Galveston Island, Texas, December 3, 2016 – Due to the record breaking rainfall of last weekend, Galveston Historical Foundation is announcing the addition of an unprecedented second weekend of the 43^rd Annual Dickens on The Strand Festival. The added weekend’s event will be held exclusively on The Strand street on Friday, December 9 and Saturday, December 10. Admission is free Friday night to Fezziwig’s Beer Hall from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday’s event will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with tickets specially priced at $8 for adults and $4 for costumed adults, $5 for children ages 6-12. Children 5 & under are free. First weekend ticket holders will have their admissions honored the second weekend or at 2017’s festival. Tickets and additional information are available at www.dickensonthestrand.org.

“Dickens on The Strand is the largest fundraiser for Galveston Historical Foundation, but it’s also one of the biggest weekends of the year for many of downtown Galveston’s merchants,” states Will Wright, Director of Communications and Special Events for Galveston Historical Foundation. “When we are faced with an issue like this weekend’s weather presented, it impacts all of us. It’s in that holiday spirit of good will and community that we reached out to many of those merchants about holding a special 4th Day of Dickens. The response was overwhelmingly positive with offers of support and encouragement. We’re excited to give people another chance to visit Galveston’s beautiful Strand and have an opportunity to enjoy Dickens and those merchants.”

“Each year Dickens on The Strand brings a festive spirit to the beginnings of our holidays,” states GHF Executive Director, Dwayne Jones. “Now for more than forty years, Dickens enlivens the streets and introduces thousands of visitors to the ambiance of the Victorian era. Children and adults alike can retreat back to the day of Charles Dickens and the early decades of historic Galveston. It remains one of the magical experiences in our area and in Texas.”

The annual holiday street festival, based on 19th-century Victorian London, features parades, non-stop entertainment on seven stages, strolling carolers, roving musicians, bagpipers, jugglers and a host of other entertainers. Costumed vendors peddle their wares from street stalls and rolling carts laden with holiday food and drink, Victorian-inspired crafts, clothing, jewelry, holiday decorations and gift items.

For more information on Dickens on The Strand, Galveston Historical Foundation, or to purchase advance tickets, please visit galvestonhistory.org or call 409-765-7834. For more festival information, please contact Will Wright, Director of Communications and Special Events at 409-765-3404 or [email protected].