Dickens Village Festival

02/18/2026

The Dickens Village Festival is making a small change with a big purpose.✨

Beginning this year, Dickens will take place over two weekends — Fridays & Saturdays of Thanksgiving weekend and the following weekend — rather than three.

Why the change? Because Dickens has always been powered by heart. ❤️ Our volunteers, businesses, performers, and community members give so much of themselves to create the charm and holiday spirit you’ve come to love. By focusing on two weekends, we’re giving our incredible team a little rejuvenation — while keeping the magic strong for years to come.

And don’t worry… we’re not slowing down. We’re planning to pack our four festive days with even more feel-good activities, joyful moments, twinkling lights, shopping, and family traditions that make the season bright.

Our mission remains the same:
To welcome visitors to Garrison, showcase the charm of our small-but-mighty community, and celebrate the holidays together.

Mark your calendars and plan to join us for two unforgettable weekends filled with Christmas cheer. 🎄✨

We can’t wait to celebrate with you!🎩

01/02/2026

🎄 We are so thankful to everyone who joined us for the 2025 Dickens Village Festival! Your experience matters to us, and your feedback helps shape the future of Dickens.

Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts by completing our short survey below:
👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Dickens2025

Thank you for being part of the magic and helping us make Dickens even better! ❤️

12/19/2025

This year, 110 London Telegrams left Dickens Village Festival and are finding homes across North Dakota, the United States, and beyond!

From Virginia to California, Texas to Montana, Florida to Washington, and even across the border to Canada—Dickens cheer truly knew no bounds!

Thank you for helping us send a little old-fashioned joy far and wide ❤️🎄

12/14/2025

That’s a wrap on the Dickens Village Festival! From carols to costumes, laughter to lights—our hearts are full and our spirits are bright. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the season merry and memorable. As Mr. Dickens might say, it was the best of times! Until next year…!🎩

12/13/2025

If you’re still in town around 7:00 PM, we’d love your help with tearing down Piccadilly Square. It takes a village—thank you for being part of ours! ❄️🎩

12/13/2025

🎩✨ It’s the FINAL DAY of Dickens Village Festival! ✨🎩
Yes — we’re open today, and while it’s cold, the Dickens cheer is still going strong. Bundle up and come enjoy one last festive day in Garrison!

🐴 Horse-Drawn Carriages ARE happening today!
Hours may vary depending on temperature tolerance and participation, but we’re excited to offer rides as conditions allow.

🦌 Live Reindeer Update:
The reindeer will be relocated to the Queen Elizabeth Bus so guests (and reindeer!) can stay warm while visiting.

🍰 Fruitcake Toss — ON at 1:00 PM!
Come bundled up and ready for fun. We’ll also be able to utilize the building to the north for warming up as needed.

🔥 Warm up with these indoor activities happening today:
Decorating Gingerbread Houses – Fort Stevenson State Park
Top Hat Decorating – Noon–4:00 PM (Cubbyhole)
Free Will Donation Book Sale – Noon-6:00 PM (Garrison Public Library)
Piccadilly Square Vendor Show – Noon–7:00 PM (City Auditorium)
Milk & Cookies with Santa – 1:00–3:00 PM (Cubbyhole)
Dickens Story Time – 1:45 PM (Garrison Public Library)
Matinee Performance of the Play – 2:00 PM (KOTA Theater)
FREE Bingo – Starts at 2:30 PM (Lamplighters)
FREE Live Entertainment – All day (Piccadilly Square)
Amma Mamma Kids Activities – 4:00 PM (Cubbyhole)

🍴 Street Food Vendors (inside today):
Fence Stretchers & Apehangers – still serving from their food trucks
Garrison Hospital – inside NorDak North
Church of God – inside Chase Pharmacy
Garrison Fire Department & Garrison FFA Chapter – inside the ND Firefighters Museum
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church – inside the GAIA Building
Titans Baseball & Benedictine Living Center – inside S & J

🎸 Wrap up Dickens with our final entertainer tonight!
Mick Adams & the Stones – Rolling Stones Tribute take the stage at 7:00 PM.

🎟️ Tickets are still available for both the play and entertainment!
https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=dvfes

🛍️ Shops are open and ready to welcome you for some last-day Dickens shopping.

