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EBENSBURG, Pa. – The joy of the holiday season will be captured at the 18th annual “Dickens of a Christmas” with events in Ebensburg Borough.
The Victorian-style celebration based on Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” will begin Friday with special activities at the Cambria County Courthouse and continue through Sunday at various locations throughout the borough.
“It is truly something special to see our community come together to celebrate the spirit of Christmas,” said Danea Koss, Ebensburg’s community development director. “It’s also a great opportunity for people to see so much of what Ebensburg has to offer. We welcome them into town to see our Christmas displays and decorations and celebrate with us.”
County employees will decorate row offices in the “Vintage Christmas” theme, and visitors can enjoy cookies and caroling around the tree throughout the morning.
Crafting workshops will be held Friday at Follow Your Art and The Porch Peddler’s Workshop.
There will be a a light up night ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday in Kimball Park, followed by indoor ice skating at North Central Recreation Center.
New this year, St. Francis University will host a “Journey to Bethlehem” living nativity performed by members of the St. Francis community in the university’s Science Building in Loretto. Performances will be held at 7, 7:30, 8 and 8:30 p.m. Friday.
“We love to incorporate new things because the more that’s happening, the better chance you have of attracting more people to come and experience multiple events,” Koss said.
At 11 a.m. Saturday, the annual Christmas parade will step off.
Also on Saturday, four craft and vendor shows will be featured, along with a breakfast and photos with Santa Claus, workshops at The Porch Peddler’s Workshop and Follow Your Art, a Department 56 Dickens Village display in the Ebensburg Borough community room, a Victorian tea and gingerbread contest display at the Cambria County Historical Society, a live nativity and nativity lights festival, and horse and carriage rides.
Returning favorites include the Cresson Lake Playhouse Christmas Tree Toss and Santa Pub Crawl; a Dickens of a Fat Bike Day at Pour on Center; First United Church of Christ train display, craft fair and basket raffle; Christmas music at the courthouse with the Johns-town Symphony Orchestra’s Community Strings; and a visit with two of Santa’s reindeer at Penn Eben Park.
On Sunday, the Ebensburg Library will host live music by Serendipity and will be selling tickets for its holiday basket raffle.
A vintage tree cake decorating workshop also will be held on Sunday at The Porch Peddler’s Workshop.
Businesses and restaurants also are encouraged to decorate their storefronts and offer special Victorian menus.
Former Ebensburg Borough police Chief Terry Wyland will serve as grand marshal of this year’s event. He will flip the switch at the light-up night in Kimball Park and ride in the parade.
“This is our kickoff to the holiday season, and it’s an opportunity for all of our groups here to pull together and host a series of events throughout the weekend,” Koss said. “The community has really embraced this. It’s also a way to highlight some of the great shops and restaurants.”
Koss said those attending “Dickens of a Christmas” will experience a hometown Christmas event.
“We want people to have a fun time,” Koss said. “A lot of families come back every year and it’s a holiday tradition for them.”
A complete schedule of events can be found at www.ebensburgdickens.com.
For more information, call 814-472-8414.
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