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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 17, 2007
Contact: Molly Dannenmaier
Galveston Historical Foundation
502 20th Street
Galveston, TX 77551
409-765-7834
molly.dannenmaier@galvestonhistory.org
Galveston's 34th Dickens on The Strand Victorian Holiday Festival Set for Dec. 1-2
GALVESTON, Texas – Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) invites the public to ring in the Christmas season in Victorian style during its 34th Annual Dickens on The Strand festival Dec. 1-2.
WHO: Galveston Historical Foundation and 3,000 costumed volunteers, vendors, entertainers and characters from the works of Charles Dickens.
WHAT: Houston Chronicle's readers' pick in 2006 for Ultimate Holiday Event and one of the "100 Most Fun Places to be in the World," according to travel writer Alan Davis.
WHEN: Dec. 1, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Dec. 2, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
WHERE: The Strand National Historic Landmark District on Galveston Island, 50 miles southeast of Houston. The Strand and Mechanic Street boast one of the largest collections of restored Victorian commercials buildings in the nation.
WHY: To support programs for museums, preservation and education through the Galveston Historical Foundation, Texas' oldest historical organization.
HOW: The Strand and Mechanic Street are transformed into Victorian London with costumed street vendors and entertainers. All visitors are encouraged to dress in Victorian costumes to support the event's theme, which is based around Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."
TICKETS: Advance tickets are $9 for adults, $4 for children ages 7 to 12, and $7 for GHF members. Tickets at the gate are $12 for adults and $6 for children ages 7 to 12. Children under age 7 are admitted free. Visitors in Victorian-era costumes: half-price at the gate.
HOW TO PURCHASE: Online tickets from Click n Print Tickets by logging onto www.dickensonthestrand.org or order tickets by phone: 1-877-772-5425 (877-77CLICK) Available 7 Days a Week 8 a.m. to 9 p.m (CST) *Phone orders will be subject to an additional convenience fee.
Advance tickets through November 30 from participating Kroger stores in the Greater Houston area, Galveston Island Heritage Visitors Center, 2328 Broadway and at Texas Seaport Museum, Pier 21 and Harborside Drive. Tickets are non-refundable.
DESCRIPTION
During the festival, the streets of downtown Galveston are transformed into a backdrop for Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," as vendors and visitors don traditional Victorian costumes. Families can enjoy London-inspired food, three parades featuring Queen Victoria, and continuous entertainment on six stages, including carolers, hand bell choirs and bagpipers. The festival's Piccadilly Circus features a petting zoo, crafts, a scavenger hunt, elephant rides and puppet shows, along with a playground full of machine-generated snow.
"We've designed this event as the perfect setting for families to kick off the holiday season," says Clay Wade, GHF events director. "We're focusing this year on traditional county fair activities, hoping to really get our visitors involved in the fun."
Named one of the "100 Most Fun Places To Be In the World" by travel writer Alan Davis, Dickens on The Strand is not just a tradition for Texans, but for visitors from all over the world. The event has achieved national, regional and local recognition as one of the "Top One Hundred Festivals" in North America by the American Bus Association, one of the "Top Ten Festivals" in the state by Texas Highways Magazine and Houston Chronicle's readers' pick in 2006 for Ultimate Holiday Event.
BACKGROUND
Galveston Historical Foundation hosted the first Dickens on The Strand in 1974, a time when many of Galveston's once magnificent Victorian commercial buildings downtown were in decay and under the threat of demolition. Foundation members knew the fate of their city's architectural history was in their hands, so they created an event to showcase the town's Victorian architecture in hope of generating a positive feeling about the downtown area. Thanks in large part to this festival, The Strand has since been restored to a bustling commercial center and is now distinguished as a National Historic Landmark District.
GALVESTON HISTORICAL FOUNDATION
Incorporated in 1954, Galveston Historical Foundation is one of the nation's largest local preservation organizations. Over the last 50 years, the foundation has expanded its mission to encompass community redevelopment, public education, historic preservation advocacy, maritime preservation and stewardship of historic properties. Today, GHF has over 2,000 memberships representing individuals, families, and businesses across Texas, the United States and abroad, and exerts a profound impact on the culture and economy of the Island.
