Charles Dickens’ family celebrates author’s legacy at Dickens on the Strand
This year marks the 175th anniversary of the release of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, and Dickens on The Strand is an incredible way to pay homage to both the story and the author.
“In addition to our returning descendants of Charles Dickens, Jane Dickens Monk and Lucinda Dickens Hawksley, we’re bringing a new family member this year to join in the fun,” said Will Wright, chief creative officer at the Galveston Historical Foundation. “Ollie
Dickens is the greatgreat-great-grandson of Charles and lives in North London. He is a British actor who recently graduated from LAMDA, one of the finest drama training academies in the world, having previously graduated from the University of York with a Bachelor of Arts in Writing, Directing and Performance. He will appear throughout the weekend during the event and at special events, doing dramatic readings of Charles’ work.”
Dickens Hawksley, who was born and lives in the United Kingdom, will attend the festival this year and has in years past, said she doesn’t recall being told of her relation to the famed author, but seemed to just always know. She began to take interest in Charles Dickens’ work at university, then began attending Dickens on the Strand, falling in love with the annual celebration.
“I love Dickens on the Strand — it has such a great atmosphere and, every year, I feel so honored that people come to Galveston to celebrate a member of my family. I would love to know what Charles himself would have thought about that,” Dickens Hawksley said. “I really enjoy how friendly it is and all the local traditions, such as the handbell concerts and groups of carolers. I love seeing the different costumes and seeing how many people, of all ages, still read Dickens and want to talk about him and his works.”
For 45 years, Galveston Historical Foundation’s Dickens on The Strand festival has highlighted downtown Galveston’s Victorian-era architecture while providing an incredible atmosphere filled with the sights and sounds of Charles Dickens’ work.
“Returning favorites this year are our Dickens Soiree, held at the 1892 Bishop’s Palace on Friday night, Holiday Handbell Concerts, historic walking tours and pub crawls, countless entertainers and vendors and parades held daily,” Wright said. “Additionally, we’re adding a new event on Saturday night, Dickens After Dark, that will allow ticket holders into a secret event area of the strand to enjoy drinks and special performances.”
To learn more about Galveston Historical Foundation’s Dickens on the Strand, call 409-765-7834 or visit www.galvestonhistory.org.