聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Dickens Village Festival developed in 2003 as a unique and fun way to showcase the area, an attraction and community event that draws hundreds of people to Carlyle each year. Over the past 13 years the Dickens Festival has continued to grow and the community has embraced the transition to the Victorian-era the first weekend of December with decorations, costumes, markets, a constant retelling of an always uniquely re-imagined 鈥淎 Christmas Carol鈥� by the Cornerstone Theatre group, a lighted parade, and some of the best food by vendors set up along Main Street fundraising for their community groups.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淥ur vision is to showcase the area, businesses, the different organizations and groups, and the friendly people,鈥� Shelley Slykhuis, chair of the Dickens committee, explained. 鈥淭he committee coordinates the festival in such a way that all groups benefit fully. We do this by having no duplicate selling item.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 However, as the Dickens Village Festival continues to grow and support in the community is high, the committee which facilitates the event is shrinking and they are currently in need of volunteers to help continue making the event a success.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking for more committee members, to just help and bring new ideas,鈥� Slykhuis said.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Currently there are only seven members on the committee which hosts the large event including Shelley Slykhuis (chair and promotion), Sheila Colpitts (treasurer), Dolores Young (outdoor supper vendors and fill-in secretary), Sandra Dyer (English market), Kellie Anderson (costumes), Shannon Klatt (Cornerstone Theatre and Fezziwigs family pub), and 鈥� in her final year on the committee 鈥� Sheila Menard (entertainment and hospitality). A new entertainment person is beginning in 2017.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Needed to ensure a smooth Dickens Festival immediately, however, are a secretary and decorating coordinator for 2016, as well as someone to take over hospitality beginning in 2017. Additionally, Slykhuis explained it would be very nice to have members at large to also work on the committee.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he festival is put on by 99 percent volunteers,鈥� Slykhuis added. 鈥淏usinesses financially help out by donating to the Christmas stocking. Also, CMP, Merit Ford, and Reliable Metal Buildings sponsor the carriage rides.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Additionally, the Dickens Village Festival have worked to put Carlyle on the tourism map with the event.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淥ver the years we have received suggestions to add to the Dickens Village Festival. The first idea was the lanterns; there are 35 custom made, sponsored lanterns down Main St. and Railway Ave. Our Victorian carriage is now a year round display promoting the festival.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淥ur current project is the Victorian park on Main Street. This is a work in progress; there are two benches available to be sponsored and we would like to add more greenery as funds become available.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Dickens committee also hosts a spring and fall thrift sale each year, the first week in May and the first week in October, which the committee not only sees as a fundraising opportunity but it is also a service to the community.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 If interested in volunteering with the committee, contact Shelley Slykhuis at (306)453-2878 or stop by the next Dickens Village Festival meeting on Monday, April 4, at 7 p.m. at N鈥橠yer Need which is located on Main Street between the Canada Caf茅 and The Pearl Boutique. The meeting will only be an hour long and will focus on the May thrift sale.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e welcome people with ideas to attend a meeting, Dickens committee has allotted funds to promote the activities,鈥� Slykhuis added.聽
