听 听 听 听 听 听 Now in its 14th year, Carlyle's annual Dickens Village Festival- held Dec. 4, 5 and 6- delighted attendees as the town was transformed into a Victorian-era winter wonderland, once again paying tribute to Charles Dickens' classic story, 'A Christmas Carol.'
听听听听听听听听听听听 The festival typically transforms the Town of Carlyle into a Victorian-era Christmas wonderland and this year was no exception. Travel blogger Neil Fisher- 'The Saskatchewanderer'- attended the event on Saturday and wrote: 鈥淚f you missed it this year, mark your 2017 calendar for December 1st and 2nd. The Carlyle Dickens Village Festival is the perfect way to kickstart the holiday season and a heartwarming display of community spirit. It's the only Charles Dickens festival in all of Canada and draws many visitors to Carlyle from out of province.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淭he tasty food, the hilarious Dickens characters, the lighted parade and falling snow...It was a wonderful day filled with holiday cheer.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 At presstime, the video of Dickens events Fisher posted to Facebook (at 'The Saskatchewanderer') had received over 17,000 views and over 200 shares).
听听听听听听听听听听听 The weekend-long celebration featured a myriad of activities and amusements for all ages- including the chance to sip, sup and shop. Food, drink and free musical entertainment was the focus of Fezziwigs Family Pub in the Carlyle Memorial Hall. High tea and a bake sale were hosted by the Carlyle United Church, while Tiny Tim's Taster Tour was sponsored by local businesses and eateries, while Ye Olde English Market gave shoppers a chance to pick up a last-minute Christmas gift.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Volunteers at Friday's High Tea served 196 people 180 people on Saturday.
听听听听听听听听听听听 The Catholic Church's Chowder Shack sold 320 cups of delicious soup; while Carlyle Fire & Rescue served 300 smoked turkey legs.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Among the visitors to the festival were two buses from Regina's 'Women on the Go,' who enjoyed a Dickens-themed day on Friday. Other attendees came from throughout Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia as well as from Alabama and New York state and Scotland and Northern Ireland.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Fezziwig's Family Pub featured performances by The Happy Wanderers, Katie Miller & Kathy Travis, Kenn Hamm, Justin LaBrash & True North and 麻豆视频ern Country, as well as magician and childrens entertainer, Patrick Roth.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Free horse and carriage rides, a lighted parade- featuring over 20 floats- each evening and three sold-out performances of the Cornerstone Theatre Group's rock and roll-themed adaptation ('Wake Up Little Scroogy') of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' were just a few of the options on offer.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Dickens festival mainstays Edna and Herman Fornwald once again provided horse and carriage rides throughout the weekend and Dickens festival chair Shelley Slykhuis says of the couple: 鈥淲e are so lucky that the Fornwalds come back every year to our Dickens Festival. They only do a few events every year, and Dickens is one of them.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 For local history fans, the town's Rusty Relics Museum a chance to view Arcola historian Adrian Paton's unique collection of photographs.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淚 love doing Dickens because it's not only a chance to welcome visitors to our town; it also gives the local people a chance to get out and visit with each other before they start their own Christmas celebrations,鈥� says Shiela Menard, who is in charge of entertainment for the weekend event.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淭his year, we had a couple from Winnipeg who rented costumes in Winnipeg and came to Dickens without knowing anybody in town,鈥� adds Menard. 鈥淭hey were so impressed with the hospitality in our town and how friendly people were and said how impressed they are with small town-living.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 Carlyle Memorial Hall hosted a free photoshoot with Santa Claus-in aid of the Carlyle & District Food Bank, in addition to the Cornerstone Family and Youth Festival of Trees. The donated and decorated trees were auctioned throughout the weekend, with proceeds supporting initiatives which benefit local families and youth.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淥ur Breakfast with Santa is possible because the Moose Mountain Wado Kai Karate Club were our pancake flippers and we've got Gordon Food Services to thank for donating the food. Jack and Diane Wilson play a very special role in this part of Dickens, but really, the big winner is the food bank,鈥� says Slykhuis.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Carlyle town councillor Jenn Sedor says, 鈥淭he Dickens Village Festival makes Carlyle a wonderful place to live and I would be remiss if I didn't give a shout-out to all of the volunteers who work endless hours to make this unique event happen, year after year.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 Slykhuis agrees, adding: 鈥淲e have a great parade every year, no matter what the weather is like.听 Everybody- both parade floats and spectators- just come out and enjoy it every year.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 Slykuis says the Dickens committee is already looking forward to the 2017 edition of the annual festival. 鈥淚t'll be our 15th year. We have some members of the committee who are stepping down, so we'll be looking for some volunteers. We're so grateful to everyone- who over the years- has made the Dickens Festival the success it is. We always welcome volunteers and anyone who is interested can contact me at: (306)-453-2878.鈥�
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 Winners of the Dickens Village Festival decorating competition are as follows:
听听听听听听听听听听听
听听听听听听听听听听听 Residential
听听听听听听听听听听听 Victorian: Don Wiebe
听听听听听听听听听听听 Traditional: Cindy and Dale Smythe
听听听听听听听听听听听 Novelty: Dennis MacDonald and Connie Young
听听听听听听听听听听听 Apartment/Condo: Eddie and Audrey Brady (Lions Pride)
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 Business
听听听听听听听听听听听 Victorian: Salon 206
听听听听听听听听听听听 Traditional: New Dimension Hair Studio
听听听听听听听听听听听 Novelty: Subway
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 Honourable Mentions:
听听听听听听听听听听听 Carlyle Post Office
听听听听听听听听听听听 Happy Gang Centre
听听听听听听听听听听听 Carlyle Memorial Hall
听听听听听听听听听听听
听听听听听听听听听听听 Parade: Friday night
听听听听听听听听听听听 First Place: Home Hardware
听听听听听听听听听听听 Second Place: Town of Carlyle
听听听听听听听听听听听 Third Place: Reliable Metal Buildings
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 Parade: Saturday night
听听听听听听听听听听听 First Place: Home Hardware
听听听听听听听听听听听 Second Place: Salon 206
听听听听听听听听听听听 Third Place: Carlyle Bakery
