Winter is coming and the town of Carlyle is preparing to transport itself into Victorian Era England.
Celebrating its 11th anniversary, the Dickens Village Festival is bound to be another success. Previously nominated for both provincial and national tourism awards, the event is looking forward to its largest year yet, says chair of the Dickens committee, Shelly Slykhuis.
To be held on Dec. 6th and 7th this year, the committee is asking for the community to begin decorating for the event now.
"We hope that Main Street and Highway #9 businesses will help us by transforming the scenery back to the Victorian Era," the Dickens committee wrote encouraging businesses to participate. "This can be done by decorating your store fronts with green garland and white lights."
In addition to businesses, the committee encourages homeowners to partake in the festivities through decorating their homes as well. Whether in traditional or modern decorations the committee enjoys holding a Christmas decorations contest each year for businesses and homes.
Hoping to have businesses and individuals support the event, the committee asks for decorations to begin being set up on Nov. 12 to ensure the transformation of the town into a Victorian winter wonderland.
Slykhuis explains transporting the town to the Victorian Era before the big weekend is important as Nov. 29th and 30th will see Women on the Go busses transport excited shoppers to the town. If Carlyle is fully decorated, it will encourage them to come back the following weekend to join in the festivities.
A total of three busses are to arrive during the last weekend of November, while three more are to arrive during the Dickens Festival.
"It is to showcase Carlyle and our community spirit," Slykhuis stated.
Over the years the committee has found that their unique presentation of the Dickens Village Festival has been well attended. Throughout the years the committee has collected feedback from tourists and has found the top three draws are the parade, the high tea, and the ever loved play by Cornerstone Theatre.
This year Ebenezer Scrooge goes country in the Cornerstone Theatre's rendition of Dickens' classic novel, A Christmas Carol, with, Christmas at the Bar Humbug Ranch.
Tickets are currently on sale at The Pearl Boutique with show times of 7:30 p.m. on both Dec. 6th and 7th, while a 2 p.m. showing will be held on Sunday, Dec. 8th. The Friday and Saturday performances usually sell out according to the Cornerstone Theatre group, so get your tickets early.
This year also marks the completion of the Lantern Project. Having originally been planned as a one year initiative, it turned into a five year project.
"Every street light with power will have them," Slykhuis happily stated.
In total there are 35 lanterns which were sponsored by various families and businesses in the area to help add atmosphere to the town.
The next projects being thought of by the committee are benches, portable lanterns to be set in front of businesses, while another major idea includes the creation of a Victorian carriage. Possibly creating a year round display at West Park of a carriage and horse, it would be a place for pictures and a reminder to those who drive by that Carlyle hosts the Dickens Festival during the first weekend of December each year.
In all Dickens benefits 17 different organizations and brings about many tourists to support local business in the area.
