Celebrate an Early Victorian Christmas in Galveston, Texas This Year

Charles Dickens and Christmas go together like Glenn Campbell and Galveston. Coincidentally, Charles Dickens and Galveston go well together as well. (Notice the way I avoided improperly using the word ironically there? Learn that lesson well, my young padawan.) If you have always dreamed of going back in time for a Victorian Christmas, but can't make it to England, much less afford a time machine, then Galveston Island may be your dream destination. Once again Dickens on the Strand will turn a Gulf Coast beach town temporarily into a Dickensian dream of the finest sort.

Galveston has been the site of this annual winter tradition since 1974. So authentic is the Dickens on the Strand celebration that a Queen Victoria impersonator will reign over the festivities and even knight certain men who have shown their service to the Queen and Britannia. If that kind of meaningless stupidity doesn't appeal to you, however, there are other events and festivities that do make Dickens on the Strand worthwhile. In the first place, it often seems as if everyone on the island is dressed in authentic Victorian garb. Waistcoats and long gowns are the fashion of the day and if you've got the stuff yourself you will want to take part in one of the costume contests. There are separate contests for men, women and family and, perhaps the favorite of those attending, a special contest for the Best Literary Character of Charles Dickens. If you've got a killer Ghost of Christmas Present costume hanging around, then get yourself to Galveston and win some bucks.