Charles Dickens, the popular Victorian novelist, spent his later years at Rochester in Kent and every summer and winter the residents host a festival to celebrate the local connections to the author. The highlight of each afternoon during the festival weekend is a Grand Parade of fancy-dressed characters from Dickens’ works, and there are associated competitions, drama, readings, street entertainers, a craft fair and more over each weekend, with begins with a costumed ball on the Friday evening. Look out for familiar characters in the parade from Bill Sykes to Miss Havisham! The Christmas event features carol singing with a guaranteed snowfall.
A traditional Christmas weekend returns to fill a Kent town with colourful costumes and live entertainment.
The Dickensian Christmas Festival, which takes place on Saturday, December 3 and Sunday, December 4 in Rochester, transforms the historic town into a Victorian market for the weekend.
Visitors can celebrate the festive season in Dickensian style with a variety of street entertainment, such as singing, dancing, parades and readings.
Performers will be dressed in their best Victorian costumes, and visitors are welcome to get into the spirit of the festival and join them.