James Bay’s Dickens Fair is one of the oldest winter fairs in Victoria. It’s been going strong since the 1970s and this year, it’s back and better than ever.

There’s a great selection of holiday gift items, food, and decorations for you to browse; lively entertainment; and a cafe offering savoury soup, steaming drinks, and tasty treats.  All local and living up to the James Bay Market credo of “Homemade, Handmade, Homegrown.”

We’ve added lots of new features: more vendors, new products, cards by James Bay Community School students, a gift-wrapping service, and loads of new family-friendly activities: face painting, crafts for kids, a flax-to-linen demonstration and more.

And, yes, yes, before you ask, the Chicken Lady is coming back. With her Three French Hens. (Well  maybe not three. And maybe not French. But we guarantee the hen part.)

So mark your calendar for December 1. The fair runs from 2-8 pm, perfect for a family outing in the afternoon, a quick stop after work, or a leisurely evening visit.

We’re at the James Bay Community School, 140 Oswego Street. The #31 bus stops right outside, there are bike racks, and the whole site is wheelchair and stroller accessible. And don’t forget! The lighted truck parade starts from nearby Ogden Point at 5:45, so you can combine that with the Dickens Fair for a completely festive Saturday!

Photo courtesy of Christine Tritz