Every year across the bay, during christmas time, a magical place comes to life. This place is the Dickens Fair. For those unfamiliar with it, the fair is a special paid event, hosted in San Francisco every holiday season where actors, shops, and displays transform the cow palace into a Victorian winter wonderland, playing host to all of Dickens’ wonderful worlds. But what exactly makes the Dickens Fair so great?
“You just walk into the Cowpalace – I’d never been there before, it’s almost like a giant hanger – and then you don’t really expect it but then you just walk around the back of this industrial area and then inside you just like pop out into a Victorian-themed street. It’s very odd and quite cool” said Vinh Epstein (‘27).
The Dickens Fair is an astoundingly wonderful experience, with one stepping into the fair and immediately being thrust onto the crowded London streets of Victorian England. To complete this feel, the fair incorporates many actors playing beloved Victorian English characters of classic literature. Then other actors act as Londoners going about their day during Christmas time.
“My favorite part of the fair is when [actors] walk around and engage with all the visitors to the fair. I like the parts that they play. Once we were watching the fencing – They have actual fencing lessons there – and a whole bunch of chimney sweeps broke into the fencing area and were going to take over and gentlemen came to push them out,” said Mary Corpora.
Besides just the wonderful aesthetics and thrilling entertainment in and around the fair, there’s plenty to do and see. From wagons and carts with fantastical fey to boutiques with gorgeous gowns. Among the thrill is a bookstore on the grand concourse selling hundred-year-old copies of classic stories. There’s a wide range of different food options, like Greek to traditional English dishes.
“I expected a little small fair on the street or something when I first heard about it. Some vendors dressed up and it was a really immersive environment. They brought the environment together and just really brought you away from the outside world. It kind of immersed you in the world. You can just imagine Dickens’ characters in an environment like this,” said Vinh.