ADickens fair (alsoDickensian evening,Dickens Christmas fair,Dickens fête, orDickens festival) is a weekend or multi-day gathering open to the public that attempts to recreate aVictorian English setting reminiscent of the novels ofCharles Dickens. Events may be outdoor, indoor or a combination of the two. Many areChristmas-themed, a reflection of the enduring legacy of Dickens' 1843 novellaA Christmas Carol.[1] The fairs generally include costumed participants, musical and theatrical acts, art, handicrafts, food and drink for sale.
Dramatic and musical entertainment, artisan demonstrations, dancing, parades, and lectures or discussions on literary or historical topics may be part of the events. Costumed entertainers often impersonate characters from Dickens' novels, as well as historical figures such asQueen Victoria.
The first known Dickens fair was arranged by the Rev. F. J. Mills during July 1897 in the English seaside town ofBroadstairs.[2] Broadstairs also lays claim to the longest running Dickens fair, The Broadstairs Dickens Festival, which was founded by Captain Miles Conway Robson in 1937.[3] Unlike most British and American Dickensian fairs that take place in December, Broadstairs Dickens Festival is usually held in the second or third week of June.[4]
Ron Patterson and his wife Phyllis started the first "Renaissance Pleasure Faire" in southern California in 1963, making it an annual event beginning in spring 1966.[5] Five years later, they initiated a fall Renaissance fair in theSan Francisco Bay Area with a harvest theme. These traditions took root locally and spread across the country.[6] They then launched the Great Dickens Christmas Fair, an indoor event, in San Francisco in 1970.[7] This has also inspired similar events across the U.S.
Beginning in the 1980s, the English town ofWare began hosting a Charles Dickens themedcarnival during the first week of December to welcome the arrival ofSanta Claus.[8] The 25th Dickensian Evening was held in 2019.[9] Townspeople wearVictorian costumes, local businesses and volunteer groups run food and gift stalls to raise money for charity, actors perform short, open-air plays such asA Christmas Carol, acraft fair is held in thedrill hall, anativity scene is unveiled in St Mary's Church, achoir singsChristmas carols in the churchyard,puppeteers andstreet musicians entertain the public, andfairground rides and games are hosted in the town centre.[10][11] The highlight of the evening involves themayor turning on theChristmas lights and leading a procession featuring costumed performers and dancers, horse drawn beerwagons fromMcMullen's Brewery, thetown crier,carnival floats, andmarching band(s).[12][13] The 26th Dickensian Evening was relaunched in December 2022, after being cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to theCovid-19 pandemic.[14]
The commercialised American approach was later exported to England. A warehouse-based theme park,Dickens World, opened inKent, England, in May 2007.[15][16] It closed on 12 October 2016.[17]
Other towns that organise yearly Dickensian fairs in December includeWhitby,Lostwithiel,Tavistock, andWeymouth, Dorset.[18][19][20] Whitby's Dickensian evening is unique as it incorporatessteampunk andgothic horror themes.[21]
