A Victorian Christmas

Of all the places to experience a traditional Dickensian Christmas event, San Francisco may not spring straight to mind, but every year the city plays host to the Great Dickens Christmas Fair and Victorian Holiday Party.

Travellers planning to fly to San Francisco in December, looking for some unusual Christmas shopping fun, should head to the city's Cow Palace and step back in time to Victorian England, with its a host of musical halls, pubs, dances and quaint Christmas shops.

Held throughout the advent period, between 11:00 and 19:00 local time, the fair this year will take place on the weekends of November 24th, 25th and 26th, December 2nd and 3rd, 9th and 10th, 16th and 17th and 23rd.

Aside from the shopping, the fair will feature everything from traditional songs and dancing, games and activities, Punch and Judy shows, Victorian fairies and an appearance from Father Christmas.

Visitors to the San Francisco fair can enjoy entertainments across five different themed stages, including among others, Fessiwig's Warehouse, the Victoria & Albert Bijou Music Hall and Sugarplum Playhouse, as well as numerous restaurants, cafes and traditional ale houses serving old fashioned English fare.

For more information check out the Great Dickens Christmas Fair website.

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