Thank you for celebrating the magic of Dickens Village Festival with us! ❄️✨

12/12/2025

Yes, we’re open for Dickens today — cold and all! ❄️
Bundle up, grab a warm drink, and come enjoy the magic of the festival. The Waddington Brothers are on their way, ready to heat things up tonight with an evening of fantastic music! 🎶

With these chilly temps, a few things are moving indoors so you can stay cozy while you explore:

🍴 Street Food Vendors (indoors today!)
Fence Stretchers & Apehangers – still serving from their food trucks
Garrison Hospital – inside NorDak North
Church of God – inside Chase Pharmacy
Garrison Fire Department & Garrison FFA Chapter – inside the ND Firefighters Museum
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church – inside the GAIA Building
Titans Baseball & Benedictine Living Center – inside S & J

🐴 Please note: Due to the extreme temperatures, horse-drawn carriage rides will not be available today. Safety first for both our horses and our guests.

🛍️ Shops are open, warm, and ready to welcome you—so wander Main Street, find your favorite Dickens gifts, and soak up the festive spirit.

📣 Check back tomorrow for any further updates.

See you in town today! 🎩✨

12/11/2025

🎄✨ It’s the FINAL weekend of the Dickens Village Festival! ✨🎄
If you’ve been waiting to soak in the sights, sounds, and magic of Dickens — this is your moment. From classic traditions to live entertainment, this weekend is packed with festive fun for all ages.

📅 Here’s the full schedule for Friday, December 12 & Saturday, December 13!
(Check out the graphic below for all times and details 👇)

Enjoy gingerbread house fun, top hat decorating, carriage and trolley rides, live reindeer, milk & cookies with Santa, kids activities, the Lighted Parade, live music throughout the village — plus evening and stage entertainment you won’t want to miss:

🎭 Saturday at 2:00 p.m.: Tiny Tim’s Christmas
🎶 Friday evening: The Waddington Brothers
🎸 Saturday evening: Mick Adams & the Stones (Rolling Stones Tribute)

💚 Make it a Dickens weekend — grab your tickets, bring the family, and celebrate where Christmas begins!

More info at dickensfestival.com

12/10/2025

🎩🎸 Good heavens, what a rock ’n’ roll revelation! 🎸🎩

Mick Adams and the Stones, the ultimate Rolling Stones Tribute, take the stage this Saturday at 7pm during the Dickens Village Festival!

Expect swagger, sparkle, and enough satisfaction to make even Scrooge tap his toe. 🎶✨
Dust off your top hats, grab your friends, and join us for a night that proves some things only get better with time.

Mick Adams and the Stones Not only does Mick Adams have the “moves like Jagger,” but he’s also a dead-ringer for Mick Jagger and brings Mick’s intense energy to every show. His full-production Rolling Stones show, Mick Adams and The Stones®, features look-alike performers, multiple costume ...

12/09/2025

🎶 North Dakota pride on stage! 🎶
The beloved Waddington Brothers, a true local favorite, are bringing their unforgettable sound to the Dickens Village Festival this Friday!

It’s your chance to enjoy amazing live music from a band right here in ND—and yes, there’s still time to grab your tickets! Don’t miss out on a night full of tunes, laughs, and small town pride. ❤️🎸

The Waddington Brothers Known for their rich vocals and captivating performances, the Waddington Brothers bring a blend of classic favorites, heartfelt originals, and timeless holiday cheer. This family-friendly concert is the perfect way to celebrate the season in the heart of Dickens Village Festi...

12/08/2025

What a fantastic second weekend at the Dickens Village Festival! 🎄✨

From the laughs and chills at Midwest Murder, to the heartwarming magic of Tiny Tim’s Christmas, to a packed house at The American Ride – Toby Keith Tribute — the crowds showed up and the energy was amazing. We’re so thankful for everyone who came out and filled our venues all weekend long. ❤️

And guess what… we’re not done yet! Here’s what’s coming up for Weekend Three:
🎶 The Waddington Brothers — Friday at 7:00 PM
🎭 Final performance of Tiny Tim’s Christmas — Saturday at 2:00 PM
🎸 Mick Adams & the Stones (Rolling Stones Tribute) — Saturday at 7:00 PM

Tickets are going fast, so grab yours now and help us finish Dickens strong! 🎟️✨
Let’s make the final weekend one to remember!

https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=dvfes