For more than 46 years, Galveston Historical Foundation has hosted Dickens on The Strand in downtown Galveston to experience the architecture, sights, and sounds of a Victorian holiday. This year finds the beloved annual event in a new configuration while addressing the ongoing impact of COVID-19.

Each square will feature entertainment, Dicken’s pubs, and food options with a specially designed holiday market on Pier 21 while adhering to local, state, and federal guidelines on public gatherings. Guests in Victorian attire will receive a limited-edition commemorative keepsake.

PLEASE NOTE:

As part of our city-approved COVID response plan, the following actions are required for participation at this event. Click here to read the full plan for additional information. Visitors who are unable to comply with the plan can be removed from the event grounds.

1. Good hygienic practices. All participants will remain extra vigilant in following acceptable hygienic practices as outlined by the CDC, including frequent, thorough handwashing and the use of hand sanitizers when handwashing stations are unavailable.
2. All participants must have a mask covering the nose and mouth at all times. N95 masks, or their equivalent, will be provided for each employee and volunteer for each day of their work.
3. Social distancing of 6ft or more of all employees, volunteers, vendors, performers, and visitors will be mandatory. The maximum occupancy of all squares is based on the museum occupancy load, which gives each individual a 6ft radius when factoring total capacity.
4. Do not participate in any in-person festivities if you or anyone in your household has been diagnosed or exposed to COVID-19, has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and has not met the criteria for when it is safe to be around others, has symptoms of COVID-19, is waiting for COVID-19 viral test results, may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, or is at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19
5. If you are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 or live or work with someone at increased risk of severe illness, you should avoid in-person gatherings with people who do not live in your household and avoid larger gatherings and consider attending activities that pose a lower risk (as described throughout this page) if you decide to attend an in-person gathering with people who do not live in your household.

In addition, GHF will remain in contact with city and community leaders and health officials. Should a spike in COVID-19 cases occur, public health emergency be issued, a natural disaster occur, or other factors that could impact the event’s safe production, GHF will respond accordingly with increased measures or event cancellation.

ABOUT GALVESTON HISTORICAL FOUNDATION

Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) was formed as the Galveston Historical Society in 1871 and merged with a new organization formed in 1954 as a non-profit entity devoted to historic preservation and history in Galveston County. Over the last sixty years, GHF has expanded its mission to encompass community redevelopment, historic preservation advocacy, maritime preservation, coastal resiliency and stewardship of historic properties. GHF embraces a broader vision of history and architecture that encompasses advancements in environmental and natural sciences and their intersection with historic buildings and coastal life and conceives of history as an engaging story of individual lives and experiences on Galveston Island from the 19th century to the present day.