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The 25th anniversary Charles Dickens Festival in downtown Port Jefferson will not be happening in 2020.
This year’s installment of the popular festival will skipped over due to continuing concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, that doesn’t mean any 19th century Victorian-themed fun won’t be had this year in the village.
In its place, there are mini events planned for across two Saturdays in December, in what is being deemed “A Touch of Holiday Cheer.”
On both Dec. 12 and Dec. 19, from 1-4 p.m., there will be some limited holiday activities.
The Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce will be giving opportunities for families to snap photos of their children near Santa Claus on Main Street and Chandler Square.
There will be no direct contact with Jolly Old St. Nick, but the kiddos can stand in front of his sleigh. There’s a suggested donation of $5, and parents are being asked to bring their own camera, according to the chamber’s website.
The full list of happenings has yet to be released. (Check back for more information on that.)
The Greater Port Jefferson Arts Council, which produces the theatrics at the yearly Dickens Festival, is hard at work preparing skits for this new event.
“My kids have been practicing for weeks,” said Karen Overin of the arts council.
And the show will go on, to a limited extent.
Check out the fun we had back in 2017:
