Galveston, Texas, Welcomes Charles Dickens Back to the Island

Beaumont, Texas -- Despite the aftermath left by Hurricane Ike two short months ago, the 35th annual Dickens On The Strand is set to go on in the heart of Galveston Island's historic district. Once again the area will be transformed into a Victorian storybook setting as the island prepares to welcome in the holiday season.

The event was started in 1973 by the Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) as merely a costumed gathering of foundation members, re-enacting Victorian-era happenings on the island and period readings. Due to the popularity of the original insider event, the GHF expanded to a day long event in the coming years and by 1983, the gathering had become a weekend long festival. In the early days, the main goal of the event was to garner interest in Galveston's then-deteriorating downtown district. The idea caught on quickly and many investors realized the importance and potential of the area, which is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

This year, more than ever, members of the GHF believe Dickens On The Strand must go on. Galveston Island is still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Ike, which devastated much of the historic downtown area when it roared ashore on September 13. Dickens On The Strand is the primary fund raiser of the year for the foundation and this year, those funds are desperately needed to help with hurricane relief efforts around the island. The GHF was not unscathed by Hurricane Ike's fury. Their warehouse, which housed the foundation's vehicles and all of the festival's props - including 400 kerosene lanterns - received ten feet of storm surge.

Although this year's event will take place, it will do so on a smaller scale. The rows and rows of charming shops dating back to the island's heyday of the 1800s that generally serve as the backdrop for the festival were inundated with twelve feet of storm surge. Most of the proprietors are still in restoration mode and will not be open to welcome the thousands of guests that Dickens On The Strand attracts each year. There will still be plenty of street vendors available for shopping, even if the regular store merchants aren't.