines out the door.”

Hoggshead makes some of the desserts, she came up with the sandwiches and she recently brought in a junior scone maker.

“I enjoy making the scones,” the Grand Poobah said. “For me, baking is a stress reliever.” (Mrs. Hoggshead arrives at the Fair between 8:30 and 9 a.m. and doesn’t sit down until 6 p.m.)

Charles Dickens often stops by Cuthbert’s, as does the “transformed” Ebenezer Scrooge. During Grand High Tea, at 4 p.m., carolers sing by the hearth and not long after, chimney sweeps come in through the fireplace.

“The chimney sweeps are covered in soot and they try to get the customers to ‘kiss a sweep for luck!’”

Sometimes the rougher side of town comes to the shoppe, with the intention of stealing china, teapots and silverware.

“We tell our staff if they let someone steal anything, we will sack them with no references!” Hoggshead said with a laugh.

When anyone in the shoppe hears there is a birthday, they are known for their loud singing of “He (or she) is a Jolly Good Fellow.”

“We really like chiming in on that one from the kitchen,” Hoggshead giggled.

This year, across from Cuthbert’s Tea Shoppe, is a new jams and jellies shoppe. There is also a toy shoppe in the area, a parasol kiosk, a pasta booth, a personalized ornament shoppe and more.

“We also have the Father Christmas Stage, Punch and Judy and the Painting Garden for the kids,” Hoggshead said. “Our area, just like the Fair, is brimming with holiday spirit and joy. You can’t beat it!”

Due to public demand, Cuthbert’s Tea Shoppe (at the 33rd Annual Great Dickens Fair & Victorian Holiday Party, which runs four upcoming weekends at San Francisco’s Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Ave., Daly City, beginning Nov. 25, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) is now offering on-line reservations so patrons of the Fair can make a reservation for tea in advance of their visit. Guests with online reservations are seated in Cuthbert’s new Solarium dining area. They receive the same fixed menu as the High Tea in Cuthbert’s main dining room. Times for these seatings are at 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2:15 and 4 p.m. daily. Reservations must be made at least one day in advance. Visit Cuthbert’s Tea Shoppe at http://www.cuthbertsteashoppressenterprise.com/. Visit the Dickens Fair website at http://www.dickensfair.com.

The post By Dickens, a Victorian Pacifican serves up delectables at Cuthbert’s Tea Shoppe – The Mercury Information appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Photo by Rich Yee, courtesy of Dickens Fair

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair and Victorian Holiday Party will soon return to Daly City’s Cow Palace. This beloved annual event drops you into Victorian London, brought to life by hundreds of costumed players and a plethora of shops, stages, pubs, parties, and memorable performances. You can now buy tickets for the fair happening every weekend between Nov. 18-Dec. 17, 2023.

This annual event started in the 1970s and celebrates the world of writer Charles Dickens, author of A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, and other literary classics. The Fair features experiences and characters inspired by and plucked directly from Dickens’ novels, including Father Christmas; Mad Sal; Mr. Dickens himself; and his Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future.

Photo by Zoart Photography, courtesy of Dickens Fair

This year brings some new drinking experiences including the Jekyll and Hyde Pub Crawl mystery, in which guests can try five different custom “elixirs” at various drinking establishments; and Port and Chocolate Tasting 4 times a day at the Green Man Inn.

Guests can enjoy a spectrum of performances across 7 stages including Irish singers, English pantomime, Bedouin belly dancers, and juggling. This is also a great time to do some holiday shopping because there will be over 100 shops and vendors selling fine crafts. Finally, the Sherlock Holmes Experience is back by popular demand for those that want to try a delightful new puzzle.

Costumes play a huge role in the overall experience, but don’t feel bad if you don’t want to hunt down a waistcoat or bonnet. Victorian costumes aren’t required but are warmly welcomed. Their costume guide and policies is a must-read before you attend, with plenty of dos and don’ts regarding your attire.

Photo by Rich Yee, courtesy of Dickens Fair

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair invites you to lose yourself in the fantasy of the experience, enjoy a fencing lesson, drink a little absinthe or Turkish coffee and enjoy the ride.

