Overview of the Dickens Fair
At the Great San Francisco Dickens Fair, you can meet Father Christmas on the streets of Victorian London. You might run into Queen Victoria or her husband Prince Albert. You can meet Charles Dickens, too — and listen to him reading one of his famous stories. You might see Oliver Twist getting hauled away to prison. And that’s only the beginning.
You’ll find dozens of other characters dressed in period costume, playing roles large and small – from the lords and ladies to a lowly chimney sweep. They’re all excited to talk to you and pose for photographs. But their nineteenth-century brains may be puzzled about the device you’re taking those photos with.
What Is the Dickens Fair?
For six weeks before Christmas, the San Francisco Cow Palace turns into a bustling, 19th Century London street scene covering more than 120,000 square feet.
It’s an elaborate party, to say the least, with hundreds of costumed players. You’ll also find seven stages where singers and dancers provide entertainment.
If all that wears you out, you can have a beer or other liquid refreshments at four traditional English pubs or the Bohemian Absinthe Bar. Or go for caffeine instead and enjoy a cup of hot tea and cucumber sandwiches at Cuthbert’s Tea House. Food stands feature British-style classics like bangers and mash, meat pies, or roasted chestnuts.
Reasons to Go to the Dickens Fair
The Dickens Fair is so immersive that it draws you out of the everyday routine for a few hours. Don’t be surprised if you leave feeling refreshed and relaxed as if you took a trip to another place.
Charles Dickens’ London may not have been quite like the Dickens Fair, but it’s still fun to spend some time thinking of a bygone era. The players are there to help you do that.
The shops have well-made merchandise, making the fair a wonderful venue for holiday shopping if the people on your list would enjoy what you find. The food is tasty and reasonably priced compared to similar events.
Reasons to Skip the Dickens Fair
If you don’t like Merry Old England, you may find the Dickens Fair less appealing. It’s also not the best choice for those who dislike crowds.
While most adults seem to enjoy it, smaller children with short attention spans may get bored, whereas others become fully engaged with the goings-on.
Dickens Fair Basics
The Dickens Fair runs for six weekends before Christmas. Admission is charged, and parking is extra and paid at the venue.
You will probably spend a couple of hours walking around, browsing, and enjoying a bite to eat. If you sit down to watch all the shows, stop in all the shops, and have a full meal, you could easily be there for three hours or more.
Reservations are not required. You can buy your tickets on site or get them at the ticket booth when you arrive. Twilight discount tickets for entry after 3 p.m. are such a good deal that even Scrooge couldn’t complain.
Cuthbert’s Tea Shoppe serves a unique afternoon tea, but reservations are essential.
Tips for Enjoying the Dickens Fair
The event can draw big crowds, but on a Sunday morning in early December, it can be just perfect—enough people to make it festive and fun, but not so crowded that moving around is difficult.
- Bring cash, as food vendors typically do not accept credit cards, although most retail shops do.
- If you arrive by car, you’ll pay to park, with a short walk from the parking lot to the exhibition halls next to the main Cow Palace. A shuttle service is available for those who prefer not to walk.
- Arriving before the fair starts may provide street parking and help avoid parking fees.
- You can leave the fair and re-enter if you get a hand stamp on your way out.
- Some attendees wear costumes, but costumes are not obligatory. Organizers request not to dress as characters from Dickens novels.
- Pets are not allowed, so be sure to leave them at home.
- The fair is accessible for individuals with mobility challenges, and wheelchairs are available for rent if needed.
How to Get to the Dickens Fair
Directions are available on the Dickens Fair website from all the main highways. Public transit directions are also provided. The fair runs a free shuttle from the Glen Park BART station. The Cow Palace address is 2600 Geneva Avenue.
