Dickens Village Festival

View on map
Nature & SeasonGarrison
DatesDates TBA · Usually NovemberCheck locally before booking
DurationAutumnEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forSeasonal rites, water traditionsCommitting an entire small town, with a
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryNature & SeasonFestival type
The story

Dickens Village Festival in Garrison

Garrison's Dickens Village Festival transforms the small North Dakota town of about 1,500 people into a Victorian-era Christmas setting inspired by Charles Dickens. Beginning in 2026, the festival expands to two weekends, November 27 to 28 and December 4 to 5, with horse-drawn carriage rides, a lighted nightly parade, a craft show, and visits with Santa.

Garrison, North Dakota, a small town of roughly 1,500 residents on the shores of Lake Sakakawea, has built one of the state's most distinctive holiday traditions by fully committing, as a community, to recreating a Victorian-era Christmas inspired by the world of Charles Dickens.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Committing an entire small town, with a year-round population of roughly 1,500 people, to a full Victorian-era Dickens theming for multiple festival weekends is a genuinely ambitious undertaking for a community this size, requiring widespread local participation in costuming, decoration, and programming that larger cities rarely attempt at this level of thematic consistency

02

The mystery stays covered

The expansion to two separate weekends beginning in 2026 signals real growth in the festival's regional draw, which already pulls visitors from eastern Montana and southern Canada in addition to communities across North Dakota

03

The city starts moving

Specific set-piece traditions, including a fruitcake toss and a Fezziwig's feast drawn directly from Dickens' own writing, give the festival a level of literary specificity uncommon among generic small-town Christmas events

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The nightly lighted parade

Water and renewal

Living ritual

the fruitcake toss

The sacred route

Living ritual

and the Fezziwig's feast

The local code

Living ritual

all drawn directly from the Victorian Christmas world of Charles Dickens' writing

Tradition 5

Living ritual

are the festival's signature traditions

Tradition 6

Living ritual

alongside horse-drawn carriage rides and milk-and-cookies visits with Santa that anchor the event's family-friendly appeal

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually November

Getting around

Base the route around Garrison; confirm local transport, road controls or venue access close to the day.

What to wear

Warm winter clothing is essential given late-November and early-December temperatures in North Dakota: insulated coats, hats, gloves, and warm boots. Many attendees and vendors dress in...

Safety

Keep distance from unsafe water edges and follow local crowd or weather warnings.

Where to stay

Stay near Garrison or a practical transport base if you want a simpler arrival and return.

Tickets/cost

Public water rituals are often open, but boat, viewing, or activity access may be paid.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map40.75 N, 74.16 WOpen in Google Maps

Garrison, ND

TransportBase the route around Garrison; confirm local transport, road controls or venue access close to the day.
Stay areaStay near Garrison or a practical transport base if you want a simpler arrival and return.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Garrison via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Garrison, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for November.Compare faresFestival gearWarm winter clothing is essential given late-November and early-December temperatures in North Dakota: insulated coats, hats, gloves, and warm boots. Many attendees and vendors dress in Victorian-era costume as part of the festival's theming, though this is not required of visitors.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Dickens Village Festival?

Dickens Village Festival is listed for November · Autumn. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Dickens Village Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Garrison, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Autumn is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Garrison, ND

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLdickensfestival.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually November
Source statusOfficial source linked
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