Westfield Dickens Days

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

Father Christmas (aka Santa Claus) with the ever-cheerful Mrs. Claus at his side, holds holiday court at a new picture- book version of Santa House amidst the twinkling lights of Amelia Park. This year the jolly couple has an extra special Dickens Days gift for each child who visits $5 Photos taken with the Clauses will benefit Westfield on Weekends.

The Lanternlight Parade and The Mayor's Greenlighting Ceremony

Victorian carolers, musicians, wagons and carriages carrying a host of Dickens Days spirits join Queen Victoria and Charles Dickens himself to ring in the holidays with pomp and circumstance. Carrying lanterns, the line of marchers joins Santa and city officials on the green, to light the city tree and the grand buildings on Westfield's historic green.
Sponsored by The City of Westfield, Westfield Gas and Electric and the Westfield Business Improvement District (WBID)

The Dickens Dinner at the Bistro

It was the event of the 2009 Dickens Days. Come join Westfield on Weekends and the Westfield Theatre Group for another great evening of theatre and dining at the School St Bistro.

The Bright Nights Express

Another great Holiday tradition. Join Westfield on Weekends for a enchanted bus excursion to Springfiedl's Forest Park for a wonderful evening of lights, carols, and special theatre presentations. Bring the whole family.

Fezziwig's Holiday Festival, Crafts Faire & Festival of Trees

Mrs. Fezziwig presents her new recipe for fun: Mix Santa and Mrs. Claus in the garden with a Holiday Craft Market and Skating with the Cratchits (1-2:50PM for fee) in the ice arena. Add the Pioneer Valley Fiddlers, Clara's Magical Nutcracker by the Huntington Dance Center, The Fantastic Toy Shop by the Small Planet Dancers, WSC Copperfield's Carolers. Top with A Festival of Trees, gingerbread-cookie decorating workshops and horse-drawn carriages at the Amelia Park Children's Museum and you have a tasty Dickens Days treat for all!

SNOWFIRE! All Hail the Winter Solstice!

For the 4th annual Snowfire. revelers recreate Joyce Klatil Creamer's charming book, The Magic Scepter: The Legend of Blue Santa Claus and then promenade with scepters and bells in hand to the giant SNOWFIRE for some caroling, cocoa, cookies and fun during the longest night of the year.

The Windows of Westfield Project

Various windows on Elm and Main Streets
The Westfield Business Improvement District (WBID) has invited visual artists of all ages and city non-profit organizations to adorn various storefront windows in The District. It's a stroller's gallery of fine art and displays that reflect the great cultural and community life of the Whip City and its new downtown.

View the full calendar of the more than 40 magical Dickens Days happenings. 

Click for brochure, including calendar of special events (PDF)

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 an evening with Mark Twain by a fine actor to a SNOWFIRE celebration with cocoa cookies and the retelling of a new children's book around a roaring Dickens Days 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 2008 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.