The Great Dickens Christmas Fair
Opens Saturday November 23 and runs weekends through Sunday December 22 from 10am to 7pm
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair & Victorian Holiday Party – the only event of its kind in the world – returns for its 20th season at the historic Cow Palace on Saturdays and Sundays (and the Friday after Thanksgiving) from November 23 – December 22, 2019. Join over 800 performers in a 360-degree adventure into Charles Dickens’ London, where it is always Christmas eve and the holiday party is in full swing! Enjoy the Children's Tour of London, a special adventure just for the young ones.
‘Tis always Christmas Eve at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair! Over 1,000 theatrical lights are rigged, positioned and colored to create the illusion of evening in the streets of Charles Dickens’ London. Around every corner, guests will discover carefully detailed Dickensian holiday-themed shops, pubs, stages and dance halls. Strolling through the streets, visitors will be transported to an evening in Victorian London with the aromas of roasted sugar almonds and hot cider, the sounds of hearty laughter and singing spilling forth from pubs and music halls, and the mirthful greetings of shopkeepers, street merchants, and fellow holiday merrymakers - from Queen Victoria to Ebenezer Scrooge.
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 at the Tinsley Green Children’s Area and Father Christmas Stage. Youngsters can meet Father Christmas, ride on the hand-powered Adventure Carousel, have tea with characters from Alice in Wonderland, and laugh at the antics of an authentic British Punch & Judypuppet show. New on the Pennygaff Stage this season – The Death-Defying Sword-Swallowing of the Amazing Cyrus Pynn!
Guests will enjoy many new interactive offerings this year, including Professor Prospero’s Creature Caravan revealing the “varies” – magical hidden creatures living amongst us. Guests can chat with the Professor and see replicas of the exotic creatures he has seen! The newly expanded Corinthian Rose Sporting Club will allow more guests to learn the noble art of fencing, while famous and infamous characters of the Victorian world provide instruction to all levels of age and skill.
Hearty appetites meet hearty British Empire fare at The Great Dickens Christmas Fair! Feast on delicious foods from traditional savories like fish ‘n chips to handcrafted chocolates and teacakes. This year marks the debut of Aunt Samirah’s East India Cookery, a delicious culinary journey to the far reaches of the British Empire offering exotic dishes like butter curry over rice, saag paneer, and chicken tikka masala. Enjoy a frothy pint of English ale, fine wine, champagne, hot buttered rum, Irish coffee or hot toddy at one of five traditional pubs. Or sit for traditional English high tea complete with scones and finger sandwiches – perhaps Queen Victoria herself will drop in!
Discover the perfect gift for family and friends amidst the more than 100 beautiful shops and carts offering fine crafts, fanciful clothing and accessories, ceramics, elegant drinkware, stunning jewelry, toys, ornaments, antiquarian books, and more. A favorite purveyor returns to the fair this year after many years:Midnight Moon Apothecary will offer carefully crafted fragrances, salves, teas, and tinctures, along with a new line of soothing products for babies and children.
Upon entry to the Fair, or at the Patterson and Sons Shop just inside the front gate, guests are invited to pick up a copy of the official Dickens Fair Program with the Stage Schedules, Children’s Tour, Map of London and other useful information.
**GIVEAWAY CLOSED** CONGRATULATIONS TO OLGA F! ENJOY THE SHOW!
Macaroni Kid NE San Jose-Milpitas has a family four-pack of tickets to give away to a lucky subscriber!
Click here to enter! Giveaway ends Friday, November 15th at 8PM.
Ticketing and Other Pertinent Information:
Online Ticket Pricing at dickensfair.com:
- Adult and Senior General Admission (13+ yrs.): $32.00 plus a convenience fee charged by Eventbrite
- Children (5-12 yrs.): $14.00 plus a convenience fee charged by Eventbrite
- Children under 5 years are always free
- Pickwick Club 2019 Season Passes are also available online through December 8, at $120.00 (a $352.00 value!) plus Eventbrite convenience fee
Admission Prices at the Gate:
- Adult/General Admission (13+): $32.00 (good any one day)
- Children (5-12 yrs): $14.00
- Children under 5 years are always free
- Pickwick Club 2019 Season Pass: $120.00 (a $352.00 value!)
- Adult Twilight Tickets, valid after 3:00 PM: $20.00 (available only at the box office)
- Child Twilight Tickets, valid after 3:00 PM: $10.00 (available only at the box office)
Parking is available for $12 per vehicle (charged by the Cow Palace). The Fair offers a free shuttle from the Glen Park BART station.
SPECIAL DISCOUNTS:
Fireman's Toy Drive: Daly City Fire Department's "Operation Santa Claus": Bring an unwrapped NEW toy to the Fair box office and receive a $5 discount off one Adult ticket! Toys will be given to the Daly City Fire Department's "Operation Santa Claus" toy drive, now in its 70th year of bringing holiday cheer to less fortunate families in the Daly City/Colma/Broadmoor area. This special discount is available at the Fair Box Office Only, and cannot be used in combination with pre- purchased tickets.
Active Military: 1st & 2nd Weekends Free Admission: Active Military personnel will receive FREE Admission on First and Second Weekends!
(Nov. 23, 24, 29, 30 & Dec 1 only; photo I.D. required.) See website for details.
The Scrooge Special (Twilight Ticket offer, available only at box office):
Adult Twilight Tickets, available after 3pm: $20.00
Child Twilight Tickets, available after 3pm: $10.00
FOR MORE INFORMATION, visit www.dickensfair.com.
**Macaroni Kid NE San Jose-Milpitas has received tickets for personal use and to giveaway in exchange for sharing this event with our readers.**
