For 52 years, Galveston Historical Foundation’s (GHF) Dickens on The Strand festival has highlighted downtown Galveston’s Victorian-era architecture while providing a one-of-a-kind holiday destination filled with the sights and sounds of Charles Dickens’s work. This year’s event continues that tradition with new entertainers and events, returning favorites, and family-friendly programming.

The annual holiday street festival, based on 19th-century Victorian London, features parades, non-stop entertainment on multiple stages, strolling carolers, roving musicians, bagpipers, jugglers, and a host of other entertainers. Costumed vendors peddle their wares from street stalls and rolling carts laden with holiday food and drink, Victorian-inspired crafts, clothing, jewelry, holiday decorations, and gift items.

RETURNING FAVORITES | The festival hosts many spirited events, such as the crowd favorite Whimsical Whisker Revue, a facial hair contest for the bearded and the dandy, the Dickens Victorian Bed Races, Victorian Costume Contest, special kid’s programming, daily parades through Galveston’s National Historic Landmark Strand District, and more. Special events also include:

Holiday Handbell Concerts | The 1859 St. Joseph’s Church, the first wooden-built church in Galveston and well known for its exceptional acoustics, hosts three holiday handbell concerts. Friday, December 2 at 5:30, 7, and 8:30 p.m. $20 per person, and reservations are required.

A Dickensian Breakfast – Hosted by Jane Dickens Monk | Start your Dickens day with a one-of-a-kind experience in one of Galveston’s most beloved historic homes, the 1859 Ashton Villa! Take breakfast with special guests, surprise performances, and more in a gorgeous holiday setting inside the house.

Tea With the Captain’s Wife – Hosted by Polly Olivia Boyd | Join us at the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA for tea and cookies with a touch of history and excitement. Watch the ELISSA crew maneuver the ship at the dock, setting sails and climbing in the rigging. Ongoing demonstrations, presented by the captain’s wife, give commentary and answer nautical questions. See what life was like for a sailor on the high seas!

For more information on Dickens on The Strand, Galveston Historical Foundation, or to purchase advance tickets, please visit galvestonhistory.org or call 409-765-7834.