TUSCUMBIA– Scrooge, Marley and all the familiar faces from Charles Dickens’ beloved holiday classic, A Christmas Carol, will return to Tuscumbia on December 11-12 to join merchants and townspeople in presenting the signature Christmas festival “It’s a Dickens Christmas, Y’all.” In its fifth year, the event adds a festive touch to the season and brings a touch of “merry ole England” to the historic Alabama town. Costumed characters will stroll the streets all day on Saturday, December 12, when most of the activity will take place.
The Dickens Feast will kick off the festivities, on Friday evening, December 11. A Victorian English Christmas dinner with a Southern twist will be served up by Rhoda P’s Catering at 7:00 p.m. at the Roundhouse at the Tuscumbia Railway Depot, 204 West Fifth Street. The evening will include entertainment by the Christmas Carol characters of Sustainable Differences, an Improv Group created and directed by David Prejeant. Advance tickets are required for the feast and may be purchased for $25 at Fiddledee D!,111 South Main Street, Tuscumbia, AL. 35674 (Telephone: 256-383-9797). Dickens-era attire is invited but not required.
Saturday’s schedule then pulls out all the stops! This downtown experience with carolers and costumed Victorian characters (10 a.m. – 5:00p.m.) is free. Expect to find snow falling on Main Street. Pride and Clyde the Clydesdales will again be on hand to give carriage rides. An outdoor holiday market will be filled with arts and crafts and food vendors, and the shops of Tuscumbia will offer their own holiday specials.
Performances throughout the day will be presented by The Nutcracker Victorian Ballroom Dancers, brass and string ensembles, vocalists, children’s dance groups and others. Watch for appearances by Santa Claus and Father Christmas, his earlier English counterpart. A real Dickens-era sleigh will be displayed at Oh! Bryan’s Steakhouse, so stop by and have your photo taken, in costume!
A Holiday High Tea is planned at Locust Hill, an 1820’s home decorated for the season and offering dainty refreshments. Two seatings are offered with advance tickets required, available at Aunt Beas Bakery. Poetry and Music, will be presented by New York professional actor/director Ronald Rand with participation by community leaders at St. John’s Episcopal Church; donations accepted to help preserve the historic church.
Special events new to Tuscumbia’s Dickens Christmas will be held throughout the day, including a Full English Breakfast served at Oh! Bryans, Downtown, and presentations at the Mayfair by Dr. Andrew Luna of the University of North Alabama, revealing symbolism in Charles Dickens’ A 
Christmas Carol.
Additional events appealing to the younger set include: Christmas “Muffins with Mickey” (Mouse) at the Helen Keller Public Library ($5, reservations required by calling 256-383-7065), Milk and Cookies with Tiny Tim and a reading of A Christmas Carol at Cold Water Books (free), Cookie Decorating organized by Aunt Bea’s Bakery ($2), and Christmas at the Roundhouse, where Santa will be on hand for photos, following a screening of “The Polar Express.”
Trolley Tours of the historic town of Tuscumbia will be offered, led by a knowledgeable guide describing the architecture of Tuscumbia’s National Register Historic District and sharing Christmas customs (trolley seats are on a first come, first serve basis, with donations accepted).
The Tennessee Valley Museum of Art will be holding its annual “Trees of Christmas” exhibit of towering live evergreens decorated in themes (admission charge). The Helen Keller Home will be festively decorated and holding its Holiday Open House, with reduced admission. Belle Mont Mansion, replete with decorations reminiscent of a plantation Christmas, will be open for tours (admission).
An old-fashioned “Town Sing” by candlelight around the Christmas tree at City Hall (former Post Office) will close downtown events at 5:00 p.m.
Lest you think the day is done, join Ebenezer Scrooge and the Natchez Trace Parkway Association at 7:00 p.m. at the Winston Home on the campus of Deshler High School for the Ball of Christmas Past. Participants may join in English Country Dances led by a caller and set to live period music. You are invited to dress the part, but not required to. Tickets are available in advance at Oh! Bryan’s Downtown.
Saturday morning’s special event for runners is the Third Annual 5K Dickens Dash and the one-mile Tiny Tim Trot, both departing from the corner of 4th and Main Streets with the Trot beginning at 8:30 a.m., followed by the 5K Dash at 9:00 a.m. Participation requires advance registration. The runs are sponsored by Solid Rock Race Timing. (More info: www./itsyourrace.com)
“Dickens Christmas, Y’all” is sponsored by Tuscumbia Retail Development, Inc., a group of volunteers, whose goal is to 
grow and sustain business in the City. TRD efforts include several fund-raisers and promotional events held throughout the year, plus the business incubator / retail cooperative gift shop, Fiddledee D!
May Woodie Christopher, president of TRD, says that this year’s Dickens Christmas, will be larger than ever before, with new activities being added all the time. “Make your plans to join us on the streets of downtown Tuscumbia for our fun-filled festival!”
“We are indebted to our many generous sponsors and the “Friends of the Fezziwigs” who make this family-friendly holiday event possible. Signage will credit these donors at the various events.”
For more information and the complete schedule of events: www.facebook/DickensChristmas, or call TRD / Fiddledee D! at 256-383-9797. For additional holiday events and/or lodging/dining information contact Colbert County Tourism at 256-383-0783 or colbertcountytourism.org.
