Riverside Dickens Festival Inc

About Us:

In 1992, Carolyn Grant, Joan Patton and The Friends of the Library Board of Directors began to explore the creation of a festival for Riverside. A five-person steering committee was formed and the Riverside Dickens Festival was born in September 1993.

 

Purpose and Objectives:

To enhance a sense of community among citizens of Riverside County, the Inland Empire, and Southern California by creating a series of literary events that bring people together from all segments of society, and to provide family-oriented entertainment such as drama, musical performances, living history workshops, lectures, classroom study, museum and library exhibits and street fair.

Over the years, The Riverside Dickens Festival has grown and was voted Press Enterprise’s Readers’ Choice Best Festival for 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Currently the Festival includes fun events such as: Mr. Pickwick’s Pub Night, The Royal Victorian Tea Room and Music Hall, Fashion Show, Oliver’s Alley (just for kids!), Mr. Fezziwig’s Ball, London Market Place, Ten Bells Tavern, Guest Author Appearances by Mr. Dickens and his contemporaries (Mark Twain, Edgar Allan Poe and H.G. Wells)  and roaming Street Performers.

The Riverside Dickens Festival continues its original mission of education through entertainment at an affordable cost, many events being FREE!

Our next Festival, February 21-22, 2015 marks our 22nd Anniversary and will be held on Main Street between Univeristy Ave and 9th Street!