Dickens on the Strand

Galveston Island’s annual Dickens on the Strand has been a Gulf Coast holiday tradition for 40 years; that makes the island’s venerable holiday street festival older than many of the characters featured in the Charles Dickens novels it emulates. “It’s a completely different festival, 40 years later,” says Will Wright, the Galveston Historical Foundation’s director of marketing and special events. “Dickens on The Strand actually started as ‘A Dickens Evening on The Strand,’ which was a community-based dinner and an evening of shopping. Although our three-day festival is much different, our focus on the Strand and its architecture is still at the core of the event.”

In addition to entertainment on multiple music stages, street buskers and related vendors, festival highlights include a live performance commemorating the 170th anniversary of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol on Friday, the Salute to Sunset aboard the newly restored 1877 tall ship Elissa on Saturday and Bed Races down Mechanic Street on Sunday. It’s “a relay race like you’ve never experienced,” Wright says. (Think beds on wheels and racers in pajamas.)

Encouraging festival-goers to maximize their trip to the 19th century, visitors wearing period costumes get half off the price of admission. “You’ll see some amazingly crafted costumes, both Victorian and steampunk-inspired. A crowd favorite is our steampunk balloonist,” Wright adds.

5 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Downtown Galveston’s Strand District. For information, call 409-765-7834 or visit dickensonthestrand.org. $6 to $30.

Fri., Dec. 6, 5-9 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 7, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 8, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 2013