CARLYLE - The Dickens Village Festival Committee is extremely pleased to advise that the 2021 event will take place the weekend of Dec. 3-5.
“Of course, Dickens had a big decision to make concerning going ahead with the event, but when the Town of Carlyle announced new COVID 19 vaccination regulations to its facilities on October 20th, we decided to proceed,” said committee member Dianne Twietmeyer.
The Cornerstone Theatre is busy rehearsing and their play, a humorous and witty musical called Scrooge in Space, will be a classic. It is written by Carlyle’s own Megan McAuley. The play will take place Friday and Saturday nights beginning at 7:30.
There will be also be a Sunday matinee starting at 2 p.m.
Added Twietmeyer: “Everyone entering the facility has to be double vaccinated or show proof of a negative test within 72 hours of entry. We are presently working on details but expect this inconvenience to be negligible.”
In addition to having their annual parade, street vendors are already confirming their attendance. Carlyle Fire & Rescue will be selling their famous turkey drumsticks, Carlyle One Church its rice pudding, the Knights of Columbus its chili, Carlyle Martial Arts Center will have perogies, Carlyle Lions with baked potatoes and the Carlyle Elementary School will have smokies on a stick.
During the day, the committee is asking for musical buskers and wants to keep the entertainment local and “open mike.” Please contact Dianne directly at 306-577-9824 for further information. Also located at the Memorial Hall will be Fezziwig’s Pub. Roy Rutagines and Diane Villamor will be serving food from the kitchen.
After nearly two years of lockdowns, Twietmeyer is relieved to see a light at the end of this COVID tunnel.
“Cases are dropping, more and more people are getting vaccinated, and let’s hope our lives return to normal in 2022. Participating in Dickens is a great way to bring us back to reality.” Twietmeyer also wishes to give a shout out to all of the hard-working members of the Dickens committee over the years, and a special thank-you to Shelley Slykhuis, who has been a driving force of the festival since inception and its president for the past 12 years.
Adds Twietmeyer: “Although Shelley had to step aside this year while convalescing, she plans to be back in 2022 with bells on.”
The Carlyle Library will be judging both residential and commercial properties for Christmas decorating in a Dickens theme. As well, there will once again be a main street parade on Friday and Saturday nights.
Nearly 20 years ago, three couples from Carlyle, Norm and Judy Riddell, Frank and Elsie Faber, and Gordon and Alice Savill, attended a winter festival in Garrison, N.D.
Being so impressed with that function, they approached the Town of Carlyle for their blessing of a winter festival of their own, and the rest is history. The Carlyle Dickens Village Festival was born.
