Dickens fair
A Dickens fair, Dickens Christmas fair, Dickens Fete or Dickens festival is a weekend or multi-day gathering open to the public which attempts to recreate a Victorian English setting reminiscent of the novels of Charles Dickens. Events may be outdoor, indoor or a combination of the two. Many are Christmas-themed, a reflection of the enduring legacy of Dickens' 1843 novella A Christmas Carol. The fairs generally include costumed participants, musical and theatrical acts, and art, handicrafts, food and drink for sale. The first known Dickens Fete was arranged by the Rev. F. J Mills during July 1897 in the English seaside town of Broadstairs. Broadstairs also lays claim to the longest running Dickens Festival, The Broadstairs Dickens Festival, founded by Captain Miles Conway Robson in 1937 and celebrating it's 86th year in 2023. Characteristics 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 as Queen Victoria. History of the fairs in the United States Ron Patterson and his wife Phyllis, started the first "Renaissance Pleasure Faire" in southern California in 1963, making