Fine Foods!

TRAVEL FROM

CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO CHRISTMAS PAST

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair Returns to
the Cow Palace in San Francisco

 Weekends from Friday, November 28 through Sunday, December 23

“Journey To The Center Of The Earth” or simply to old Londontown;
 “Saucy French Postcard Tableaux Review” Returns By Popular Demand

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – From Scrooge’s late night ghosts to an authentic British homebrew competition, the real spirits of the holiday season can be found at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair at the Cow Palace in San Francisco on weekends starting Friday, November 28 through Sunday, December 23 at the Cow Palace in San Francisco.  Bid the modern world farewell and take a stroll through the winding lanes, shoppes, pubs, and stages of Dickens’ London.  With hundreds of costumed characters, delicious fare, and authentic one-of-a-kind treasures, the Great Dickens Christmas Fair is a Victorian Christmas Card come to life – and the perfect holiday getaway for the entire family.

For nearly thirty years, the Great Dickens Christmas Fair has offered guests an escape to Charles Dickens’ London, complete with madcap theatre and entertainment, sumptuous feasts and delicious treats, games of chance and skill, and 100 charming lamplit, shoppes with unique holiday gifts.

A Return to the Center of the Earth?
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair presents theatrical delights for all of its guests.  A stroll down the bustling lanes of London will lead guests to a variety of stages and theatres and, this year, to a new attraction La Legion Fantastique – the headquarters from which Phileas Fogg and Professor Lidenbrock launched their world-famous Journey to the Center of the Earth.  This new attraction will feature favorite characters and vignettes from Jules Verne’s Victorian science fiction novels Journey To The Center Of The Earth (1864), Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea (1870), Around the World in Eighty Days (1873) and more. Guests to La Legion Fantastique will mingle with Phileas Fogg, Professor Lidenbrock, Passepartout, Inspector Fix, Axel Lawson, Captain Nemo, Ned Land and Jules Verne himself.

The Saucy French Postcard Review is Back by Popular Demand!
One of last year’s most popular (and risqué) attractions is back this year for guests age 18 and over – the Saucy French Postcard Tableaux Review – or the Secret Life of Mr. & Mrs. Horatio Everhard, Esq.   This London After Dark entertainment offers glimpses into the secret adult-only fantasies of a stalwart Victorian English couple filled with double entendres and naughty puns. 

Charles Dickens Characters Come to Life
Strolling through Victorian London, guests will meet a variety of Charles Dickens’ characters conducting their holiday business.  Kids will delight in jolly Father Christmas and the mischievous antics of Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger – but cringe in fear of Ebenezer Scrooge and the despicable Fagin.  Scrooge’s specters will haunt the streets – only to be banished by the ebullient Cratchit family, including Tiny Tim. The entire family will enjoy the outrageous Christmas pantomime at the Victoria and Albert Music Hall, or the Punch & Judy puppet show down the street at the Sugarplum Playhouse.  Grown-ups can duck into Mad Sal's Dockside Alehouse where patrons join in singing rowdy favorites or watch the bold high-kicking gals take to the stage in the wicked Can-Can!

Toothsome Treats and an Authentic Homebrew Competition
For the first time, the Great Dickens Christmas Fair will host a Black and Tan Homebrew Competition of British ales and fermented ciders.  Judged within official guidelines, prizes will be awarded for the best in each category of ale and fermented cider as well as a Best in Show. 
Other epicurean delights from the era will include hot roasted chestnuts served in a paper cone, sinfully good hand-made chocolates, Heritage meat pies, and Mrs. Bumble’s Sugar Plums.  Enjoy hot English “bangers” sausages, fish and chips, and even exotic dishes from the far-flung reaches of the Victorian Empire, such as Shangri-La Indian Cuisine. Sit for a delightful proper English tea with scones and scrumptious sweets at Cuthbert’s Tea Shoppe.  Or, pop into one of the four authentic English Pubs for a mug of cider, hot chocolate, hot buttered rum, or a pint of stout or ale.

Delights for Children of All Ages
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair offers an enchanting alternative to the typical commercial fare found at modern shopping malls. Kids can enjoy tea with the Mad Hatter and other Alice in Wonderland characters.  Back by popular demand: the hand-made, human-powered Wild Animal Safari Carousel where young adventurers select the wild animal they will ride and are asked to imagine, with arms spread wide, that wings have sprouted and the journey begins. The more illustrious children can try their hand at being “printer’s devils” at an actual 1860’s printing press, or learn to tie intricate knots and sing sea chanteys with the Paddy West sailors along the dock, or create their own holiday gifts such as ceramic painted ornaments and intricate brass rubbings.  And, the entire family will enjoy the rollicking presentation of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Pirates of Penzance” and a traditional Victorian Christmas Pantomime at the Victoria and Albert Music Hall.

Holiday Shopping Goes Back in Time
Visit the shoppes of London to find one-of-a-kind artisan treasures, Victorian reproductions, fine art, romantic clothing, glittering pewter, and dazzling jewelry.  Find the perfect accessory for that New Year’s party at Dark Garden Unique Corsetry or Peekaboo-Masks.  Or, learn how to play one of the beautiful new Conservatory-style harps at Caswell Harps.  Discover the perfect pewter treasure for your home at the Fellowship Foundry Cart or unique stained glass.

General Information
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair opens Friday, November 28 and runs weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) through Sunday, December 21 from 11:00 am – 7:00 pm. Tickets are $10 for children ages 5 - 11; $19 for students/seniors/military and adults before opening day; and $22 at the door. Tickets are available online at www.DickensFair.com. For additional Fair information please visit www.DickensFair.com. Special group rates are available for groups of 25 or more; call  (800) 510-1558 for more information.

CALENDAR EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

JOURNEY FROM

CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO CHRISTMAS PAST

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair Returns to the Cow Palace in

San Francisco for Five Weekends

November 28 through December 23

WHAT: The Great Dickens Christmas Fair – The Ideal Victorian Christmas; from Sugar Plums to Buttered Rum
 
WHEN: Opens Thanksgiving Friday, November 28 and runs Saturdays and Sundays through December 23 from 11:00 am – 7:00 pm

WHERE:  The Cow Palace, San Francisco, 2600 Geneva Avenue, San Francisco

PRICES: General Admission    $22.00 at the door
                     ($19.00 online advanced tickets)
                    Student/Senior/Military $19.00
                    Children 5-11  $10.00
                    Children under 5 are free           
                    Groups of 25 or more $17.00 each adult ticket         
                    Pickwick Club (fair season pass)   $56.00 adult/$35.00 children (available at the fair box office or www.dickensfair.com
                    Plentiful paid parking available at the Cow Palace.

DISCOUNT COUPONS:  Available at participating Longs Drug stores

ADVANCE TICKETS OR INFORMATION: visit www.DickensFair.com
or call (800) 510-1558

PRESS PHOTOS:  Available online at http://www.dickensfair.com/pressphotos.htm or
by emailing lamoore1@verizon.net