Dickens Festival in Port Jefferson adds new attraction for 2025

For the village of Port Jefferson, the first weekend in December falls under "the best of times" as the 29th Charles Dickens Festival takes over Dec. 6-7.

"The festival transforms our harbor-front village into a Dickensian set. It brings together our community by generating volunteerism and interaction between people. Even our commercial retail merchants are embracing it more than ever," says Port Jefferson Mayor Lauren Sheprow. "I’m so impressed and grateful for the way the Port Jefferson Arts Council has maintained the engagement, excitement and enthusiasm surrounding the event for more than two decades. People look forward to this weekend all year long."

Activities take place throughout the village. Here are some highlights to hit.

Watch the opening parade

The festival begins with a grand opening parade on Dec. 6  at 11:15 a.m. traveling down East Main Street to the Port Jefferson Village Center, at 101 E. Broadway.

"This is an everyman event. We wanted to celebrate a person who celebrated the common man. Charles Dickens was always looking after the underdog," says festival executive producer/PJAC chair Allan Varela. "We are trying to give people an experience that you really can’t find anywhere else."

Check out the holiday displays plus snacks

Take out your phones and click away at several holiday displays around the village. The "Festival of Trees" showcases 35 styles of Christmas trees decorated by local businesses at the Village Center. Open Dec. 6-7  from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Fan of electric trains? Watch the train layouts run at Tiny Tim’s Train Station inside the Harbormaster’s Building, 130 W. Broadway, on Dec. 6-7  from noon to 5 p.m.

Meet the man in red at Santa Claus Central inside the First United Methodist Church, at 603 Main St., Dec. 6-7  from noon to 4 p.m.

New this year is Dickens’ Creative Study, set up on the second floor of the Visitor Center, evoking a Victorian living room complete with four gigantic ghosts from "A Christmas Carol" — Christmas Present, Past and Future plus Jacob Marley. Open Dec. 6-7  from noon to 4 p.m.

For a snack, stop by the Cookie Walk at the First United Methodist Church from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 6-7  Grab some roasted chestnuts, chocolate or have lunch at Christ Episcopal Church on 127 Barnum Ave., from noon to 4 p.m. on Dec. 6  and noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 7. 

Listen to live music

Music will be performed live all weekend at different locations including roaming packs of carolers in the street. Don’t miss saxophone quartet Soli4Sax at the Methodist Church on Dec. 6  at 1:30 p.m. or acoustic bluegrass artist Buddy Merriam at the Village Center on Dec. 6  at 6 p.m. On Dec. 7, witness Mountain Maidens performing "Holiday Songs of all Nations" at Harborview Christian Church, 315 E. Main St., at 2:10 p.m.  The PDP Trio, featuring Ronald Pace, Robert Dalpiaz and Gary Passavia, will play jazz standards at the First Presbyterian Church, at Main and 107 South St., on Dec. 7  at 3:20 p.m.

Encounter street performers

Part of the charm of the Dickens Festival is the 120 volunteers, ranging from 4 to 78 in age, dressed up and acting as various Dickens characters. They sing and even perform skits at different locations in the village.

"We teach them how to walk and talk plus not play with their phones when they are performing. The accents vary depending on the class of the character," says character coordinator Karen Overin, who also serves as vice chair of the Port Jefferson Arts Council. "It makes it feel like you are really back in London. You walk around the corner and you meet a chimney sweep or a Bobby [police officer]. They will all stop for pictures and pass out candy canes."

Catch "A Christmas Carol"

Since 1990, Jeffrey Sanzel, 59, of Sound Beach, has portrayed the legendary character of Ebenezer Scrooge in Theatre Three's annual production of Dickens' most famous tale, "A Christmas Carol."

"The role is both a sprint and a marathon at the same time," says Sanzel, who also adapted the script and directed the show. "It requires a lot of focus and you must remain fully engaged because the audience is seeing the story through your eyes. You must remain present. There’s no coasting."

When asked why people are so fascinated with his character, Sanzel says, "I think people feel, if Scrooge can change, so can we. In the show, he has the opportunity to make a difference. By the end, Scrooge accepts his responsibility to the community and the world at large."

Performances of "A Christmas Carol" will be held on Dec. 6  at 3 and 7 p.m. and  Dec. 7 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tickets ($45, $25 ages 5-12) are available via theatrethree.com. Shows will also continue through Dec. 27.

Get merry at the Masonic Lodge

The Suffolk Lodge No. 60 of Free and Accepted Masons, located at 312 Main St., is hosting Santa’s wife at Mrs. Claus’ Cookie Shop, where visitors can take photos Dec. 6-7  from noon to 4 p.m. Five varieties of homemade holiday cookies will be for sale. Then observe the entries in the gingerbread house contest and vote for your favorite. Tickets are $5 per person to visit Mrs. Claus and view the gingerbread house display.

Upstairs at the lodge, kids can take in "The Magic of Amore" on Dec. 6-7  at 12:30, 1:35 and 2:40 p.m. Tickets are $7 per person. Children 5 and younger get in free. Those younger than 13 must be accompanied by an adult.

Bust a move at Fezziwig’s Dance Party on Dec. 6  from 7 to 9 p.m., which is a Victorian-era Contra Dance featuring a live band playing traditional Irish, Scottish and French Canadian songs. A dance caller will instruct everyone how to do the dances and lead them. Tickets are $25 per person.

Close out with puppet parade

The festival concludes with Pickwick’s Puppet Parade, complete with Dickens street characters working hand puppets along the route Dec. 7  at 5:15 p.m., running from Maple Avenue to Village Hall at 121 W. Broadway, where the closing ceremony ends with a tree lighting.