Anyone yearning to travel back in time to the era of author Charles Dickens is once again in luck this year with Westfield's sixth annual Dickens Days, scheduled for Nov. 27 to Dec. 30. The 18th century merriment won't be limited to Dickensian characters such as pickpockets and miserly old men - although those personalities will surely be represented in romantic Old English style. Westfield's holiday plans this year abound with activities including lantern-making, musical plays, holiday strolls, artwork sales, the Bright Nights express, a Victorian feast, a community sing-along, the Snowfire promenade and myriad other events. "It's amazing to think that Dickens Days is in its sixth year and also wonderful to know that our community has embraced it as a city tradition," Bob Plasse, president of Westfield on Weekends, said. He continued, "This year it is more exciting than ever with the inclusion of several new free and low-cost events, some of which we hope to become traditions in their own right."

Among the many highlights of the season, Plasse pointed out the Westfield State College (WSC) Music Department's fully-staged production of "Amahl and the Night Visitors" and the Dickens Dinner, for which area playwright Kathleen Palmer was commissioned to write a between-courses version of "A Christmas Carol." "We have a schedule of art, theatre, movies, concerts and community events that would make even Ebenezer Scrooge smile," Plasse said. Also of note this year are the first Village Stroll of downtown (Dec. 5) that will hearken back to the days when downtown Westfield thrived. Stores, galleries, restaurants and the Athenaeum will be filled with Victorian characters, crafts, art, music, sales and surprises. There will also be a Royal Honors celebration at Central Baptist Church during the day, at which "Queen Victoria" will honor new princesses and princes by presenting them with tiaras and medals. The Small Planet Dancers will perform a Victorian Dance Exhibition at the Honors Ball with the audience encouraged to participate in a Virginia Reel demonstration. This year, Santa and Mrs. Claus move indoors in front of the Amelia Park fireplace and onto the Westfield Green in the Santa House. Photos for $5 benefit the Amelia Park Ice Arena or Westfield on Weekends.

"Snowfire" returns for another holiday solstice celebration in 2009, with a bonfire and a holiday theatrical presentation. Revelers will promenade from the stage at Amelia Park, while holding bells and candles, to the giant, roaring Snowfire and prepare for cocoa and caroling. Dress in white and join Father Frost, his winter court and the snow fairies for this colorful welcome to winter. The Windows of Westfield Celebration is an exhibit that will be displayed throughout various windows on Elm and Main streets. Once again, the Westfield Business Improvement District (BID) has invited visual artists of all ages and city non-profits to adorn storefront windows in the district. It's a stroller's gallery of fine art and colorful displays that celebrate Whip City and its new downtown. Revelers should make sure to stop in at WSC Foundation's Downtown Art Gallery on Elm Street, which is celebrating the work of several fine Pioneer Valley artists and the valley that inspires them.

According to Lisa McMahon, Executive Director of the Westfield BID, the city's extended calendar of seasonal events is remarkable - even among communities nationwide that host similar celebrations. "It is surprising across the country how many communities celebrate the season with a salute to magical world of Charles Dickens," McMahon said. "Cities like Port Jefferson, New York, and Galveston, Texas, have weekend events, but I believe that we are the only one that has a month-long calendar." She concluded, "Dickens Days is a true community effort. More than 40 events in 30 days. What could be better!"

The Santa House – Amelia Park, South Broad Street, FREE!

Friday, November 27: 10:00 am – 12:00pm. Saturdays and Sundays, November 28 – December 19: 3:00– 7:00 pm  . Friday, December 21: 3:00 – 8:00 pm.

Santa and Mrs. Claus hold holiday court at their brand new Santa House. Of course, there’s a special Dickens Days remembrance for every child who visits. $5 photos benefit Westfield on Weekends. Sponsored by the City of Westfield, Westfield Gas and Electric, Easthampton Savings Bank, Hometown Structures, The Summer House, and Amelia Park.

The Lanternlight Parade and The Mayor's Greenlighting Ceremony

Tuesday, December 1: Parade assembly at 5:00 pm.

Green Festivities begin at 6:00 pm; Parade kicks off at 6:15 pm; Greenlighting at 6:30 pm.

Make your own lantern and join the the Lanternlight Parade, proceeding from the First Congregational Church Parking lot on Broad Street to the Town Green, where the Mayor lights a beautiful new holiday tree.  Carolers will be singing and the holiday spirit will fill the air of downtown Westfield. Please join us for the fun. Sponsored by the City of Westfield, Westfield G & E, and The Westfield Business Improvement District (WBID).

A Dickens of a Day Stroll in the District

Saturday, December 5: 11:00 am – 4:00pm. 