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair and Victorian Holiday Party will be held on weekends from Nov. 18-Dec. 17 from 10am-6pm. The Fair will take place at the Cow Palace Exhibition Halls, 2600 Geneva Avenue, Daly City, CA.

General admission all-day adult tickets are $45 and youth tickets (under 13) are $25. You can also count on discounted Twilight tickets after 3pm.

Written by Grant MacHamer and Jamie Ferrell

The post 2023 Nice Dickens Christmas Honest Returns To Daly Metropolis appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Revelers will find entertainment from music hall dancers to opera singers
at the Bay Area’s annual Great Dickens Christmas Fair, which starts this
weekend.
(MarkEYE photo)

Humbug, you say?

Not at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair. This festival, held annually since 1970, is a sure tonic for the holiday blues.

On weekends from Nov. 17 through Dec. 23 (plus the Friday after Thanksgiving), the Cow Palace in Daly City is transformed into Charles Dickens’ London, with music halls, parades, pubs, shops and 800 costumed characters. You’ll run into the royals, chimney sweeps, newsboys, the Cratchit family and even Mr. Dickens, who performs several readings daily.

Kids can giggle over puppet shows (Punch & Judy is a British classic), watch a toy parade, learn to be a chimney sweep and meet Father Christmas. They can also craft gifts to give: rolled beeswax candles and hand-painted ornaments.

Adults can watch Gilbert & Sullivan’s comic opera “Trial by Jury” (back after a successful run last year), sing sea shanties and watch can-can dancers at Mad Sal’s Dockside Ale House.

When you get peckish, you’ll find the foods the British empire is known for (roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, fish and chips, meat pies, bangers, tea sandwiches, scones) as well as pan-European dishes (Italian, Greek). Just don’t let the queen see you with that spanakopita.

Details: Advance ticket purchase recommended to avoid sellout days: www.dickensfair.com. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; $14-$30, with lower prices for twilight hours (after 3 p.m.); Cow Palace charges $12 for parking but the fair runs a free shuttle from the Glen Park BART station. 2600 Geneva Ave., Daly City.

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The post The Dickens of a Christmas Honest returns to SF Bay Space appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens met with TechCrunch to help launch our first TechCrunch Live event for the city and spoke to us about the rapidly expanding tech landscape.

Atlanta is home to many bustling industries, including fintech and SaaS, and is also the home of many investors looking to support the city’s startups. Well-known unicorns in town include Calendly, FullStory and Kabbage. According to PitchBook, Atlanta startups have raised approximately $1.65 billion, the second-highest sum allocated to the city in recent years. So it makes sense why even the Atlanta Hawks and record label Quality Control have launched funds and investment portfolios.

Dickens was born and raised in Atlanta. Before he became mayor, he had extensive technical knowledge. He said it’s “phenomenal to see this city evolving from a charming Southern gem to an international city, one of the epicenters of the tech ecosystem,” before giving a slight nod to all the companies settling there: Microsoft , Porsche, just to name a few.

He said people are drawn to Atlanta for the culture, business productivity, ease of travel and low cost of living compared to other tech hubs like Austin and especially San Francisco. The city is also a natural source of talent, being home to Georgia Tech and historically black colleges and universities like Morehouse and Spelman.

“Companies come here because they have access to all this great talent,” he continued. “Technological growth is happening right here because of this talent.”

One reason for tension for talent looking to relocate to Atlanta might be that the city in the historically red state of Georgia is politically blue. This means that if a massive policy change is implemented, such as one affecting women’s health, the blue bubble may not be enough to protect founders from such changes. However, Dickens said that change may be on the way: Georgia voted for Biden and brought two Democrats, Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, into the Senate. This has made the city’s political alignment purple, he said, which bodes well for the state and, by extension, the city.

“This keeps us at the center of all political discussions,” he continued. “Republicans, Democrats and others want to do business in Atlanta; People want to do business in Georgia.”

Dicken said one of his key interests is ensuring equity and opportunities for more people to enter the tech sector, particularly for those looking to overcome generational poverty. For example, he said the city has focused on promoting technology certifications, not just four-year degrees. He also wants to make sure companies moving to the city are taking advantage of the talent and resources there.

However, there’s also a chance that as Atlanta grows, it falls victim to its own success, with the cost of living skyrocketing and workers displaced. Dickens said the city wanted balanced growth that would not impact the city’s old residents. One way of doing this is for him to be explicit about what his expectations are for companies looking to build in the city. “I can’t agree with any incentives for your company to come here if you don’t have a local hiring plan,” he said.

At the end of the interview, I asked Twitter for questions. A woman asked about the availability of free co-working spaces, to which the mayor replied it was worth checking. The final question from the audience was about the famous Atlanta water babies who stand on the side of the road selling water to people in cars.

“Has there been any consideration of efforts to convert these kids on the street into early technology programs?” asked the viewer.

“We actually do,” Dickens said. He said the city is working to get them involved in entrepreneurship programs so the kids can hone their skills as natural entrepreneurs. “We can’t just get them to sell water right away because they could get hurt,” the mayor said, adding that they are working to add her to the talent pipeline. “We would like to do this ten times.”

Watch the entire panel as part of our Atlanta City Spotlight here.

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After a two-year hiatus, the Great Dickens Christmas Fair and Victorian Holiday Party return to Daly City’s historic Cow Palace for five weekends this November and December. The family-friendly holiday fair takes place on Saturdays and Sundays (as well as the Friday after Thanksgiving, November 25th) from November 19th to December 18th, 2022 and offers visitors an incomparable holiday experience.

An annual Bay Area tradition for nearly 40 years, the Great Dickens Christmas Fair features hundreds of costumed Victorian characters, from waltzing royals to rowdy chimney sweeps, covering 10 acres of twilight-lit shops, pubs, stages and dance halls populate. It’s always Christmas Eve at the Dickens Fair in 19th-century London.

This year the show has expanded to include the new Vauxhall Gardens, a 50,000 square meter park-like Victorian site with a 2,800 square meter ice skating rink with synthetic ice, Christmas trees for sale, refreshments such as hot cider for purchase and more. Entry to Vauxhall Gardens is free for the public (parking fee still applies); Unlimited skate time is $12 for adults and $6 for children ages 3-8 and includes skate rentals.

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair offers a variety of entertainment for all ages and tastes. Enjoy a whole new traditional Christmas pantomime with The Tale of Puss in Boots, delve into the Christmas past of Ebenezer Scrooge at Fezziwig’s Christmas party and marvel at the deductive skills of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes. Families can also take part in hands-on craft activities, old-world games of skill and chance, and lively interactive shows.

The Tinsley Green Children’s Area and Father Christmas Stage will entertain and delight; Youngsters can meet old Santa, ride the hand-operated adventure carousel, sip tea with characters from Alice in Wonderland and laugh at the antics of an authentic British Punch and Judy puppet show. Children can also build a whimsical fairy house, learn how to operate an 1860s printing press, sing sea songs and take fencing lessons.

The fair also features delicious food from the British Empire and beyond, from pub fare like fish and chips and bangers and mash to artisan chocolates and tea cakes to Indian fare. You can also enjoy a traditional English tea with scones and finger sandwiches at Cuthbert’s Tea Shop. (Reserve in advance to ensure you get a teatime table!)

The fair will take place on November 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27 and on December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18, 2022; Opening hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. General admission to the Great Dickens Christmas Fair is $45 for adults and $25 for youth ages 5-12. Twilight tickets for entry after 3 p.m. are $30 for adults and $18 for youth. Children under 5 years are always free. Advance tickets are required. Buy tickets online here. Parking is $15 per car, payable at the gate.

The Cow Palace is located at 2600 Geneva Avenue in Daly City. Visit dickensfair.com for more information, online tickets and a full program of entertainment and events.

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Get in the holiday spirit – in Victorian style! The Great Dickens Christmas Fair, where Christmas Eve was always in the 1850s, is back in 2022! This Bay Area tradition has existed for almost 40 years and features elaborate sets that evoke the streets and alleyways of 19th-century London. Chimney Sweeps and Sailors to Charles Dickens, Ebenezer Scrooge, Father Christmas, Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim, as well as Chimney Sweeps, Newsboys, Sailors, carol singers and musicians.

