The Great Dickens Christmas Fair was like entering a wonderland. Once you enter, you do not want to exit back to reality.
Everyone was dressed up in traditional Victorian clothing, Victorian folk songs were sung, and fish n chips were sold. It was as if time traveled to the past and you were living a moment in history.
“I’ve been going to the Dickens fair for as long as I can remember. I used to go when I was really young with my family. It’s kinda like a tradition,” said Riley Guajardo ’26.
This was exactly the memory Ron and Phyllis Patterson hoped to make when creating the fair. The couple previously opened a Renaissance themed fair in 1963, which gained recognition for its unique concept. Encouraged by this, the two decided on hosting a holiday party at their home which was located in Hollywood Hills.
They set the theme from the inspirations of the novels of Charles Dickens and the Victorian era.
After another applause from their guests, the Pattersons expanded their fair to San Francisco and opened a christmas fair originally called, “The Great Dickens Christmas Fair and Pickwick Comic Annual.” It opened for three weeks in December of 1970 at Anchor Works, until permanently settling at Cow Palace in 2000.
“The lively music, people dancing in old fashioned English dresses, vintage handicrafts, the atmosphere is truly amazing,”said Darla Hernandez, an annual visitor of the Dickens fair.
But as joyous as everything may seem to be, an uprising of unhappy cast and crew members regarding the issue of racism and sexual harassment have started a boycott recently.
“I love making old dresses. I love dancing. But I do not love them more than the safety and well being of myself and others who are marginalized,” said cast member LaToya Tooles during an interview.
She has decided to be part of the boycott and write letters addressing the issue to Red Barn Productions.
In response to the complaints received, Red Barn Productions hired HR consultants for diversity and inclusion amongst the workers and also released a “Red Flag Reporting System.” This system allows someone to anonymously report any unwanted activity.
With these new rules, people are hoping for changes to come as the days grow colder and the festivity in the air signals people that it is time for another trip to The Great Dickens Christmas Fair.