Maps available at Westfield Athenaeum. FREE!

Scrooge and his ghostly companions are your hosts for this self-guided tour of our downtown business district, decked out for the holidays. Come out for a holiday treat and view the beautiful decorations in our fair city.  The first Village Stroll of Downtown  that will hearken back to the days when downtown Westfield thrived. Stores, galleries, restaurants and the Athenaeum will be filled with Victorian characters, crafts, art, music, sales and surprises. There will also be a Royal Honors celebration at Central Baptist Church during the day, at which "Queen Victoria" will honor new princesses and princes by presenting them with tiaras and medals. This year, Santa and Mrs. Claus move onto the Westfield Green in the Santa House. Photos for $5 benefit Westfield on Weekends.

Fezziwig’s Holiday Faire

Saturday, December 5: 10 am – 4:00 pm Westfield Athenaeum, downtown Westfield. FREE!

Carol with the Fezziwigs, bow to Queen Victoria and finish your holiday shopping in grand style at this juried crafts show at the Westfield Athenaeum in downtown Westfield across from the Town Green.  The Faire will feature approximately two dozen crafters from across the region offering their homemade wares just in time for holiday gift giving. There will be original jewelry designs, unique stationery creations, gourmet specialties and many other one-of-a-kind surprises available for purchase. According to Westfield Business Improvement District Executive Director Lisa McMahon, "Having Fezziwig's Holiday Faire at the Athenaeum this year just naturally opened the door for a Holiday Stroll to take place…providing fantastic opportunity for our wonderful downtown merchants, restaurants, churches and non-profits to join in on the fun! We have a full calendar of events planned for Saturday, December 5th along Elm Street from Franklin Street to Broad Street!"

The Faire will benefit the award-winning Westfield High School Choir to help defray the expense of their May, 2010 trip to King's Dominion in Virginia where they will participate in a major chorale competition. Adding to the festive mood, the Westfield High School Choir is scheduled to perform for Faire-goers from 12 Noon – 1:00 PM under the direction of Korey DeGray Bruno.This year's Faire is chaired by Lena Madigan.

Vendors wishing to participate can download an application by clicking here.

The Bright Nights Express

Sunday, December 13: 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm Bright Nights Forest Park, Springfield, MA. Buses leave city hall at 6:00 pm. Tickets by reservation only: $10 for adults $5 for children.

For reservations, call:   BID 413-572-1260 or WoW 413-562-2277.

Take a bus ride of surprises to one of the top 100 holiday attractions with a special stop in twinkling Forest Park, where city officials, Queen Victoria and Dickens Days spirits will greet you.  Ticket price includes raffles on buses and reception at Bright Nights in Springfield and other surprises. Produced in association with the Spirit of Springfield.

The Community Carol-Sing!

Monday, December 14: 6:30 pm, Westfield Green. Snowdate: Wednesday, December 16

A Westfield holiday tradition is joyfully revived with everyone singing in tribute to Carol Mazza, the publisher of the Westfield Evening News.  Sponsored by the Westfield Evening News.

The Dickens Dinner: A Christmas Carol - SOLD OUT!

A between-the-courses version of the timeless classic by Charles Dickens with the Westfield on Weekends troupe of able actors.

Play has been adapted by Kathleen Palmer for the special holiday presentation.  A Holiday Fare menu will be provided by the Bistro for the evening's entertainment. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for kids which includes show and dinner. Come one, come all, and enjoy the show with a great meal and friends.

Snowfire

Monday, December 21: 6:30 – 8:00 pm. Amelia Park, South Broad Street, FREE!

Snowfire returns for another holiday solstice celebration this year, with a bonfire and a holiday theatrical presentation, and lots of friends and family. From the stage at Amelia Park, revelers promenade with bells and candles to the roaring, giant Snowfire and prepare for cocoa and caroling. Sponsored by Gathering Place and Amelia Park with the kind assistance of Barefoot Books and Starbucks.

The Windows of Westfield Project/Celebration! 

Various windows on Elm and Main Street. The Westfield State College Foundation Art Gallery, 105 Elm Street. Gallery hours: Tuesdays through Saturdays, 2:00 – 5:00 pm and Thursdays, 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Once again, the Westfield BID has invited visual artists of all ages and city non-profits to adorn storefront windows in The District. It’s a stroller’s gallery of fine art and colorful displays that celebrate Whip City and its new downtown. Make sure to stop in at WSC Foundation’s Downtown Art Gallery which is celebrating the work of several fine Pioneer Valley artists and the valley that inspires them.

Presented by the Westfield Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with Westfield On Weekends, Inc.

