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The 25th Annual Charles Dickens Festival Returns to Port Jefferson

charles dickens festival
Trustee Stan Loucks, Deputy Mayor Kathianne Snaden, Jill Loucks, Village Clerk Barbara Sakovich, Village Treasurer Denise Mordente, and Lisa Harris. (Photo by Ed Shin)

​The 25th Annual Village of Port Jefferson Charles Dickens Festival held on Dec. 4 and 5 is in the history books. It returned after being canceled in 2020. Visitors gathered to celebrate the beloved author as once again this quaint seaport village was turned into a living Dickens stage.

From the opening Main Street parade on Saturday to the closing parade and holiday tree lighting on Sunday with all the events in between, the festival added a sparkle and a smile to attendees.

The breathtaking Festival of Trees, featuring Christmas trees decorated by participating
sponsors, yielded a Hollywood-level experience that is held throughout the month of December at the Port Jefferson Village Center. The whimsical Santa’s Workshop, a tribute to Christmas of yesteryear, was on everyone’s “must see” list.

Rounding out the weekend were performances from a roving troupe of more than 130 Dickens street characters. From enacting Dickensian skits at the various “natural” outdoor stages around the village to groups of costumed players visiting local restaurants singing carols, the volunteer core of performers, both area students and professional actors, brought Victorian England alive in Port Jefferson.

The Charles Dickens Festival delighted even the Scroogiest of curmudgeons, and planning for the 26th annual festival has already commenced.

The Port Jefferson Charles Dickens Festival is produced by the Greater Port Jefferson-Northern Brookhaven Arts Council in cooperation with the Incorporated Village of Port Jefferson. For more information, visit gpjac.org.

Image 2 Cara Wilbur Kevin Wood Sara Anne Huenke Alex Huenke Hallie Huenke Hannalee Wilbur
Cara Wilbur, Kevin Wood, Sara Anne Huenke, Alex Huenke, Hallie Huenke, and Hannalee Wilbur. (Photo by Ed Shin)
Image 3 Deputy Mayor Kathianne Snaden
Deputy Mayor Kathianne Snaden. (Photo by Ed Shin)
Image 4 Maggie Dineen Finn Dineen Danielle Dineen
Maggie Dineen, Finn Dineen, and Danielle Dineen. (Photo by Ed Shin)
Image 5 Allan Varela
Allan Varela. (Photo by Ed Shin)
Image 6 Terry Ryan Wolowski
Terry Ryan Wolowski. (Photo by Ed Shin)
Image 7 Ken Sanger
Ken Sanger. (Photo by Ed Shin)
Image 8 Jimmy Miller Jackson
Jimmy Miller and Jackson. (Photo by Ed Shin)
Image 9 Joseph Mcgowan Maggie Dineen Lorena Molfetta Kelly Netusil Martha Sowerberry Dana Dietrich Monica Marinaccio Dennis Curry
Joseph Mcgowan, Maggie Dineen, Lorena Molfetta, Kelly Netusil, Martha Sowerberry, Dana Dietrich, Monica Marinaccio, and Dennis Curry. (Photo by Ed Shin)
Image 10 Wearing the white hat 2020 Miss Long Island Madison Argandona
Wearing the white hat 2020 Miss Long Island Madison Argandona. (Photo by Ed Shin)
Image 11 Donna Campanelli Joseph Campanelli
Donna Campanelli and Joseph Campanelli. (Photo by Ed Shin)
Image 12 Goduar Siafu Owner of Healing Nature George Overin
Goduar Siafu, owner of Healing Nature, and George Overin. (Photo by Ed Shin)
Image 13 Tony Lymber Beth Wilder
Tony Lymber and Beth Wilder. (Photo by Ed Shin)
Image 14 Dana Dietrich
Dana Dietrich. (Photo by Ed Shin)
Image 15 Joey Z’s Restaurant
Joey Z’s Restaurant. (Photo by Ed Shin)
Image 16 Pasta Pasta
Pasta Pasta. (Photo by Ed Shin)
Image 17 Students from the Share Foreign Exchange Program
Students from the Share Foreign Exchange Program. (Photo by Ed Shin)
Image 18 George Overin Audrey Munoz
George Overin and Audrey Munoz. (Photo by Ed Shin)
Image 19 Ken Sanger with The Society of the Asylum for Destitute Sailors
Ken Sanger with The Society of the Asylum for Destitute Sailors. (Photo by Ed Shin)
Image 20 Santa
Santa. (Photo by Ed Shin)

For more scene & seen event photos visit longislandpress.com/category/scene-seen.

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