Dickens on the Boulevard

Claremore Main Street Association is set to host its popular holiday event November 22 and 23.

Locals and visitors alike put on their best Victorian-era ­costumes and head downtown for the annual Christmas event.

Dickens on the Boulevard is a Victorian-themed Christmas festival in historic downtown Claremore. Visitors to the holiday celebration enjoy live stage entertainment, ­authentic chuck wagon meals, pictures with Santa, a living nativity and much more. This year’s event will be held Friday, November 22, and Saturday, November 23, from 6 to 10 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

    Attendees can also catch a wagon ride for a tour of the Claremore History Museum. A Victorian street dance, called by Phil Sample and including the Grand March, Venetian Waltz, Virginia Reel and others, will be held both nights of the event. Additionally, Territorial Marshals will entertain crowds with a reenactment of Western-themed action. Afterwards, attendees can join them for a friendly game of cards.  

    “New this year we will also have Old Time Photography by CVA,” said Cindy Bissett, director, Claremore Main Street. “CVA is downtown Claremore’s newest ­photography studio, and they will offer Victorian ­backgrounds for family ­photos at very affordable prices.”

    Living window displays will pepper the downtown area, while period craftsmen such as a blacksmith and wood turners answer ­questions from the crowd as they perform their craft and sell their wares.

    “We encourage those who attend to wear ­Victorian-era costumes as well,” said Bissett. “A lot of our ­volunteers will be dressed up and it really adds to the fun feel of the event. There will also be a contest each night with great prizes awarded to those with the best costumes.”

    Several Oklahoma authors will also be on ­location for a book signing. Some of those authors include Bill Wetterman and Charles Sasser, Pamela Wetterman and Linda Trout, Tammy Mullins, Carla Stewart, Mary Coley, Lorraine Holman and Amy Conkling.  

    Another favorite of the event, Dickens on the Boulevard will again feature the annual “Tales from the Top.” These tours of the upper floors of some of Claremore’s historic ­downtown buildings will ­feature costumed actors ­portraying animated versions of the city’s history. The tours are $5 a person and can be booked in advance. Space for the tours is limited to 60 ­people per night.     

    “Dickens on the Boulevard has become a ­tradition in downtown through the hard work of the great business owners, ­volunteers and the Main Street program,” said Bissett. “This is just another way for us to celebrate Claremore’s rich tradition and enjoy our present in the heart of the city.”

    In addition to the ­entertainment Dickens on the Boulevard provides, it also the kickoff to the holiday shopping season. For this two-night event, the ­wonderful specialty shops that line the downtown strip stay open until 8 p.m. This allows shoppers who may not be able to make it during  regular business hours a chance to shop locally for some very unique items. Shoppers can register for a nightly drawing of $400 Dickens Dollars to be given away before the dance. This prize can be used in any ­participating downtown store until December 31, 2013.

For more information, contact

Claremore Main Street

www.downtownclaremore.org