Dickens on the Square
With a nod to the ghost of Dickens past and an eye towards the future, the 20th anniversary of Dickens on the Square, Macomb’s Victorian-themed holiday festival, returns Friday, December 5 and Saturday, December 6. Keeping with tradition, this year’s event features many of your old favorites such as horse drawn carriage rides, strolling carolers and Victorian characters, however it will also offer many new events and activities such as Tea with Queen Victoria, holiday pet photos and food vendors offering Victorian favorites such as roasted nuts and hot cider, just to name a few. Please look for the 2014 Dickens brochures around Macomb for details on times and locations, or simply join us in downtown Macomb where the food, fun and festivities cannot be missed!
The event kicks off Friday, December 5 at 5:00 pm. Come to Macomb’s historic Courthouse Square and be transformed to 1850’s England, enjoying the delightful aroma of roasted nuts while you listen to the joyful sounds of holiday carolers and experience the charm as the windows of many of Macomb’s downtown merchants come to life in “Living Windows”. Don’t forget to take your free horse drawn trolley ride around the square to experience it all. For the first time, everyone’s favorite jolly old elf, Santa Claus, will join us on Friday night from 6:00-8:00 pm. Keep a watchful eye as you never know how Santa might arrive in downtown Macomb….Lastly, close out your evening at one of Macomb’s fabulous downtown restaurants during Dickens After Dark. Magnolias will be offering an array of Olde English favorites including Mince Pie, Scrooge’s Prized Turkey Filet Dijon, Plum Pudding Shots and other hearty favorites to warm your insides.
Return on Saturday where activities begin with the St. Paul Cookie Walk and I-SPY Christmas ornament craft at the Macomb Public Library. Beginning at 11:00 am, there will be a variety of strolling and in-house entertainment featuring many of Macomb’s most beloved performers including the Coventry Carolers, Karen Martin’s Suzuki Strings and more. Join Queen Victoria for tea at the Old Dairy Café & Bakery at 11:00 am. Don’t let the kids miss out on the WIU Reading & Parental Involvement’s JINGLE BELLS! reading activities and create your own fun at Kiss Me Kate’s Holiday Fun Photo Booth. Of course, there will be horse drawn trolley and carriage rides all throughout the day. For those that missed Santa Claus on Friday night, he will be returning on Saturday from 1:00-3:00 pm. Studio H Photography and the Humane Society of McDonough County will be hosting Pet Pictures with Father Christmas in Chandler Park from 1:00-3:00 pm.
As always, Dickens on the Square will run in conjunction with McDonough District Hospital’s Festival of Trees and Citizens Bank’s Childrens Shopping Mall. The 20th anniversary of Dickens on the Square promises fun for everyone. Make sure to pick up an official brochure, available around Thanksgiving, or visit the Chamber website to plan your weekend of holiday fun in downtown Macomb.
Date and Time
Friday Dec 5, 2014 Saturday Dec 6, 2014
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5
2:00-5:00 MidAmerica National Bank Open House
4:00-8:00 Festival of Trees
5:00-8:00 Strolling Carolers & Victoria Characters
5:00-6:00 MHS Brass & Woodwind Ensembles (Old Dairy)
5:00-7:00 Live Music at Barnyard Guitars
5:00-8:00 Country Financial (ScottMcGaughey) Open House
5:00-8:00 Nuts4You!
5:00-8:00 Jayme S. Larson Academy of Dance Open House (Masonic bldg.)
5:30-7:30 Horse Drawn Trolley Rides (FREE - dep. east side square)
5:30-8:00 The Lemmings (New Copperfields)
5:30-8:00 YULE-kelele (Parnassus Antiques)
5:30-7:30 Living Windows
6:00-7:00 Hot Cocoa with Queen Victoria (FYI Frozen Yogurt)
6:00-8:00 Visit with Santa Claus
6:00-8:00 Ugly Christmas Sweater Party (TJR Designs/Kiss Me Kate)
6:00-8:00 Polar Express Story Time (West Central Illinois Arts Center)
6:30-8:00 Live Nativity (First Baptist Church)
7:30 WIU Winter DanceWorks
5:00-10:00 Dickens After Dark (Enjoy olde English favorites at Magnolias)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6
8:00-2:00 St. Paul Cookie Walk (Taylor's Hall for Events)
9:00-5:00 Festival of Trees
10:00-11:00 I-SPY Christmas Ornament (Macomb Public Library)
10:00-11:00 Ukelele Macomb (West Central Illinois Arts Center)
10:30-11:00 Suzuki Strings (New Copperfields)
11:00-11:30 Suzuki Strings (FYI Frozen Yogurt)
11:00-4:00 Strolling Characters & Victorian Characters
11:00-noon Tea with Queen Victoria (Old Dairy)
11:00-noon Ukelele Macomb (West Central Illinois Arts Center)
11:00-1:30 Horse Drawn Trolley Rides
11:00-4:00 Jingle Bells Reading Activities (Key Realtors)
12:00-2:00 Holiday Fun Photo Booth (Kiss Me Kate at Project Dance Co.)
12:00-2:00 Live Holiday Music at Barnyard Guitars
12:00-4:00 Nuts4You! (east side of Courthouse lawn)
1:00-2:00 MJHS Brass & Woodwind Ensembles (Old Dairy)
1:00-3:00 Coventry Carolers (Advanced Rehab)
1:00-3:00 Pet Pictures with Father Christmas (Chandler Park)
1:00-3:00 Visit with Santa Claus
1:00-4:00 Barnyard Guitars: The Pickin' Room
1:00-4:00 Childrens Shopping Mall (Citizens Bank)
1:00-4:00 Holiday Collections Display (Western Illinois Museum)
1:30-3:00 Dolly & Me Tea (Old Bailey House) - RESERVATIONS REQ.
1:30-4:00 Carriage Rides (dep. from FYI Frozen Yogurt)
2:00-3:00 Stories with Queen Victoria (New Copperfields)
2:00-3:00 Christmas Games (Kozmic Game Emporium)
2:00-4:00 Hope Community Thrift Store Open House
2:00 Holiday Festival of Choirs (St. Paul Catholic Church)
3:00-4:00 Sondra Mosley, pianist (West Central Illinois Arts Center)
6:30-8:00 Live Nativity (First Baptist Church)
5:00-10:00 Dickens After Dark (Olde English favorites at Magnolias)
7:30 WIU Winter DanceWorks (Hainline Theatre)
7:30 Holiday Festival of Choirs (St. Paul Catholic Church)
Remember to register for the Shop Local, Shop Macomb raffle. Registration boxes available at various downtown merchants from 5-8 pm on Friday and 11am-4pm on Saturday. Winners announced on Monday, December 8.
Fees/Admission
Some events, including the Dolly & Me Tea, Festival of Trees, Holiday Festival of Choirs, and WIU Winter DanceWorks are ticketed events.
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Contact Information
Kathy Waters
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