Medford Township hosted its annual Dickens festival on Dec 4 to ring in the holiday season with ice sculptures, Victorian era touches, a visit from Santa and other activities and attractions.
The long-standing tradition celebrated all things Christmas. It took place through Allen Avenue and Main Street and was extended for the first time this year to the FeedMill through Firehouse Lane to include new shops.
Council members were on hand at the event, organized and co-hosted by the Medford Business Association and Main Street Merchants. Sponsors included Zallies ShopRite, also the presenting sponsor in 2019, as well as TD Bank, YMCA of the Pines and the Medford Arts Center.
The Dickens kicked off with a parade that saw Santa welcomed by fire trucks and performances by the Voorhees Ballet Theaters Sugar Plum Fairies. Christmas characters such as elves and toy soldiers were on hand, and once Santa arrived, he remained at the gazebo downtown to hear children’s holiday wishes.
A live Nativity scene was sponsored by Medford United Methodist Church, and there were activities such as wreath making at the arts center, horse drawn carriage and pony rides. There was also a costume contest sponsored by Cattell’s Sew Vac & Sewing Academy for guests to display their best Victorian-era hat, 80 percent of which had to be homemade.
Alongside the holiday attractions were vendors that included artists, food trucks and local nonprofits such as Boy Scout Troop 2026. The South Jersey Pops Orchestra sponsored ornament-making and Woodford Cedar Run held an animal meet and greet.
Abbie Galie, founder of the tourism initiative Destination Medford and an artist of Lower Forge Brewery, explained that nonprofit vendors could set up without cost as long as they provided some sort of creative theme or activity. Volunteers also helped prepare for the festival, including National Honor Society members from both Shawnee and Cherokee high schools.
Galie noted that the event attracted nearly 4,000 people to the downtown area for a memorable time.
“I don’t think there’s anything else like it in the surrounding area, that is just so cheerful and wholesome, really,” she said
