The Great Dickens Christmas Fair In Northern California Will Transport You To Victorian Times
There are all sorts of unique Christmas celebrations here in Northern California, but there’s one event that goes above and beyond when it comes to spreading holiday cheer. The Great Dickens Christmas Fair is a truly one-of-a-kind celebration that will make you feel as if you’ve traveled back in time to the Victorian era. Complete with characters dressed in 19th century garb and endless Victorian-themed entertainment, this is the type of event that you definitely don’t want to miss out on.
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Every year during the holiday season, the Cow Palace Exhibition Halls in Daly City transform into Victorian London for one of the most unique Christmas celebrations in the country—the Great Dickens Christmas Fair.
This one-of-a-kind adventure has been a treasured tradition in the Bay Area since 1970, and it's easy to see why it comes back every year. There's simply nothing else like it! The elaborate celebration will take place every weekend this year from November 23 through December 22.
During the Christmas fair, the 120,000-square-foot Cow Palace undergoes an extensive makeover. Comprised of music halls, pubs, dance floors, and Christmas shops, you'll feel as if you've been transported to the set of A Christmas Carol!
The festival certainly does a good job of making you feel like you're in Victorian times, but it also boasts endless entertainment. Enjoy continuous performances throughout the fair's seven stages, featuring all of the eccentric characters you could expect from Dickens' London.
Food and drink will also be in abundance, all of which pays homage to the fair's theme. Chow down on English classics like fish n' chips, and be sure to wash it all down with a craft ale from one of the pubs.
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair is also a great place to do your holiday shopping. Filled with unique shops which offer Victorian treasures in the form of art, jewelry, clothing, and other goods, you'll definitely be tempted to take something home with you.
Tickets for this one-of-a-kind Victorian extravaganza can be purchased online or at the front gate. General admission is $32 and children tickets are $14 (children under 5 are free.) This is definitely a Christmas celebration unlike any other, so be sure to experience it this year. More information can be found here.
