There is a special festival in North Dakota that transforms one normal town into something directly from the famous A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Known as “The Christmas Capital of North Dakota,” the town of Garrison takes this classic book and play to a whole new level. Every weekend starting after Thanksgiving up until December 10th, the town will be loaded with the most Christmas-themed fun you can have.

Let’s get in the spirit and head out to the Dickens Village Festival, because you do not want to miss this!

The entire town of Garrison, ND transforms into a Victorian-era Christmas experience with plenty of things to see, take part in, and not to mention food and vendors to shop through.
Dickens Village Festival/Facebook
This is the 23rd year for the Dickens Village Festival, which celebrates the timeless book and further play adaptions of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It is great, memorable fun for everyone involved. Many people love to go for the shopping alone, because there are so many vendors, crafts, food, and special items you can browse and buy here.

Craft shows, tree decorating contests, and more are all around Garrison during the festival. Varying live entertainment performs every day, and of course every Friday and Saturday night there is a performance of the play itself at the Kota Theater. It wouldn't be the same without it!
Take a ride around town on one of the carriage rides, or even...
Dickens Village Festival/Facebook
...take the Queen Elizabus!
Dickens Village Festival/Facebook
This double decker bus is something straight out of London! You can catch a ride all throughout Garrison and experience what it's like to travel in one of these things, right here in North Dakota. And that's not all you can do to get into the English spirit in this town.
Enjoy a spot of tea at the English High Tea event while sporting your best hat.
Dickens Village Festival/Facebook
Be sure to put on your best English accent!
Kids can play along too!
Dickens Village Festival/Facebook
These kids help charities by dressing up like some of the play's most famous characters, including street urchins that will beg "for a copper" around the festivities. All proceeds they collect go to charity!

There is also a top hat decorating event that kids love, among plenty of opportunities to see the town's own strolling characters they can meet and interact with. Santa will be making an appearance, too!

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Do you love fruitcake? Probably not, and the Dickens Village Festival found a great alternative way to use them.
Dickens Village Festival/Facebook
The Fruitcake Toss!
Dickens Village Festival/Facebook
Take part in Garrison's famous fruitcake tossing competition. It's open to all ages in separate divisions and is tons of fun for everyone involved. There are prizes at stake here, so start practicing your throw!
Every night of the festival, there is a lighted parade that goes down main street.
Dickens Village Festival/Facebook
Dickens Village Festival/Facebook
Local businesses show off beautifully lit and adorable set ups on lighted floats up and down Main Street for everyone to see. There is also hot cocoa for everyone who attends!
Once the sun sets, explore the town and see the beauty of Christmas out on display.
Dickens Village Festival/Facebook
Beyond the many activities and events, just taking a stroll through Garrison at night during the festival really shows why this town got the title of the Christmas Capital of North Dakota.

This doesn’t even cover all of the events and places to experience at the Dickens Village Festival. You really don’t want to miss it, because it is huge! This is the kind of experience that will make unforgettable memories to keep for many “Christmas futures” to come.

For all of the information, schedule, event locations, and more, click here to go to the Dickens Village Festival website.

For more Christmas events in North Dakota this year, check out the best light displays in the state for 2016.

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