Photos by Tim McBride
Town Crier Phil Waber will greet visitors and ring his bell at the Victorian marketplace during Wellsboro’s Dickens of a Christmas celebration.

 Hamilton-Gibson Productions will present A Dickens of a Concert Friday night at 7:30 p.m. and six performances of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” at the Deane Center’s two theaters on Saturday and one performance on Sunday.

Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6 and 7 craft vendors will be  indoors at the United Methodist Church, the Tioga County Active Living Center and the West End Artisan Shop, which is headquarters for the first Dickens Scavenger Hunt. 

The Tioga County Active Living Center will have Halushki with noodles and cabbage; soups; hot dogs, Texas hots and beverages both days. A homemade breakfast casserole will be available Saturday morning beginning at 8 a.m. 

On Saturday, the business section of Wellsboro’s Main Street and two side streets will be closed to motorized vehicles and magically transformed into an outdoor Victorian marketplace with artisans offering delightful wares for holiday gift giving or to keep and food vendors with delectable fare to eat or to give as gifts. 

Promptly at 9 a.m., the town crier will greet everyone with the ringing of his bell signifying the marketplace is officially open.

The Wellsboro Fire Department is holding its Indoor/Outdoor Dickens Craft Show at the Wellsboro Firemen’s Annex at 21 East Avenue on Saturday only. In the Annex will be soups, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, desserts and beverages.  

Local churches will host a variety of indoor events on Saturday. Among them are  a model train display, a cookie sale, lunch, thrift shop, tours and a Choral Evensong Service at St. P aul’s Episcopal Church; two Christmas sing-a-longs at the First Baptist Church; and in the spirit of helping others, an Alternative Giving Christmas Fair with refreshments and music at the First Presbyterian Church.
 
Dickens Best Dressed Showcase contest registration is from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday Dec. 7. At 1 p.m., judges will select the Best Dressed for Dickens 2024.
 
Everyone (in costume or not) is invited to participate in Saturday’s 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Victorian Strolls on Main Street.
 
Hamilton-Gibson’s Dickens Street Urchins and Dickens Players will be at the intersection of Crafton and Main streets to entertain people immediately following each stroll. Passersby are always encouraged to join in no matter what is being performed. Guests and locals will be greeted with warmth, music and good cheer.
 
 “It all adds up to a lot of good fun,” said Julie Henry, Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce executive director. “Seeing people enjoying themselves is really refreshing and in keeping with the holiday spirit. Having a good time is what our festival is all about.” 
 
At 5 p.m. Saturday night, the Candlelight Walk for Peace will begin at Packer Park on Queen Street and at 5:30 p.m. the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony on The Green with 2024 Pennsylvania State Laurel Queen Liliana Kilgore, of Lititz, PA, Santa Claus and a carol sing.
 
For more information or the schedule of events, contact the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce by calling 570-724-1926, emailing info@wellsboropa.com or visiting http://www.wellsboropa.com.