photo by D. Groff

There’s nothing quite like strolling through a picturesque town on a crisp winter day, light snow falling, and shops decked out in their Christmas finery.

It might sound like I’m envisioning a scene from a Hallmark movie, but in the small town of Narberth, it’s a Dickensian experience—complete with Ebenezer Scrooge.

Narberth Dickens Festival. Photo by Sarah Lockard

That vision came to life in 2006 when a local business owner wanted visitors to experience the magic of the holidays in Narberth. The town hired local musicians to play on the street corner on Saturdays in December—a small start that eventually grew into the beloved Narberth Dickens Festival.

Thousands now attend the annual event, which will be held this year on Sunday, December 7 from noon to 4 p.m. Each December, the Montgomery County town transforms into 1840s London, complete with Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit, and other characters from Charles Dickens’ classic novel. Rick Nichols, a former food columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, portrayed Scrooge for many years before passing the role to Pat Daily, a past president of the Narberth Business Association and a key figure behind the festival’s success.

The 2025 festival promises a variety of entertainment, including the Men of Harmony, a Dickens-style caroling troupe, the Kingsessing Morris Men, stilt walkers, a Punch and Judy puppet show, and much more. Vendors will sell period-appropriate goods and street food, adding to the immersive experience.

Younger attendees are always a focus of the festival, with performances, crafts, and activities—like the Dickens-themed Scavenger Hunt—designed to ensure there’s something for every age. Local restaurants also embrace the Dickens spirit, offering seasonal specialties such as fish ‘n’ chips and shepherd’s pie.

Newsboy at the Narberth Dickens Festival. Photo by Avi Fox Photography

Each year newsboys (and girls) deliver the hot-off-the-presses, London Fish Wrapper to attendees at the event. The paper has all the information you need to know about the festival. Readers will also enjoy funny stories based on real events from the 1840s.

Not only does the festival have its own newspaper, the Dickens Festival has its own currency. Gold and bronze Narberth Shillings are worth $5 on festival day. Many vendors and town merchants will accept them as cash that day. Look for the currency exchange booths, to exhange cash for shillings and shillings for cash.

Thanks to the Narberth Business Association, the festival has become a beloved tradition. So, leave your bah-humbugs at home and step into a holiday experience straight out of 1840s London—right in southeastern Pennsylvania.

For more information visit

narberthonline.com/dickens-festival

photos courtesy of Narberth Business Association

Photo by D. Groff