It’s one of the most imitated and adapted stories of all time, A Christmas Carol, you've got the book, the several movies, and now the festival in Downtown Holly.
Workers are putting on the finishing touches and stringing the lights downtown for a Mid-Michigan tradition that’s been around for more than 30 years.
Suzanne Perreault, Executive Directory of the DDA, tells NBC25 "We hope that people do come out, start a new family tradition if they haven't been to it before, it's really worth while."
For three straight weekends, the area known as “Battle Alley” will be filled with the sounds, smells and spirit of the season. You will find vendors offering kettle corn, hot chocolate and soup. In addition there will be activities for the family and kids games, plus Old Saint Nick will be in town to get your Christmas wish list.
Unlike a lot of large festivals, the Dickens Festival is put on by locals. The community comes out to volunteer and participate and local merchants get involved and support the festival.
The historic downtown is the perfect setting to transform into the backdrop for this “olden day” festival, with a back drop of authentic Victorian design. The stores are decked out in holiday cheer, as well as the halls and soon the alley for a true Christmas Carol production live at 3pm every Saturday and Sunday of the festival. Perreault says "To see it performed here in Holly outside, it is a little cold, but you just dress warmly, it's a really fun thing to do."
Holly, Michigan was established 5-years prior to the death of Charles Dickens, but his legacy lives on in the festival that bears his historic name.
The Dickens Festival kicks off on December 6 and runs every Saturday and Sunday through December 21. Festival hours are from 2pm until 7pm and the Dickens Festival is free to the public.
Download The Dickens Festival Schedule Of Events
Directions to the Dickens Festival
