CARLYLE - The Dickens Village Festival made the Carlyle area giddy in a round dance of Dickens times' festivities, looks and meals.
The 18th annual festival that took place Dec. 3-5 attracted over a thousand people from all around. For the old-style weekend, the hall turned into a Fizziwig’s Pub with top-notch free entertainment for hundreds of people.
The English Market Craft Sale had many people stopping by, and the Lighted Parade attracted hundreds of spectators lining up the streets on Friday and Saturday.
The Cornerstone Theatre’s play, a humourous and witty musical called Scrooge in Space, was a classic that attracted many admirers. Written by Carlyle’s own Megan McAuley, the play was performed three times.
Dickens Village Festival committee member Dianne Twietmeyer, who performed in the play, said it was one of her favourite parts of the festival, which altogether was a great event.
“It was very successful. Everybody was extremely pleased with the turnout. We had a wonderful parade and a wonderful Christmas play by Cornerstone Theatre. And we had good weather,” said Twietmeyer. “Friday and Saturday were warm, and a lot of people came out for the street vendors selling their food, and a lot of families were lining the streets for the parade.”
The community came together to make the festival happen after a one-year break due to COVID, and Twietmeyer praised the committee for decorating the streets and the hall and everyone involved for organizing a wonderful weekend filled with fun.
Since the pandemic remained a reality, the committee had to ensure they follow the provincial guidelines and organize an event that’s safe for everyone. In all buildings that are overseen by the Town of Carlyle, guests had to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a recent negative test, and other health measures were followed.
“We wondered if that wouldn’t keep people away, but we had a lot of people come in and have a really good time safely,” Twietmeyer said.
The committee was worried that the festival probably wouldn’t be a go with all the issues still in place this year, but fortunately, they were able to host a great event, which went pretty close to normal.
“Some positive people came along that really wanted to do things. And the mayor of Carlyle, Jen Sedor, she's a real mover and shaker and one of these people that goes, ‘Yes, we can.’ And with the input of a few positive people like that, the rest of the committee was able to see the possibilities,” Twietmeyer shared.
“We first began planning something that was going to be on a smaller scale, just in case it all had to be cancelled at the last minute. But then, as time went on, the ideas got bigger. And the next thing it was pretty much back to being the same Dickens Festival that we'd had two years ago. There was only a couple of things that didn't happen.”
The Dickens English Market that was held at the Carlyle Elementary School had 27 tables and had approximately 350 guests come through. A great outing and chance to showcase all products for all small businesses, the market saw baking, sewing, Scentsy, Pampered Chef, Jams & Jellies, ColorStreet, woodworking and jewelry, just to name a few.
Many people also bought from street vendors, serving Dickens-times style meals like turkey legs, puddings and more.
Twietmeyer said that those involved with organizing the festival, as well as people in local stores, would also dress up in style suitable for Dickens’ era, which made the community look more picturesque over the weekend.
The traditional festival had many residents involved and saw many people from other communities come over. Twietmeyer said the annual Dickens weekend not only supports the local businesses and benefits many in the community but also helps put Carlyle on a bigger map.
“It benefits the business community by bringing people into town. It kicks off the Christmas season, getting people out shopping. Cornerstone Theatre, we have been for the past several years, donating 10 per cent of our performance proceeds to the food bank,” said Twietmeyer, adding that this plan hasn’t been announced yet this year, but she assumes they will proceed with the donation.
“The festival also raises the profile of Carlyle throughout the province and even into Manitoba. In other years, we’ve had busloads of people come down from Regina … on a shopping trip and take in the play and all the other festivities. So it definitely raises the profile of Carlyle as a place to come to. And it gets a lot of people and a lot of different groups involved,” Twietmeyer concluded.
