“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. Bring in the bottled lightning, a clean tumbler, and a corkscrew.” Charles Dickens
A Dickens of a Christmas: In celebration of the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens in 2012, the Free Library of Philadelphia is planning a Year of Dickens to showcase their outstanding collections. Charles Dickens was the most popular English writer of the Victorian age whose work continues to be studied, read, and enjoyed. In his career, which spanned a little over 35 years, he wrote 15 novels (if you count the unfinished The Mystery of Edwin Drood) and countless shorter pieces of fiction and journalism, bringing into the world nearly 1,000 characters, many of them the most memorable characters in all of fiction.
For the entire month of December 2011, Chestnut Hill is transformed into a festive Victorian village with special holiday and Dickens performances, extended store hours and Dickens-themed activities up and down Germantown Avenue.
Up ’til Christmas the Avenue in Chestnut Hill will take you into the world of Charles Dickens’ famous tale ‘A Christmas Carol‘. There will be a Taste of Dickens at McNallys throughout the holidays with the Dickens Sandwich and wassail. The Chestnut Grill & Sidewalk Cafe is offering Ebeneezer’s EggNogg and Fish & Chips with Malt Vineagar! Meet characters from the story, Victorian carolers, street performers and eat roasted chestnuts…it’s all onGermantown Avenue There will be Dickensian excitement on our Stag & Doe Nights as well as Sundays.
You’ll have a chance to judge the store windows which are showing scenes from A Christmas Carol and to judge the most beautiful ones as well.
A free shuttle on Stag & Doe Nights will take you up and down the Avenue so you won’t miss a thing!
All events free unless otherwise noted.
EVENTS
Wednesday, December 14th
Carolers & Music 6:00 – 9:00 On the Avenue FREE
Roasted Chestnuts 6:00 – 9:00 Visitors Center FREE
Stag & Doe Shuttle FREE
Dickens of a Christmas Family Story Night with Charles Dickens
7:00 Free Library of Philadelphia Chestnut Hill Branch FREE
Meet Christmas Carol characters
Saturday, December 17th
Dickens Carolers 1:00 – 3:00 On the Avenue FREE
Sunday, December 18th
Juggler 12:00 – 2:00 8300 Germantown Avenue FREE
Reading of A Christmas Carol 2:00 Christ Ascension Lutheran Church FREE
Opera Carolers 1:00 – 2:30 On the Avenue FREE
Meet Christmas Carol characters 1:00 – 4:00 8300 Germantown Avenue FREE
Klezmer Band 1:00 – 3:00 The Antigue Gallery FREE
Roasted Chestnuts 1:00 – 3:00 Weavers Way
Santa 1:30 – 3:30 On the Avenue FREE
Evensong – Annual Candlelight Carol Service 5:00 St. Paul’s Church FREE
Monday, December 19th
Caroling at the Creche 7:00 Sovereign Bank FREE
Wednesday, December 21st Stag & Doe Night
Carolers & Music 6:00 – 9:00 On the Avenue FREE
Stag & Doe Shuttle FREE
Regina Coelli Academy Caroling Group 7:00 – 9:00 On the Avenue FREE
A Christmas Carol Film (Alistair Sims) 7:30 Free Library of Philadelphia Chestnut Hill Branch
Roasted Chestnuts 6:00 – 9:00 VisitorsCenter FREE
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