DUers to Dickens on the Strand, Galveston, 12/4, 5

[PDittie]

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Be it decreed that all DU lords, ladies and children shall come and celebrate the 31st Annual Dickens on The Strand, a holiday festival, where bobbies, Beefeaters and the Queen herself will be on hand to recreate the Victorian London of Charles Dickens. Characters from Dickens novels walk the street. Food and entertainment fill the area with sights and smells that take you back to another era.

Centered in a 10-block area of Galveston’s The Strand National Historic Landmark District, located approximately one hour south of downtown Houston, the family festival will include three parades and free, non-stop entertainment on the festival’s six stages, plus strolling carolers and roving street musicians, bagpipers and entertainers. Additionally, a vast array of year-round restaurants and shops are joined by over 150 costumed vendors peddling their wares from street stalls and rolling carts laden with tasty culinary delights and Victorian-inspired crafts, clothing, jewelry, holiday decorations and gift items.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the gate. Children six years and younger and participants dressed in full Victorian costume will be admitted FREE!

http://www.dickensonthestrand.org

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Mrs. Dittie and I are acting again in the capacity of Texas DU social chairpersons. If anyone wants to come down and stay with us to attend, or needs a ride to and from Galveston, or just wants to meet us there for the day, you are welcome. We'll go either Saturday or Sunday, the 4th or 5th of December, depending on group consensus. Those of you with small children are most welcome; this is one of the area's best festivals and it's marvelous for kids.

[MuseRider]

1. My brother used

to do shows down there. He was mainly in Houston but also did a few shows in Galveston. Have fun, what a cool place.

[Sequoia]

2. Say now, there's a Dickens Christmas Fair in San Francisco

at the Cow Palace from Thanksgiving weekend until right before Christams. Everything is made to look like Victorian England and Scrooge and the Spirits recite their lines as they act out the story. The dancing is the best part of the whole affair.

[BikeWriter]

3. That looks like fun. Good luck with it, Neighbor. :-) N/T

[sonias]

4. OK since I missed TXRenFest

Maybe I can get in on this. Right now I don't have any plans for that weekend. TJD (Mr SoniaS) and I are in for now. Like I need more excuses to wear costumes.

Hey PDittie if you caught the fire spinning show at TXRenFest that was my friend Steven doing the show. He was the big guy, with the short blond crew cut. He's a big sweetie. He and his wife are the nicest people you could ever meet.

Sonia

[PDittie]

6. You don't have to dress up

but you get in free if you do.

[WolverineDG]

5. wah!

i'll miss this one. :cry: i'll be in albuquerque at a conference on those days. oh well, there'll be other times.....

dg

[PDittie]

7. You can't be expected to drive 5 hours for every fun thing

to do in HOU. (We're glad you joined us last weekend.)

[WolverineDG]

9. i know, but STILL

you made dickens on the strand sound like so much fun. oh well. mebbe next year. :)

dg

[PDittie]

8. OK, who's in?

slutticus (whom we saw at the regularly scheduled DU Meetup last night at the King Biscuit) said he's coming.

O'Brien and hubby said "maybe" (but since they have, you know, lived in London, it probably won't be as much fun for them).

Who else?

[PDittie]

10. and another big fat kick

[Lisa0825]

11. So, who else wants to dress up in costume????

I do! But not alone!LOL

[PDittie]

12. If you click on the Dickens website they have tips on how to

come up with a costume using clothes you already have (or can acquire inexpensively, such as a hat).

Um, we probably won't dress up (but keep in mind you get in free if you do).

[PDittie]

13. OK, Sunday the 5th it is

We'll leave H-Town around 10 to arrive in Galveston around 11.

Leese, I'm thinking I CAN come up with a costume. Now I need to help Suze do so...

[slutticus]

14. Well damn..

...now I need a costume...

[VelmaD]

15. Dangit...

I'm moving into the new apartment on the 4th. Don't know if I'll be up to driving down for this one. :(

[PDittie]

16. we'll miss you Vel

[PDittie]

17. Keeping an eye on the weather forecast

Looks like rain predicted both weekend days, with Sunday being wetter.

Dammit.

[PDittie]

18. Hoping it don't, but

if it do we won't.

Outdoor festivals ain't no fun in the rain.

I'll call y'all that I got numbers for or post here if we go.

[PDittie]

19. We're ON!

Leaving in 90 minutes for Galveston (for noon arrival) as weather.com animation shows all the rain to the north and nothing headed toward the festival.

Anybody wants to rendezvous you need to PM me fast.

[PDittie]

20. Even though it was wet it was a great time

Here are some pics (from the Galveston Daily News):





http://galvestondailynews.com/photos/2004.December/[e-mail]

Mark Charles Dickens, the great-great-grandson of Charles Dickens, visits with students at L.A. Morgan Elementary School.

[sonias]

21. Thanks for the pics PDittie

It looks fabulous. And you must have had nice weather as well. It rained here in Austin on Sunday and more today. I am so sick of rain. My niece graduated from UT this weekend so we had to stay in town and host my family.

Hope you all had a great time.

Sonia