Friday, Saturday and Sunday — this is your last chance to visit Heritage Christian Church’s authentic old English Victorian Village — a 10th annual presentation of Dickens Village, held nightly Dec. 9-11 from 6-9 p.m. The event opened last weekend and will conclude this Sunday. Dickens Village is free of charge.
According to Ken White, Dickens Village director, this year’s outdoor village is new and expanded, with an open marketplace like an old fashioned open market with fresh fish on ice, raw vegetables, nuts, fruit and hot apple cider. Also new this year is the livery stable with horses to pet and feed as well a horse drawn wagon bringing “coal miner kids” in and out of the village.
The village will also feature an old church chapel with pews and stained glass with a three stage nativity scene behind it.
This year’s indoor show is Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol,’ which features a cast of actors and singers following Ebenezer Scrooge on the journey to the three ghosts of Christmas, complete with a Dickens celebration choir. Also appearing at Dickens Village will be local school choirs from McIntosh High School, Peeples Elementary, the Heritage Christian children’s choir and others.
Guests to the village are treated to more than just a fun holiday evening. Families can have their photo taken in Dickens-style clothing and setting, children can make toys, candles, or ornaments, drink hot chocolate and cider, eat famous Georgia chestnuts/peanuts, cookies, and popcorn and much more while they get into the Christmas spirit. In the middle of this village square this year is a white light string tree which is almost 60 feet tall with a red cross on top.
Hundreds of Heritage members along with their families and friends take part in preparing and hosting Dickens Village. A lot of the work involved in staging the village encompasses the sets and props that create the unique Old English Victorian Village, complete with a variety of shops, props, and food stands.The staff, elders, and members of Heritage say they are sure that children and adults of all ages will thoroughly enjoy their time at Dickens Village, and hope that families will make Dickens a part of their Christmas tradition.
Heritage Christian is in south Fayetteville, at the corner of Redwine Road and Peachtree Parkway. For more information, visit www.heritagechristian.org and click the Dickens Village link or call the office, 770-716-5768.
