The 9th annual Dickens Village Festival is finally here! The town has been done up in mid-Victorian era splendour and everyone is ready for the weekend of fun and festivities begin.
Information for the Dickens Village Festival is available at Fezziwig's Pub (memorial hall) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fezziwig's Pub will also feature the CES Gingerbread House display and the Carlyle Family and Youth Festival of Trees auction both Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
There will be a soup & sandwich lunch offered at Fezziwig's Pub by Rusty Relics Museum Volunteers from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday and a beef stew lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. Fezziwig's Pub is open from 3:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. both days (children must be accompanied by a parent) and food will be available from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
All productions of The Cornerstone Theatre Play, "A Christmas Carol - Remixed" are almost sold out! Those wishing to attend best get their tickets as soon as possible from Cornerstone Shoes. The play will held at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, as well as at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
There will be entertainment free of charge all weekend. Happy Wanderers, Ken Hamm, Michele Amy & Fiddlers, Dr. Finnystein's Real Cool Christmas, Southern Country and Jayne Galloway will be featured Friday and/or Saturday! Fezziwig's pub will also feature a Jam Session after the play (10 p.m. to 11 p.m.) for anyone who wishes to listen or join in on some jamming! Also, don't forget to check out the magician Pat Roth who will be performing Saturday at 1 p.m.
The High Tea and Quilt display will be held at the United Church both days from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., though Friday will include the musical talents of harpist Glenna Stewart.
Tiny Tim's Taste Tour will be up and running from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. both days, just follow the signs for some delicious treats! The English Market (craft sale) will be open from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday. If you're feeling full after the Taste Tour, take a break and relax on the Horse drawn Carriage Rides, which will run from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. You can be picked up and dropped of by the Royal Bank.
Food Vendors will be on Main Street from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. both nights so be sure to stop and pick up some tasty eats like shepherd's pie, gingerbread cookies, rice pudding, and turkey legs!
The much-anticipated Lighted Parade will begin at 6 p.m. both nights, and Saturday will kick off with breakfast with Santa at Fezziwig's at 8 a.m. until 10 a.m., please bring Food Bank donations to the breakfast! Following breakfast there will be a bake sale at the United Church and a Reading of A Christmas Carol by Barb Haddow and Diane Twietmeyer beginning at 10 a.m.
Make sure to check out Home Hardware located on Railway Ave, as they will be doing some extra things, and don't forget to check out the lanterns around town to see the sponsors. The lanterns not only give Main Street a unique look but also offer year-round advertising, and only two lanterns are left for sponsorship! To sponsor a lantern contact Shelly at 453-2878.
With so much to do you're sure to have a fun-filled time! Enjoy the food, costumes, decorations, crafts, entertainment, and events that make up this wonderful weekend!
Ideas are already in place for next year, and any comments or suggestions are encouraged! Be sure to give your feedback on this year's Dickens Village Festival by either filling out a survey or emailing the Town of Carlyle or Shelly Slykhuis at shelly.slykhuis@hotmail.com with your thoughts. The committee works hard to continually improve the festival and make the weekend a raging success! Suggestions for next year will be discussed at the wind-up meeting in January.
