Richmond County Savings Foundation presents
A Dickens Festival
December 29, 30, & 31
Thursday and Friday 12 - 9pm
Saturday -New Year's Eve 12 -7pm

For three exciting days visitors will experience a Victorian village and the works of Charles Dickens as characters and scenes come alive around you. This dynamic indoor-festival recreates authentic street scenes with actors in period costumes, an old-fashioned tavern, an English teahouse, The Old Curiosity Shop and an indoor street market featuring shops selling linens, jewelry, perfumes, antiques and sweets as well as traditional British Pub food, Shepherd's Pie, Fish and Chips and English Bangers. Puppeteers, jugglers, magicians, fortunetellers, tarot card readers, clowns and an array of music will flood the halls of Snug Harbor. The festival will offer a collection of exhibits on Dickens' life and works as well as glimpses of Victorian culture, in addition to great performances.

Oliver!, a family-friendly musical based on the classic Dickens novel, is sure to please audiences with outstanding musical numbers such as "Food, Glorious Food", "As Long as He Needs Me" and "Consider Yourself". Oliver! will be presented with a full orchestra and a full cast of Dickens’ well-loved characters, including a large children’s chorus comprising Fagin’s Gang, The Artful Dodger and young Oliver Twist; co-directed by Christopher Catt and Norb Joerber who is best known for directing Robert Goulet in Camelot on Broadway.

For the little ones, a variety of children’s activities and entertainment will be offered including marionette shows, cardboard gingerbread house making, storytelling, coloring contests and arts & crafts that not only entertain, but help understand times past.

It was a wonderful time- the girls really got a kick out of the whole set up. The Cutlers can start their own travelling show I think. Bret was part of a magic trick involving a hungry tiger, and Allison was an assistant in another trick during the carnival. (yes pictures will be forthcoming).

I want to return to the Cultural Center just to see it in the daylight- the buildings and the history are worth exploring. I'm crossing my fingers for this summer....