The celebrated Riverside Dickens Festival will return to downtown Riverside next month, boasting entertainment reminiscent of Victorian-era London, and the life and times of author Charles Dickens.
Most of the 33rd annual fest’s activities will be held Saturday, Feb. 21, and Sunday, Feb. 22, in White Park, at the intersection of Chestnut and 10th streets.
“Attendees will step into a living history experience,” according to a statement released by event organizers. “The festival offers a rich tapestry of theatrical performances, costumed characters and historical re-enactments that bring the grit and glamour of 19th-century England to the modern day.”
The main fare will begin Saturday morning in White Park, where characters from Dickens’ 1838 novel “Oliver Twist” will be on hand, offering staged readings and acting out scenes depicted in the book. There will additionally be parades, live music and who-dun-it mysteries to solve.
Fest Secretary Imari Kariotis said this year’s theme is “community storytelling,” underscoring the importance of oral traditions for the benefit of future generations.
“The Riverside Dickens Festival is more than just an event; it’s a journey into the past that celebrates the stories that connect us all,” Kariotis said.
In the past, each fest has concluded with “Knighting Ceremonies” presided over by Queen Victoria and her royal retinue. Merchants will additionally be selling food and wares that resemble a 19th century London bazaar, interspersed with caroling, dancing and games.
Last February, the fest was held at White Park for the first time. In 2024, the hosting venue was the Jensen Alvarado Historic Ranch & Museum, near Flabob Airport, in Jurupa Valley. The decision to relocate the event from its traditional place along the Main Street pedestrian mall, between Mission Inn Avenue and 11th Street, in Riverside was cost-driven.
Organizers said setting up security barriers and cordoning off streets required paying ever-escalating municipal fees that the fest couldn’t afford. The Alvarado Historic Ranch & Museum, part of the Riverside County Park & Open Space District, offered a more economical option.
Access to White Park will require tickets for admission. More information is available at dickensfest.com/.
The fest was nearly nixed completely in February 2021 amid the COVID lockdowns, but organizers managed to throw together a virtual presentation featuring profiles of Dickens’ stories online.
In-person activities returned in February 2022.