SUMMARY
Event: 34th Annual Dickens on The Strand
Location: Galveston's Strand National Historic Landmark District
Dates: Dec. 1, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Dec. 2, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; special events begin Nov. 30
More Information:
www.galvestonhistory.org;
(409) 765-7834
SIDEBAR
SPECIAL EVENTS
Traditional Dickens Feast
Fri., Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. Garten Verein, 2704 Avenue O
Feast on fine food and spirits while enjoying a program by Henry Dickens Hawksley, great-great-grandson of Charles Dickens. $65 per person (open seating); reserved table for eight: $600; for ten: $750.
Handbell Concert
Fri., Nov. 30 at 5:30, 7, & 8:30 p.m., St. Joseph's Church, 2202 Avenue K
Beautiful holiday music by a handbell choir in an historic gothic revival church. $4 per person.
English Country Breakfast
Sat., Dec. 1 at 9 & 11 a.m.; Sun., Dec. 2, 10 a.m., Ashton Villa, 2328 Broadway
Enjoy a hearty English breakfast in Galveston's finest antebellum mansion with Henry Dickens Hawksley, great-great-grandson of Charles Dickens, who will be signing books. $20 per person.
Christmas by Candlelight
Sat., Dec. 1 at 5, 6, 7 & 8 p.m., 1838 Michel B. Menard House, 1605 33rd Street
Tour Galveston's oldest home, decorated for the holidays. Light refreshments.
$8 per person.
Bishop's Palace Holiday Tour New!
Sat., Dec. 1 at 3, 4, 5 & 6 p.m., 1886 Bishop's Palace, 1402 Broadway
A special tour, with carolers and cider, of Galveston's most important historic attraction, the 1886 Bishop's Palace, designated one of 100 most outstanding buildings in the United States by the AIA. $8 per person.
Dickens Holiday Ball
Sat., Dec. 1, 8:30 p.m. at Garten Verein, 2704 Avenue O
Enjoy 19th-century music and dance with hors d'oeuvres and cordials. $50 per person or $90 per couple.
SIDEBAR
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
(included in festival ticket price)
Showstopping Parades
Three spellbinding parades featuring Queen Victoria's Royal Entourage, bagpipe bands, ancient mariners, suffragettes, animals, and a host of other memorable Victorian characters.
Queen Victoria's Knighting Ceremony
A special Galveston version of an ancient ceremony of honor and recognition still being carried out by today's Queen of England.
Victorian Wedding Ceremony
All festival guests are invited to witness couples being married or renewing their vows in full Victorian regalia.
London Warf
Experience the 19th-century romance of the Sea at the Texas Seaport Museum. Entertainment, crafts and tours of the 1877 ELISSA, the Official Tall Ship of Texas.
Piccadilly Circus
Children can frolic in a real snow yard, ride on an elephant or pony, take a picture with St. Nick, pet exotic animals, and join Scrooge's Scavenger Hunt, plus much more.
Entertainment, Food, Shopping
Bagpipers, magicians, musicians, hypnotists, acrobats, and performers of all kinds provide continuous entertainment on six stages. Year-round shops and restaurants are joined by more than 150 costumed vendors offering culinary delights and handmade crafts.
GHF Members Club
Members of Galveston Historical Foundation enjoy premier parade viewing, entertainment and comfortable indoor accommodations. To join, call 409-765-7834 or go to www.galvestonhistory.org.
Dickens Costume Contest
Contestants in a wide array of categories (Ladies, Men, Families, and Dickens Characters) vie for best Victorian costume. Entry fee: $5 per category.
Book Signing by Henry Dickens Hawksley
Henry Dickens Hawksley, great-great-grandson of the legendary author Charles Dickens, will be available to sign Dickens' literary works at various times and locations during the festival weekend.
Where the Dickens is That?
Enter the architectural treasure hunt, sponsored by AIA of Houston. Entry forms available at Piccadilly Circus located at the Northeast corner of 21st and The Strand.
Group Tours
Dickens on The Strand welcomes group tours. Advance festival ticket discounts are available for groups. Group bookings for the festival and special event tickets require a minimum of 20 participants. For more information on group bookings, call Jamie Durham at 409-762-3933.
Island Parking and Shuttle
Parking is available on many streets and lots within easy walking distance of the festival area. A shuttle service provided by Island Transit will operate from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sat., December 1, and 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sun., Dec. 2. Shuttle service will be available from the Island Community Center, 4700 Broadway, and from major Seawall hotels. Round trip tickets can be purchased for a nominal fee.
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