Westfield on Weekends would like to thank Hometown Structures, Amelia Park, Easthampton Savings Bank, The School St Bistro, The Small Planet Dancers, Lydia's Gathering Place, Barefoot Books, The Spirit of Springfield, Westfield State College, Starbucks, King Ward Trailways, Shaker Farms Country Club, Bannish Lumber, L & R Sales, Rep. Donald Humanson, and The Westfield Evening News for their generous support of Dickens Days.

DOWNLOADS 

Complete schedule of Dickens Days 2009 available soon  

To download a Vendor Application form for Fezziwig's Holiday Faire on Dec 5, please click here.

DICKENS DAYS 2009

Now in its 6th magical year, Dickens Days in the District is an exciting community-wide event inspired by Charles Dickens, his spirits & the Victorian Age. It's a December of holiday house tours, teas, one-day festivals, theatrical performances, visits with Santa, lectures, readings, concerts & sparkling lights throughout The District, Westfield's new downtown.

Westfield Dickens Days has become a tradition that continues to bring visitors to the Whip City from all over the region. From the new Lanternlight Parade that lights the Westfield Green to a wonderful community theatre version of A Christmas Carol to a SNOWFIRE celebration with cocoa cookies and the retelling of a new children's book around a roaring Dickens Days fire that will delight.

The concept of Westfield on Weekends is to present a series of signature events that reflect a theme that is augmented with a calendar with events that are produced by city non-for-profit organizations, institutions, businesses and churches. The scope and size of Westfield Dickens Days 2009 demonstrates a community working together.

Some of organizations who have helped to create Dickens Days events: The Westfield Business Improvement District (WBID), Westfield Athenaeum, Amelia Park Children's Museum, Amelia Park, the Westfield Athenaeum Boys' and Girls' Library, Western Hampden Historical Society, the Westfield Theatre Group, the City of Westfield, and the Westfield State College Foundation.

Enjoy an olde English breakfast or a Victorian dinner or dessert
in the District and beyond. In the shops, there are Dickens Days
sales and promotions everywhere! Scrooge is even smiling!

A Chef for All Seasons, 71 Elm St
Leo’s Gallery Deli, 3 Main St
Brooks Buyers, Elm St
Collage,  48 Elm St                                
Creative Corner Elm St                      Erin’s Own Irish Imports, 172 Elm St
Fast Feet, 24 Elm St
Flowers by Webster, 52 Court St
George’s Jeweler’s Inc, 67 Elm St
The Good Table, 12 School St
The Tobacco Barn, 53 Elm St
Jester’s Café, 124 Elm St
Lydia’s Gathering Place, 51 Court St
Performance Music, 126 Elm St
Piccolo’s Ristorante, 110 Elm St
Rocky’s Ace Hardware, 44 Main St
School Street Bistro, 29 School St
The Tavern Restaurant, 2 Broad St
The Tea Pot Gallery, 22 Elm St
World Peace Beads and Glass, School St

First Annual Village Stroll of Downtown - Complete Schedule of Events

 Dec 5 10:00AM until 5:00PM

 Aunt Peggoty’s Olde English Breakfast,
7:00 am – 11:30 am. Leo’s Gallery deli, 3 Main Street

Martha Cratchit’s Boutique,
10:00 am – 2:00 pm, First Congregational Church library, 18 Broad Street

The Parson’s Used Books and Worldly Treasures Sale,
10:00 – 5:00 pm United Methodist Church Parsonage

Fezziwig's Holiday Faire
10:00 am - 3:30 pm, Westfield Athenaeum. FREE!

The Santa House with Santa and Mrs. Claus
10:00 am - 6:00 pm, Westfield Green. FREE!
(Photos available for $5.00 to benefit WOW.)

Carriage Rides through Merry Olde Westfield
11:00 am - 2:00 pm, in front of Athenaeum

Ebeneezer’s Attic Sale
10:00 am – 3:30 pm, Central Baptist Church, 115 Elm Street.

Small Art Auction and Victorian Hat and Hair Accessory Class
10:00 am – 4:00 pm, Creative Corner, 24 Elm Street.

The Performance Music Student Orchestra
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm, Central Baptist Church, 115 Elm Street. FREE!

Queen Victoria's Royal Honors Celebration
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm, Central Baptist Church, 115 Elm Street. FREE!

Victorian Dances Exhibition with Small Planet Dancers

2:00 pm Central Baptist Church, 115 Elm Street. FREE!

Young Singers of Greater Westfield Concert and Carol Sing,

4:00 pm, First Congregational Church, 18 Broad Street, FREE!

Pop-up Shops, Characters, Caroling, Sales and Surprises
9:00 am - 5:00 pm, The District in Downtown Westfield