The Dicken's Faire at the Cow Palace
We tend to resist going to crowded places, especially during the holidays. Our daughter, who has enormous power in our family, insisted that we go to the annual Dickens Faire held at the Cow Palace. "Ah," we thought, "We could blog about it!"
With that thought, we overcame our enormous inertia, our reluctance to drive anywhere if it takes more than 30 minutes, and our aversion to holiday crowds and set off.
Annnnnd, we loved it! What enormous charm, energy, good spirits, and creative crafts crammed into what seemed like an entire English village plunked down in San Francisco.
Everywhere you looked, people were dressed in the height of Victorian English style: top hats, waist coats, hoop skirts, canes, snoods, frock coats, boots, and (with a nod to the modern) cameras so they could photograph each other. I imagine they had cell phones too.
Performers sang carols, or, dressed as Marley, Scrooge, the ghost of Christmas Present, the whole crew, really, erupted into spontaneous scenes from the Christmas Carol at various places in the village.
And the food was great. Especially the Cookies!
The entertainment was non-stop. Traditional music at various venues, loads of dancing, Gilbert and Sullivan musicals, all under one roof and all included in the price of admission.
There were some really interesting craft booths scattered throughout the Faire; with goods including ceramics, period clothing, art glass, paintings, wood crafts, woven shawls and scarves, jewelry and Christmas decorations in abundance. We were able to purchase some really cool stuff and check a few folks off our holiday gift-buying list.
There were many parades of costumed folks to delight the kids; we saw Father Christmas, The Parade of Toys, and Queen Victoria with her soldiers and court.
Charming, charming, charming! We will definitely do this again next year.
For more information about living in the S.F. Bay Area, the local activities, and its ever-interesting Real Estate market, keep reading this blog; and if you're interested in buying or selling a home in the East Bay, Call Chris Neddersen at 510-527-0174 or click HERE to email.
With that thought, we overcame our enormous inertia, our reluctance to drive anywhere if it takes more than 30 minutes, and our aversion to holiday crowds and set off.
Annnnnd, we loved it! What enormous charm, energy, good spirits, and creative crafts crammed into what seemed like an entire English village plunked down in San Francisco.
Everywhere you looked, people were dressed in the height of Victorian English style: top hats, waist coats, hoop skirts, canes, snoods, frock coats, boots, and (with a nod to the modern) cameras so they could photograph each other. I imagine they had cell phones too.
Performers sang carols, or, dressed as Marley, Scrooge, the ghost of Christmas Present, the whole crew, really, erupted into spontaneous scenes from the Christmas Carol at various places in the village.
And the food was great. Especially the Cookies!
The entertainment was non-stop. Traditional music at various venues, loads of dancing, Gilbert and Sullivan musicals, all under one roof and all included in the price of admission.
There were some really interesting craft booths scattered throughout the Faire; with goods including ceramics, period clothing, art glass, paintings, wood crafts, woven shawls and scarves, jewelry and Christmas decorations in abundance. We were able to purchase some really cool stuff and check a few folks off our holiday gift-buying list.
There were many parades of costumed folks to delight the kids; we saw Father Christmas, The Parade of Toys, and Queen Victoria with her soldiers and court.
Charming, charming, charming! We will definitely do this again next year.
For more information about living in the S.F. Bay Area, the local activities, and its ever-interesting Real Estate market, keep reading this blog; and if you're interested in buying or selling a home in the East Bay, Call Chris Neddersen at 510-527-0174 or click HERE to email.
Posted by Chris Neddersen at 12/14/2009 3:13 PM 
Categories: San Francisco Sights
Tags: Cow Palace Dicken's Faire San Francisco Bay Area home Real Estate Christmas
Categories: San Francisco Sights
Tags: Cow Palace Dicken's Faire San Francisco Bay Area home Real Estate Christmas
I'm so glad you went and allowed constant reader the pleasure of imagining the event. I used to love The Renaissance Faire up near Novato, the last time I had the pleasure of seeing Queen Elizabeth (Henry's daughter). I miss that faire. Somehow the move to Vacaville wasn't quite the same. Be sure to go to the SF Harvest Faire next Fall.
Reply to this
Pleased you shared in our enjoyment. . .nothing like a great big area all full of folks dressed and inclined for good spirits! I wish the Pleasure Faire would come back closer, too, and will be watching for the Harvest Faire.
Reply to this