42nd Great Dickens Christmas Fair & Victorian Holiday Party

5 Weekends
November 21 through December 20, 2026

A Holiday Tradition Meant to Be Experienced

Under the glow of gas lamps, boughs of holly and British flags, the Great Dickens Christmas Fair & Victorian Holiday Party returns to the historic Cow Palace for its 42nd season, running weekends, November 21 through December 20, 2026.

Presented for five weekends, including the Friday after Thanksgiving, the Great Dickens Christmas Fair transforms over 140,000 square feet of the Cow Palace Exhibition Halls into an immersive recreation of Christmas Eve in Charles Dickens’ London.

From the moment visitors enter the environment of the Fair, the modern world gives way to bustling streets populated by hundreds of costumed characters: chimney sweeps and street vendors, sailors and shopkeepers, carolers and musicians, literary icons, colorful denizens of Victorian society — and, of course, Mr. Charles Dickens himself!

Shop, Play, & Feast in London

Theatres, Music Halls, Pubs and Dance Floors

The Fair offers immersive entertainment throughout the day, including theater, music, magic, comedy, dancing, storytelling, and street performances. Highlights include Fezziwig’s Warehouse, where guests can dance Victorian waltzes and reels, lively London pubs and music halls, and performances featuring characters from Dickens’ works. Visitors can also follow Scrooge’s transformation with the Ghosts of Christmas, enjoy seasonal parades and Father Christmas, and freely wander the Fair to create their own Dickensian adventure.

A Feast for the Holidays

Food and drink are an essential part of a day of Dickensian delights in Victorian London. The aroma of warm cinnamon-roasted almonds mingles with the sounds of the Fair as visitors explore food booths, tea rooms, pubs, and specialty shops.

• Traditional Favorites: Meat pies, fish and chips, bangers and mash, and sweet or savory crepes.
• Sweet Treats: Handmade chocolates, English tea cakes, and small-batch traditional lemon curd and scones.
• Adult Experiences: Literary pub crawls and specialty tasting experiences, including port and chocolate, champagne and shortbread, or absinthe.

Children’s Tour of London

Welcome to Charles Dickens’ London — where one will find wonder and delight at every turn!

A Victorian Holiday Marketplace

Shopping in a marketplace filled to overflowing with unique gifts has been an important part of the Dickens Fair experience since its earliest years. The Fair’s lamp-lit shops and adorned carts create an always intriguing and thoughtfully curated alternative to conventional holiday shopping. Artisans and specialty merchants offer handcrafted and distinctive gifts, including handmade figurines, artful cards, fine soaps, jewelry, toys, holiday decor, and glass, wood, and leather goods. Visitors can browse the shops while interacting with merchants and Dickensian characters throughout the winding lanes, making the marketplace itself part of the theatrical environment. For those who enjoy dressing for the occasion, Victorian-inspired clothing, hats, and accessories provide opportunities to add a little 19th-century style to the holidays. Costumes are admired, but never required.

Experiences

Enrich your visit to Victorian London with one – or all! – of these immersive and one-of-a-kind experiences. Designed for first-time travelers or annual experts, these offerings will take you deeper into the imagination and world of Charles Dickens and add discovery and intrigue to your visit. Learn more below, and purchace the Experiences of your choice on our tickets page.

Stage Schedules

Stage Schedules are also included in the free Event Program offered upon entry at the Front Gate to the Dickens Fair. Program subject to change; check the menu boards posted outside each theatre for that day’s schedule.