by Noella Noelophile®
Arriving at the Cow Palace in Daly City, we step into Victorian England.
And not just any day in Victorian England–it’s Christmas Eve!
Lamplit streets are lined with shops. Suffragists, chimney sweeps and seafarers stroll past. Merriment abounds, in the pubs, playhouses and seven continuous entertainment stages.
We can walk to the entrance, or take the miniature steam train from the South Hall, for $4.
(Photo courtesy of Zoart Photography.)
As the 41st annual Great Dickens Christmas Fair and Victorian Holiday Party returns to the Cow Palace for five weekends, visitors find themselves immersed in the world of Charles Dickens.
The Dickens Fair opens two weeks from today: Saturday, November 22nd, at 10 am. It runs from 10 am to 6 pm for five weekends, as well as the Friday after Thanksgiving, through Sunday, December 21st.
One warning, though–there is no onsite box office. Tickets are only available online, and attendance is capped on a daily basis.
In other words, the time to order online is NOW. Here’s the link for information.
A journey of the imagination
(Photo courtesy of Zoart Photography.)
And, back to our visit.
In all probability, we’re going to encounter the White Rabbit, Alice and Queen of Hearts. The Dickens Fair, this year, is paying special tribute to Lewis Carroll, with an all-new classic English pantomime, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland!
We might even get to meet Mr. Carroll himself, inside the Athenaeum Club.
While we’re meeting people, we will almost certainly see Mr. Dickens.
(Photo courtesy of Zoart Photography.)
As well as a number of characters from his fertile imagination, such as Nancy and Nell…
(Photo courtesy of Zoart Photography.)
…and Old Scrooge, in the process of being re-educated in humanity.
(Photo courtesy of Zoart Photography.)
(Photo courtesy of Zoart Photography.)
And we’re invited to a festive Christmastime dance party, courtesy of Mrs. Fezziwig!
( Photo by Greg Autry.)
One day will never be enough for us to see and do everything.
But among the novel experiences, we’ll have the opportunity to hear Dream Box Theater’s storytelling “trunk shows” of The Jabberwocky, The Walrus and the Carpenter, and Treasure Island.
We’ll get to experience the historic fight for women’s rights, courtesy of street-theater troupe, Suffragists of London.
And the Sherlock Holmes Mystery experience will give us the opportunity to search for clues to a brand-new mystery, hidden throughout the fair.
(Photo courtesy of Zoart Photography.)
Strolling four acres of exhibition halls, we find handcrafted treasures at more than 100 artisan shops. (The vintage Christmas ornaments are a favorite!)
We’ll especially want to look for A Mermaid’s Tale, where Arlin Robins, sculptor of the Fair’s Mermaid Tavern bronze centerpiece, will be offering new jewelry and small sculptures. As well as The Enchanted Emporium, with its sparkly sweets and nostalgic toys in a magic-evoking setting.
Can we say “one-of-a-kind-gifts” here?
(Photo courtesy of Zoart Photography.)
And we won’t want to miss Mad Sal’s Ale House, in the “entertainment” category. Time to get into the festive spirit and sing along with some gifted performers!
Uh-oh. Is all this walking around scuffing our boots?
No problem. This year, there’s a Bootblack Stand where we can bring boots, belts and bags for a professional shine!
Time to eat
(Photo courtesy of Zoart Photography.)
Of course, with the scents of roasted cinnamon-sugar almonds, meat pies and assorted other delicious fare wafting through the air, we will have worked up quite an appetite.
There are traditional Dickens Fair favorites, from which we can choose (the tacos and gingerbread get my vote!) but there are also some tempting-sounding new additions this year.
(Photo courtesy of Amy Hart.)
San Francisco’s family-owned, small-batch ice cream makers, Hometown Creamery, are making their Dickens Fair debut this year. Waffle cones, teacakes and biscuits are among their offerings, and if they have mint chip I may just have to “research” them personally!
We can also bring home some British delicacies, courtesy of Two English Ladies, who have more than 18 specialty products–including lemon curd, marinades and scones.
Meanwhile, the Wildfire Jerky Company, also new onsite this year, offers gourmet, small-batch jerky in both traditional flavors and some adventurous ones–including Mango Habanero and Korean BBQ.
(Photo courtesy of Zoart Photography.)
Of note, for anyone bringing some younger Dickensians along with them, is the Children’s Tour of London. This is a daily, self-guided adventure, included with admission, which culminates in meeting Father Christmas at 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm, daily.
No two visits to the Dickens Fair are ever alike–but the times I’ve been, have had one common denominator: a fantastic, immersive experience! (And as covered in my 2024 interview with Red Barn Productions’ Kevin Patterson, it all started with a special celebration, by Ron and Phyllis Patterson, in 1970.)
All in all, our imaginary tour of the 2025 Great Dickens Christmas Fair, today, has put me in an extremely “Christmasy” mood.
I hope you get to experience it firsthand.
(Logo courtesy of Great Dickens Christmas Fair and Holiday Party.)