Narberth Dickens Festival 2023: What You Need To Know

NARBERTH, PA — Once again, Narberth is set to transform into a Victorian-era town to welcome the holiday season with the annual Dickens Festival.

This year's festival will take place from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 3 on the streets of downtown Narberth.

Free to attend, the festival will feature characters from "A Christmas Carol," including Ebenezer Scrooge, dozens of period-authentic costumed performers, Victorian era-inspired vendors and street food, various performances, caroling, crafts, hot chocolate and hot toddies, and more.

The free scavenger hunt will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and hunters can start anytime between those hours and do not have to be finished hunting by 3 p.m.

All events will take place in the area of Forrest, Haverford, Essex, and Narberth avenues.

A festival information boot will be set up at Haverford and Forrest.

Those interested in volunteering can sign up by emailing narberthonline@gmail.com, and vendors interested in participating can sign up online here.

Below is a full schedule of the festival's events:

• 11 a.m. — “Muppet Christmas Carol” Narberth Theater, North Narberth Avevenue
  • Free showing of The Muppet Christmas Carol. Limited to theater capacity of first 212 persons. Duration: 85 minutes.
• Noon to 4 p.m. Dickens Festival Event Programming — Downtown Narberth District
• Noon to 4 p.m. Crafts and activities—Swan Dancewear, and The Handwork Studio,
• Noon to 4 p.m. — Hot Chocolate Forrest Avenue
  • Buy a festival mug and get your first cup free, from Lankenau Hospital (Look for mug deals in town for soup & drinks)
• Noon to 4 p.m. — Hot Toddy Tasting Forrest Avenue (toddy glasses available)
  • Buy a Festival toddy glass for 2 shillings - enjoy three complimentary toddies at local establishments (21+)
• 12:45 to 3:45 — Carriage rides Essex Avenue Carriage Station
  • One shilling per rider; no American dollars.
• Noon to 4 p.m. — Trials before the Magistrate. Forrest Ave and Haverford Ave Corner
• 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. — Scavenger Hunt Narberth Avenue Booth
  • Free scavenger hunt for kids of all ages. Start by getting a tin "beggars cup" at the booth on Narberth Ave, then follow the clues on the back page of this paper to collect wooden nickels and win a Dickens Festival prize.
• Noon — Horn’s Punch & Judy Show, Narberth Avenue Stage
• Noon — Ari Paul the Entertainer, Haverford Avenue Stage
• 12:30 p.m. — Ice Sculpting Demonstration, Narberth Avenue Stage
• 1 p.m. — Nutcracker Ballet and Reading PA Academy of Ballet, Narberth Avenue Hill
  • Excerpts from the holiday classic "The Nutcracker Suite," performed by the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet. Opened with a theatrical reading of "A Christmas Carol" performed by the kids from the Narberth Creativity Camp (Dickens Session) - a collaboration between The PA Academy of Ballet, The Handwork Studio, and Sweet Mabel Studio
• 12:30 p.m. — St Margaret’s Carolers, Haverford Avenue Stage
• 12:45 p.m. — Men of Harmony, Haverford Avenue Stage
• 1 p.m. — Waldron Treblemakers, Narberth Avenue Stage
• 1:30 p.m. — Horn’s Punch & Judy Show, Narberth Avenue Stage
• 1:30 p.m. — Flying Flea Circus & Medicine Show, Haverford Avenue Stage
• 1:30 p.m. — Ari Paul the Entertainer, Forrest Avenue (by Spots)
• 2 p.m. — Kingsessing Morris Men, Haverford Avenue Stage
• 2 p.m. Waldron Treblemakers, Narberth Avenue Stage
• 2 p.m. — Nutcracker Ballet and Reading PA Academy of Ballet, Narberth Avenue (“on the hill”)
• 2 p.m. — St Margaret’s Carolers, Forrest Avenue (by Spots)
• 2:15 p.m. — Flying Flea Circus & Medicine Show, Forrest Avenue (by Spots)
• 2:30 p.m. — Men of Harmony, Haverford Avenue Stage
• 2:30 p.m. — Horn’s Punch & Judy Show, Narberth Avenue Stage
• 3 p.m. — Nutcracker Ballet and Reading PA Academy of Ballet, Narberth Avenue (“on the hill”)
• 3 p.m. — Kingsessing Morris Men, Narberth Avenue Stage
• 3:15 p.m. — Horn’s Punch & Judy Show, Narberth Avenue Stage
• 3:15 p.m. — Flying Flea Circus & Medicine Show, Haverford Avenue Stage