Wait, is that Ebenezer Scrooge? The Bay Area holiday institution the Dickens Fair is back, and bigger than ever. The Victorian-themed fair, which has been going strong since 1970, takes place at the Cow Palace, and features a variety of activities, most of them involving dancing, drinking, and carousing (and more than 700 costumed players). There’s also a full lineup of holiday Victorian goodies to eat, like roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, goose or quail, meat pies, plum pudding, and mulled cider. You can wet your whistle at five different pubs serving beverages that are both kid- and adult-friendly, including Champagne, hot chocolate, hot buttered rum, and, of course, beer.
It all starts on Friday November 23rd, and continues every Saturday and Sunday until December 23rd, from 11am-7pm. Tickets are $25 for adults, $21 for seniors/students/military with photo ID, $12 for children ages 5-12, and wee ones under 5 are free. There are also discounted tickets available until December 5th, and discounts for those arriving after 4pm. Tickets and details can be found here. Parking is $10 per vehicle (charged by the Cow Palace); the fair offers a free shuttle from the Glen Park BART station.
Join in the feast at Dickens Fair. Photo by Raymond Van Tassel, courtesy Dickens Fair.
