The 2009 Riverside Dickens Festival will be February 6th, 7th, and 8th in historic downtown Riverside, California. The theme for 2009 is "A Nickel's Worth of Nickleby". Exciting activities and events for all ages are planned. Plays, street performers, food vendors, educational workshops, musical performances and exhibits are just a few of the events planned. Riverside Dickens Festival is funded in part by the City of Riverside and the Riverside Arts Foundation.

Our purpose is to enhance a sense of community among citizens of Riverside County and Southern California by creating a series of literary events and to provide educational, family-oriented, literary entertainment and activities such as plays, musical performances, pageants, living history presentations, workshops, lectures, classroom study, exhibits and a street bazaar with free entertainment, vendors and costumed characters.

Donations are welcome! In fact the organization is dependent on donations from large corporations and foundations, small businesses and individuals. Donations are tax-deductible under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c) (3) public benefit purposes. Please make checks payable to Riverside Dickens Festival and mail to:

P. O. Box 113,
Riverside, CA 92502-0113.

History of the Riverside Dickens Festival
Eleven original adaptations of Charles Dickens' works and related subjects have been produced by the Riverside Dickens Festival. International award-winning marionette artist, David Simpich has presented two Dickens plays, "Oliver Twist" and "Great Expectations". Original Dickens book adaptations written by local writers and directed by Inland Empire artists have been "Oliver Twist", "Great Expectations", "A Christmas Carol", "David Copperfield", "A Tale of Two Cities", "The Pickwick Papers" and "Angel In The Architecture" (a conversation between Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens). Other 19th century authors featured have been Hans Christian Anderson and Lewis Carroll.

Adult and student book discussions covering "A Tale of Two Cities", "Great Expectations", "Oliver Twist", "American Notes" and "David Copperfield" have been held.

Numerous cultural events have been added each year. They are as follows: "Queen Victoria and her Royal Court", Mr. Fezziwig's Victorian Ball, Victorian teas, costume fashion shows and contests, lectures, variety shows, Pub Night, Evensong concert, book discussion, movies and video theater, art and historical exhibits, mini-faire for children, street entertainment and art workshops.

The London Marketplace on the streets in front of Riverside's historic buildings is the location for the festival. Vendors and craft demonstrators sell their wares and costumed characters proudly promenade. 

 
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The Riverside Dickens Festival, Inc.All RightsReserved
The Riverside Dickens Festival, Inc. is a non-profit
California corporation and is federally tax exempt