For a few years, the owner of an antique store in Antioch had been suggesting that a Dickens village for the holidays could be a great community art project.
Now in its third year, 44 locally made, life-sized Charles Dickens characters adorn the sidewalks of Antioch’s quaint downtown throughout the holidays.
As they stroll downtown Antioch, visitors can see Dickens’ Victorian-era characters such as the ghost of Christmas present, Oliver and a chimney sweep, among others brought to life in Dickens’ famous books, “A Christmas Carol,” and “Oliver.”
Each character exhibit contains a plaque that describes the scene and life during the Dickens era.
“We didn’t go to a Dickens store and buy these. They’re created from the ground up,” said Barbara Porch, executive director of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce, which leads the project. “We add new exhibits each year,” she said. New this year are a Dickens-era nanny and a Victorian-era dollhouse decorated in detail. All are outdoors and free to view.
On select Saturdays through Dec. 24, visitors can hear strolling musicians and carolers — and kids can look for Scrooge and try to get a few shiny pennies from him. The password is: “Bah humbug!”
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Porch said the best place to start is at the Dickens Holiday Village Welcome Center where visitors can find a brochure and map to find all the characters and learn about participating in a scavenger hunt.
“People can also learn about how this program is done,” Porch said. “They can see the character heads in different stages of processing and photos of volunteers working. They can also try on some capes and Dickens hats and take selfies. We also have a large Dickens holiday logo that replicates downtown Antioch.”
Porch said the Dickens project requires hundreds of volunteer hours. “We have artists who create the heads. We have women who are phenomenal seamstresses who made some of the apparel. We have teachers who write the story lines. We have gentlemen who are good at construction and help us build the platforms. We even have people who are Dickens dusters. They go around when it snows and dust off the characters,” she said.
The new Victorian dollhouse includes miniature towels for the kitchen that a volunteer made. “Two of our volunteers spent three days building an acrylic case to go over the dollhouse,” so it could be outside, she said.
Porch said groups can arrange for private tours even coupled with an English tea by calling the Antioch chamber office.
Coffee mugs and sweaters with the Dickens logo can be purchased. “We also have the Scrooge U logo on some of the sweaters and coffee mugs, because not everybody enjoys a warm, fuzzy Christmas,” she said. “Everybody knows somebody who fits in that category.”
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance writer.
Dickens Holiday Village
When: Though Dec. 25; special events Saturdays
Where: Dickens Village Welcome Center, 4001/2 Lake St., Antioch
Tickets: Free
Information: 847-395-2233; www.antiochchamber.org