Port Jefferson's Charles Dickens Festival Set For Weekend Of Dec. 3

PORT JEFFERSON, NY — Bah, and humbug — no!

The Charles Dickens Festival is set for the weekend of Dec. 3 in Port Jefferson Village.

The 26th annual festival honoring the beloved English author who originated antihero literary characters like Ebeneezer Scrooge and others to life will be feted once again as actors in period clothing will walk the streets interacting with visitors.

The festival will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and then 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

And this year, there will be some new additions to the entertainment, including the Inishfree School of Irish Dance, under the direction of Sean Reagan, a 37-year veteran of Irish dance whose goal is to promote Irish culture, and the love of the art of Irish dance.

Many of Inishfree's dancers are regional, North American, and international champions. Inishfree currently has five first-place World Champions, as well as first places in the All-Ireland, All-England, All-Scotland, British National, and European Championships, as well as the United States and Canada.

The dancers will perform at various locations around the village.

Other performers will include the Accompsett Middle School Brass Ensemble, the Amityville Highlander Pipe Band, the Longwood Choral Lions, and The Knox School.

The festival will also include street singers and plays, and Artisan Square, which will feature the return of the Blacksmith, Raven’s Wing Hattery, Arthington Acres, Jam Purveyors, Doug & Sheree’s Ephemera, and Dragon & Owl Weaving.

Pickwick’s Puppet Parade is also back on with marching bands and a lantern ceremony.

Also during the festival, the Village Center will have the Festival of Trees, and a new addition this year, The Yuletide Tree.

The festival is organized by the Greater Port Jefferson-Northern Brookhaven Arts Council. For more information, click here.