ROCHESTER DICKENS FESTIVAL |
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News and
7/6/2010
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FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTSwe are gradually building up this page to showcase regular highlights of the festivals. If you would like make our lives easier by submitting an item, or correct any errors, please contact us
The Dickens Competitions
The competitions are very informal, very friendly, and great fun. The format doesn't change much from year to year, but if you want a chance of winning the most important preparation is to get hold of a Festival programme from the Medway Council website, or from the Rochester Tourist Information Office, and read the schedule and the rules. You just have to turn up on the day, and you can expect a friendly welcome. Of course, if you are hoping to win, some competitions are easier than others! The best preparation is to watch the competition in action - if you can't wait a year the best alternative is a 'Youtube' video which includes your intended competition, such as this one, which features the Victorian Lady's Homemade Costume, or this one, which includes the 'Best Ladies Ball Gown' competition, and the Best Dickensian family.
A contender for the gurning competition attracts the admiration of the next three contestants!
One of these could be yours! The Story of the Seven poor TravellersThe Story of the Seven Poor travellers is enacted each morning of the Dickensian Christmas Festival. It celebrates the Dickens short story 'The Seven Poor Travellers', which was based on an actual visit by Dickens to Rochester, in which he A small parade starts at the Victoria and Bull Hotel (The Bull') and proceeds to the Six Poor Travellers House. The large crowds are partly explained by the fact that after a short reading real Christmas food is distributed 'to the poor'. Dickens' text is available on the internet from Project Gutenberg.
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One of the highlights of the Summer Dickens Festival is watching the competitions in the Castle Gardens, but even better is entering them!
visited the Six Poor Travellers' House on Christmas Eve, and felt compelled to do something to cheer up the life of the inmates.