December 6 Ebenezer’s Soiree
Main Street Chestertown with special guest hosts, Her Majesty Queen Victoria & Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge,
invite you to
EBENEZER’S SOIREE
Thursday, December 6
6:30 until 9:00 pm
The Bank · 211 High Street
tickets $85. rsvp by Dec. 4
Suggested: Cocktail or festive 19th century attire
Top hats, fascinators or other accessories welcome!
December 7 Fiery FIRST FRIDAY Fun!
300 block of High Street
5 – 8 pm Shops and galleries open and welcome guests with light refreshments. The perfect time to start your holiday shopping!
5 – 8 pm Horse Drawn CARRIAGE RIDES
Corner of Cross & Cannon Sts.
Before the advent of motor cars, this was the way people got around. Plumed horses carry passengers through Chestertown’s wintry streets. 2-person Carriage, $5 person; 6-person Carriage, $2 person; 10-person Wagon, donations gratefully accepted
7:30 pm PYROXOTIC Fire Dancers Light the Night
300 Block of High St.
Back for a second year, alluring and jaw-droppingly talented, more ladies of Pyroxotic offer a sizzling show for First Friday fun! Fire eaters and dancing by the light of torches
6 pm & 7:30 pm STORIES & SONGS by the Fire
300 Block of High St.
Master storyteller, Jake Swane, weaves magical tales, Marcia Gilliam and friends fill the air with music
7 pm PHYDEAUX’S FLYING FLEA CIRCUS
300 Block of High St.
Tiny feats of derring – do! Trained fleas entertain with their buddy, George Esparza
8 – 9 pm The AMERICAN ROGUES
World-traveling Celtic band adds Chestertown to schedule.
Appearing Friday evening and 3 performances on Saturday
And more: Caroling, musical performers, fire pits,
roasted hot dogs and s’mores. Pull up a bale of straw and enjoy refreshments and food to warm the heart!
December 8 Splendid SATURDAY
8 am – Noon Holiday FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET
Fountain Park
Fragrant Christmas greens, crafts and fresh baked goods. Award-winning Chestertown tradition! Enjoy a hot drink by the Christmas tree!
10 am – 2 pm Holiday HOUSE TOUR
Pickup pre-purchased tickets and map at Welcome Center
211 High Street
Walking tour offers peek inside eight of Chestertown’s finest Victorian and historic homes decked out in holiday finery and featuring local musicians. Tickets $30. Pick up your tickets at Welcome Center or click on House Tour.
10 am – 2 pm HOLIDAY HIGH TEA SOLD OUT!
10 am – 3 pm
Peoples Sweet Shop & Gingerbread House Display
Peoples Bank • 100 Spring Avenue
The community bank transforms into a Victorian sweet shop with a display of handcrafted gingerbread houses by bank staff, family and friends.
Paint a Plate or Bowl
RiverArts Clay Studio • 204 High St.
Paint your own design or use one of ours! Items will be glazed, fired and ready in time for the Holidays. $25. Pre-register or drop in! 410 778 6300; chestertownriverarts.org (click on education)
10 am – 4 pm
Minstrel JERRY BROWN strolls the streets
Two performances:
11:45 am: Peoples Bank, 100 Spring Ave.
2:15 pm: Dickens Welcome Center, 211 High St.
CHILDREN’S GAMES
Games children played! Victorians are credited with ‘inventing childhood’ through
their efforts to stop child labor and introduce compulsory education. Let’s play!
JOHN HADFIELD, juggling and stilt-walking
Performances with REGGIE, the mind-reading dog
11 am & 1 pm Dickens Welcome Center • 211 High St.
BIG WHIMSY: very tall people with tiny feet!
11 am – noon BOOKTALK: The Victorian Influence on Pamela Coleman Smith
The BookPlate • 112 S. Cross Street
Washington College Professor Elizabeth O’Connor discusses Pamela Coleman Smith whose work was influenced by Victorian art and printing techniques. Charles Dickens became the impetus for her to give public recitals of her Jamaican folk tales.
11 am – 2 pm VISIT SANTA! and see the Fountain Park Christmas Tree
Fountain Park
Santa’s elves will take a picture!
11 am – 3 pm CARRIAGE RIDES • Corner of Cross & Cannon Sts.
Before the advent of motor cars, this was the way people got around. Plumed horses carry passengers through Chestertown’s wintry streets. 2-person Carriage, $5 person; 6-person Carriage, $2 person; 10-person Wagon, donations gratefully accepted
VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS MAGIC LANTERN SHOW
Performances:
11 am, 1 pm & 2:30 pm
Garfield Center for the Arts
210 High Street
Authentic 1890s visual extravaganza projected on a screen—the show that led to the cinema! Christmas stories; animated comedy; and carols—all dramatized on screen by a live showman and singer/pianist.
45 minutes.
11 am – 4 pm
Watch out for THE WHEELMEN: Antique bicycle club on penny-farthings and the Roving Hoop Dancer!
PHYDEAUX’S FLYING FLEA CIRCUS
Tiny feats of derring-do! Must be seen to be believed!
Strolling 11 am – 4 pm
Performances at noon and 2 pm • Dickens Welcome Center, 211 High St.
LIVE MUSIC FILLS THE AIR!
10 am, FESTIVAL OPENING
THE AMERICAN ROGUES, Main Stage • High Street at Lawyers Row
10:45 am Fredy Granillo , Cross Street Music Tent
11:15 Dovetail, Main Stage
Noon Tom Anthony, Cross Street
12:30 pm River Voices, Main Stage
1:15 pm Friends in Faith, Cross Street
1:45 pm Harp & Soul, Main Stage
2:30 pm Jigs & Reels, Cross Street
3:00 pm The American Rogues, Main Stage
TBD Janes Mass Choir
10 am – 4 pm, STROLLING PERFORMERS
Kent School Carolers
Tom McHugh’s Musical Menagerie
John Rutkowski
Professor Jim Porter & Alexander Uskruaitis of Lost Northern Tribe
BEERS & BONFIRES! 6 – 9 pm
Foot of High Street
A perfect end to a winter Saturday. Gather your friends at the foot of High Street and warm yourselves by the fire pits. Sample cold microbrews for $5 a glass and listen to acoustic music by
THE AMERICAN ROGUES, 7 – 8 pm
North America’s Celtic Band
Chester River Packet will be docked from 6 – 9 pm for snacks and other refreshments.
December 9 SUNDAY IS RUN DAY!
RUN LIKE THE DICKENS 5K Run & Walk!
Starts Sunday, December 9, at 8 am
Registration at 7 am at Chestertown Bank
DICKENS DASH kids run
Just before the 5K, children are encouraged to hotfoot it at The Dickens Dash. Kids 12 and under, Free