By Greg Autry
Among the many parties and all the Holiday festivities at year’s end, the one I look forward to and enjoy the most is The Great Dickens Christmas Fair and Victorian Holiday Party, which this year celebrates 40 Seasons of Holiday Revelry. Here, the London of Charles Dickens comes to life.
You better not shout, you better not pout, but you better Hurry. There are only two weekends left for the 2024 Dickens Fair. All taking place inside the legendary Cow Palace, in Daly City (just South of San Francisco.) London, that bustling, colorful city that inspired Charles Dickens’ imagination, will come to life all around you in an immersive fun, fun-filled extravaganza. Watch for Mr. Dickens himself and all of his masterful characters from his novels.
This year, you must purchase your TICKETS online only in advance. When you arrive at the Fair, pick up your free copy of The Illustrated London Chimes for listings of all the Stage schedules and show times, tips, tricks, and services to enjoy the Fair. A map of olde London to find your way around. For lots more info, take a look at my PREVIEW ARTICLE, which was published in Splash Mags in November.
I love meeting and talking to all the people who come to the Fair. There is a bevy of beautiful, fun people from everywhere you can imagine, many dressed in Victorian Holiday attire, which has become a tradition. Of course, I get to take photos all about London Town, which you can see throughout this article.
The Dickensian streets host unique shops, stores, and vendors, bringing Victorian London to life. As you wander the streets, perusing the shops, there is always a beautiful, rosy, festive glow about London Town. It is a great place for buying someone special something unique and original from one of the many artisans, many of whom have been at the Fair for Decades.
I urge you to stop at Mrs. Piper’s Photo Parlour, headed up by the amazing principal photographer Alwyn L’hoir, where you can choose to be any character you want. Stepping back into olde London, the well-trained staff will outfit you in style, and most impressively, you will carry home with you a real photographic memento. Mrs. Piper carries on their long tradition of creating unique portraiture with her eye for detail and styling; her experience as a photographer for the royal family has taught her well the skill of posing people unaccustomed to having their images captured in front of a camera. Alwyn L’hoir is exceptionally talented in working with her customers. I have watched her work, and admire what she does greatly.
Note here that the Libation Society in Pickwick Place offers The Port and Chocolate Experience, and the Royal Libation Society offers The Champagne Experience. If you are interested in the Jekyll & Hyde Pub Crawl or the Sherlock Holmes Experience, be sure to inquire at the `Tours of London’ office in the Grand Concourse.
The Dickens Fair is indeed a world-class holiday event. What makes the Dickens Fair so very, very special are the artists, cast, crew, and performers who dedicate their talents to making this venue one of the very best in the world. Again, The London Chimes lists the performers, times, and stages where each performs during the day, and there are nearly 100. Please be sure to express your appreciation to the performers, as for many, this is their livelihood, and it would mean a lot for them to hear your appreciation.
During each day, Mr. Dickens reads from A Christmas Carol at Tavistock House, and leading lights of literary, artistic, scientific, and business worlds share their projects with the public at The Athenaeum Club. Chancery Lane is another opportunity to see characters and stories come to life in vibrant scenes and musical interludes.
This is definitely a family-friendly affair, with plenty for the young folk as well. The Father Christmas Stage offers Fairy Tales, Trickish Matters, and a Father Christmas visit with children. There are a myriad of games, a painting garden, and a holiday carousel. Do not miss the Punch & Judy Puppet Shows, and beware—there are temptations and treats about in every delight.
Feast your eyes and ears on the sumptuous displays and entertainment throughout as you roam olde London Town. Do tarry, I say. There are treats and surprises in every nook and cranny to be discovered. At the Bohemian Bar, raise a toast to 40 years of rollicking holiday festivities and enjoy the Theaters, Pubs, Eating Establishments, Shops, and Music Halls. A word of caution: you will pass through Fagin’s Alley and the London Docks, so beware of unsavory characters.
To experience all that is offered, I suggest going to the Dickens Fair multiple weekends. If I may titillate your curiosity, I highlight here a few of the opportunities you must endeavor to experience: There is much dancing at Fezziwig’s Dance Party, and the Victoria & Albert Bijou Music Hall has a dazzling panoply of entertainment from London’s West End. If you wish to be truly astonished, watch Blades & Bravery, where a crazy man named Cyrus Pynn will swallow a whole sword. Then, get this, he goes and throws sharp, pointy things at his beautiful assistant, Miss Katie. I say Balderdash!
The Paddy West Stage is home to Nautical Entertainment and Sing-Alongs. As I warned, it is located in a salty part of London down by the Docks, where much riffraff is about. Some of the sailors about will provide lessons in navigation or knot tying. Beware those offering games of chance or tattoos; there may be riffraff amongst them.
While the good folk of London do try to keep the raucous merriment down, it simply cannot be avoided at Mad Sal’s Dockside Ale House. At times, it is shocking and even scandalous; I cannot recommend the establishment if you have children with you. Mad Sal herself presides over a bunch of rowdy singers and dancers and more than a few shifty sorts. Le Cancan Bijou is a favorite of mine, and The East End H’Extravaganza is a must-see.
I want to thank Kevin Patterson and Red Barn Productions for their continued herculean efforts at keeping the traditions and quality of the Dickens Fair alive all these years. I know his parents would be very proud to see what has transpired since the first and original Renaissance Faire so long ago. Thank You, Denise Lamott, for your continued support.
Come to the Dickens Fair in San Francisco; Happy Christmas.
Tickets range from $18 to $45.The Port Tasting, Pub Crawl, and Corsetry Experiences require reservations and additional tickets. Early purchase and date selection is recommended, as attendance is limited daily. Tickets go on sale October 1 and may only be purchased online and in advance atdickensfair.com/tickets.
WHEN: Opens Saturday, November 23, and runs Saturdays and Sundays (plus the Friday after Thanksgiving) through December 22, 2024, from 10 a.m. ~ 6 p.m.
WHERE: The Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Avenue, Daly City, CA
TICKETS & INFORMATION: dickensfair.com
All tickets are available online only. Adult General Admission is $45.00. Please note that on the website, there are special discounts for active military, entry after 3 p.m., season passes, and children. There are no Group discounts.
Parking is an additional $20.00, or $ 40.00/RV or bus, charged by the Cow Palace.
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