by Noella Noelophile®
“I’m all atwitter,” confided a parlor maid. “The Queen is coming.”
And indeed, Her Majesty did put in an appearance a few minutes later–heralded by her Royal Guard and accompanied by her beloved husband, Prince Albert.
After all, what monarch in her right mind would want to miss a Christmas tea hosted by Mr. Charles Dickens?
Queen Victoria’s appearance was just one of many highlights during Saturday’s opening day of the thirty-sixth annual Great Dickens Christmas Fair and Victorian Holiday Party, in Daly City.
Coming into the Cow Palace, just after the Fair opened at 10:00 am, visitors were greeted by a festive tree…
…and a nineteenth-century protest of sorts.
This Temperance Union group’s hearty singing added to the festive atmosphere–and a sense of having stepped back in time. 
The Dickens Fair had transformed the three-acre-plus exhibition halls into the sawdust-strewn streets of Old London–and transported visitors to Christmas Eve, mid-1800’s.
Scents of gingerbread, meat pies, spiced nuts and coffee filled the air. So did the sounds of carols, dulcimer music and various British dialects.
A walk down the Grand Concourse led visitors past warmly-lit business establishments, where they could send a hand-delivered “telegram” to a companion. Or browse a number of unique handcrafted wares. 
Total creative favorites, from this particular Dickens Fair, included Victorian jewelry by designer Dayna Speed–through her small business that’s cleverly named Marley’s Chains! Her booth included interesting background details on the types of jewelry worn in Dickens’ day.
We also couldn’t resist Wilamina Wormwood’s handcrafted House of Wormwood soaps, and loved the pewter Christmas ornaments and painstakingly stitched felt Christmas wreaths, further down the concourse. 
A definite plus was getting to watch the artists at work…
…and talk with vendors like artist Heidi B. Moon. At first, we thought she was featuring ivory carvings, but the ornaments she’s displaying are actually hand-carved from cattle bones!. Heidi said designer Christopher Miller creates the carvings, which are a byproduct of our food industry. She also showed us a beautifully detailed tarot-card earring, which she features; we remember buying some of these as gifts at a previous Renaissance Faire.
Locations had names like “Fish Street”, “Nickleby Road”, and “Bell Ringers Row”. Costumed participants represented various aspects of London society–from the luminaries of the day, including Mr. Oscar Wilde and Miss Charlotte Bronte, chatting over tea…
…to the underside of London, at the docks. “Mind your valuables, there are pickpockets about,” warned a gentleman in a top hat as we strolled by Fagin’s Den.
Entertainment went on throughout the day, on five different performances stages as well as on the streets themselves. “I”m late,” complained the White Rabbit, of Lewis Carroll fame, hurrying after his companions at one point.
“You’re always late,” the fox reassured him.
A crowd-pleasing favorite were the songs from the Paddy West Stage, featuring a humorous take on the life of a sailor. Laughter and applause greeted the selections, which the performers seemed to be enjoying as much as the audience did.
The carousel in the Tinsley Green area had a steady stream of young patrons, and the Punch and Judy show drew considerable interest.
But perhaps the best entertainment was of the interactive variety.
At 2:00, Mr. Charles Dickens hosted a Christmas tea. Some noteworthy citizens were present, including Sally, proprietor of Mad Sal’s Alehouse…
…and these gentlemen from the Pickwick Club.
About ten minutes into the party, the Royal Guard appeared outside with the shout, “Make clear for Her Majesty, Queen Victoria!”
And as previously mentioned, the Queen and Prince Albert were welcomed into the Dickens parlor.
But they certainly weren’t the only celebrities looking in on the party.
After the Queen and Prince had made their appearance, they were off to their next commitment: a visit to Fezziwig’s Dance Party. The assembled guests greeted them with a rousing rendition of “God Save the Queen”.
The royal couple led off the dancing with a waltz, then stayed for several other dances.
And they left to a chorus of “Rule, Britannia!”
Britannia definitely rules in the Bay Area, and so does the Great Dickens Christmas Fair, which continues for the next four weekends. Practice saying “Happy Christmas” and come to this one if you can.
The thirty-sixth annual Great Dickens Christmas Fair continues at the Cow Palace Exhibition Halls, 2600 Geneva Avenue near Calgary Street, in Daly City for the next four weekends. Hours are Saturday and Sunday, 10 am-7pm, but they’ll also be open this Friday (Friday after Thanksgiving!) from 10 am to 7 pm. They offer some ticket discounts for the next two weekends, as well as seasonal passes; more information is available here.