We had the opportunity to revisit the fair on opening day and it was great to be able to experience again all the magic that the fair has to offer. The Dickens Fair is a must for all the family and there will be plenty to see and do for everyone!

Stroll the streets of London divided into areas such as the Grand Concourse, London Docks, Tinsley Green, Fish Street and Pickwick Place. Throughout you’ll find costumed vendors selling everything from 19th-century clothing and hats for all ages, jewellery, books, musical instruments, soaps and candles, toys and more. It’s a great place to find unique Christmas gifts for everyone.

This year they added a new section: “Vauxhall Gardens,” a park-like area with a synthetic ice rink ($12, $8 for kids under 6; includes skate rentals) and Christmas trees, which are sold in partnership with the Delancey Street Foundation . Visitors to Vauxhall Gardens can also enjoy treats like hot cider and handmade chocolates. Vauxhall Gardens is free to the public ($15 parking fees still apply).

The Dickens Fair offers constant entertainment, not only from the itinerant actors you interact with, but also across numerous stages and venues. Join in at Fezziwig’s Dance Party, hear excerpts from Grand Opera and Gilbert and Sullivan at the Victoria and Albert Music Hall, sing along to sea shanties on the Paddy West Stage and enjoy music hall songs and entertainment at Mad Sal’s Dockside Alehouse. You will also experience folk dancing and Christmas carols at various locations around the fair.

Don’t miss the opportunity to sit around the table with Charles Dickens himself as he reads from his classic story A Christmas Carol. Ebenezer Scrooge and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future may even appear! Other opportunities for intimate events like this include the Dickens Family Parlor and the Athenaeum Club, which offer an all-day schedule of performances featuring 19th-century luminaries like Oscar Wilde, Mary Shelley, the Pre-Raphaelite painters, and even Edgar Allen Poe.

Younger visitors will want to spend time in Tinsley Green, where they can play games, ride the adventure carousel, enjoy a Punch and Judy puppet show, performances by characters from Alice and Wonderland, and even meet Santa in person! Children can also make crafts such as fairy houses and Christmas tree decorations themselves.

Hungry? Grab a snack like hot cinnamon almonds or roasted chestnuts from one of the stalls. Pubs and bars offer drinks for all ages including hot cider, eggnog, lemonade, beer, wine and cider. For something more substantial, visit the food stalls, most of which are located along Fish Street and Tinsley Green, where you can enjoy authentic British Isles dishes such as sausages, fish and chips, roast beef, meat pies and sausage rolls. If British food isn’t your thing then there’s pasta, crepes, Greek and Indian food. Cuthbert’s Tea Shoppe also has tea time reservations, complete with scones, finger sandwiches and a teapot to take away.

There is so much to do and see here that you won’t want to leave. It’s easy to get lost on the winding streets of London, but don’t worry – each character can give you directions on where to go. It’s fun and engaging, and will really make you feel like you’ve stepped into another time and place. Visitors are encouraged to come in period costume and really get into the spirit of things!

when you go

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair takes place on the weekends (including the Friday after Thanksgiving, November 25) from November 19 to December 23, 2022; Opening hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. General admission to the Great Dickens Christmas Fair is $45 for adults and $25 for children ages 5-12. Twilight tickets for entry after 3 p.m. are $30 for adults and $18 for children. Children under 5 years are always free. Parking is $15 per car. All tickets must be reserved online in advance; Tickets are not sold at the gate. Order tickets online here.

The Cow Palace is located at 2600 Geneva Avenue in Daly City. To get there from Marin, take the 101 south over the Golden Gate Bridge. Bear right onto Park Presidio/19th Avenue and follow it to Brotherhood Way, which you turn east. Take Brotherhood to Alemany Boulevard, then follow Alemany to Geneva Avenue, where you turn right. Follow Geneva Avenue to Cow Palace which is on the right.

There is a wide range of food and drink to buy at the fair. Make sure you wear good shoes as there will be a lot of walking on concrete floors and strollers are a must for little ones. Be sure to pack water as well, as there are no drinking fountains on-site.

Visit dickensfair.com for more information, online tickets and a full program of entertainment and events.

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