Festival Dates
As it turns out, sunny Florida weather offers a surprisingly festive background to ring in the holiday spirit. Amelia Island brings back its annual Dickens on Centre festival for the ninth year from Dec. 7 to 10.
Victorian Experience
During this four-day celebration, the downtown area of the island’s Fernandina Beach will turn the clocks back to its roots and transform into a Victorian holiday experience. This event becomes the largest Christmas Market in northeast Florida, showcasing:
- Shopping booths
- Food and drink stands
- Holiday movies
- Santa visits
- Costumed characters
- Two stages of entertainment
- Kids’ zones
- 3-D drone shows
Activities and Events
The festivities kick off on Dec. 7 with the Dickens Illuminated Procession, a Front Street parade that anyone can join, especially if they bring something that glows or twinkles, such as illuminated lanterns. The festival will be operational during the following hours:
- Dec. 7: 5 to 7 p.m.
- Dec. 8: 5 to 9 p.m.
- Dec. 9: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Dec. 10: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Moreover, other highlights include a one-mile fun run race, Run the Like Dickens, taking place on Dec. 9 at 8:30 a.m. on Amelia Island Main Beach (registration is $25). Additionally, there will be the Dickens After Dark costume party on Dec. 9 at 5 p.m. at the Lesesne House, designed for adults aged 21 and older. This lively event will feature stilt walkers, jugglers, live music from Mama Blue, and the Kristen Sparrow Circus Fire & Ice show (tickets priced at $135).
The Dickens Enchanted Village will be accessible from Dec. 8 to 10, where participants can reserve one of eight holiday-decorated domes for an hour, accommodating up to six people. Inside these private spaces, you can enjoy a charcuterie box from Luxe Picnics by Les for $69, while the on-site tavern offers a range of wine, beer, and bubbly to enhance your experience.
Consequently, five zones will feature a variety of unique vendors, such as Amelia Island Microgreens and Outerbanks Boil Company located in Oliver’s Alley, along with Backwood Meat Smokerz BBQ and Jax Taco Truck in Oliver’s Eats. In addition, you can find Allen’s Gens and Rocks and Lavenders Cork in Artist Alley; Grumpy’s Housemade and Peruvian Accent in Peddler’s Village; as well as JB Sweet Treats and The Coastal Farmhouse in Tiny Tim’s Kid Zone.
A trolley service will operate from Friday through Sunday, providing convenient transportation for visitors to travel from the designated parking lot located between South 11th and 13th Streets on Centre to South 4th Street, where the festival begins.
For further information and updates on Dickens on Centre, visit ameliaisland.com/dickens-on-centre.
