The Victorian Christmas Festival, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

Charles Dickens was known for creating unique and colourful character names.
Find out what your Dickensian name would be using the day and the month you were born!
Tickets for The Dickens Christmas Festival, Portsmouth Victorian Dockyard are available now at early-bird prices, visit christmasfestival.co.uk.
... Psssst, Charles Dickens would have been Bumble Trotwood!
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You'll meet the fearsome Miss Havisham at the The Dickens Christmas Festival, Portsmouth Victorian Dockyard - but in which famous Dickens novel does she appear?
If you know the answer, let us know before midnight on 18 October and you could be in with a chance of taking home your very own Havisham figure!
Buy your tickets to the The Dickens Christmas Festival, Portsmouth Victorian Dockyard today - early bird prices available until 31 October! https://bit.ly/2xNgkyp

It's September, Christmas fans! Time to start thinking about starting your festive memories 🎄🎅🥂
Join us on the 30 November - 2 December for festive fun at The Dickens Christmas Festival, Portsmouth Victorian Dockyard
Visit christmasfestival.co.uk today to find out more and buy your tickets - early-bird prices only until 31 October!

It may be sweltering outside, but we're only thinking of snow.... globes!
Meet our Living Snow Globe at the The Dickens Christmas Festival, Portsmouth Victorian Dockyard.
Can you try and get a picture with her? Try and make her smile - it won't be easy!
... Tickets are available now at early-bird prices.
Book today at christmasfestival.co.uk!
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Keep your eyes peeled over the coming weeks as we give away these adorable little Dickens figures!
Meet Oliver Twist, Miss Havisham, Charles Dickens, Scrooge, David Copperfield and Nell Trent and the The Dickens Christmas Festival, Portsmouth Victorian Dockyard
Tickets avaialble at early-bird prices.
... Book today at christmasfestival.co.uk!
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We're bringing five Charles Dickens novels to life at this year's festival, including The Old Curiosity Shop.
So, we searched high and low for curiosities and marvels to tickle your fancy. And what did we find? The most beautiful Living Snow Globe!
Meet our Snow Globe and visit the Old Curiosity shop only at the The Dickens Christmas Festival, Portsmouth Victorian Dockyard from the 30 November - 2 December 2018.
... Tickets are available at early-bird prices! Buy yours today at christmasfestival.co.uk
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Did you know that Charles Dickens was a fan of gin? In fact, he was delighted to try the newfangled Gin-Sling on a trip to America in the 1840s.
Well, luckily for Mr. Dickens, we're bringing you a brand new Gin & Prosecco Parlour at this year's festival!
Buy your tickets today at early-bird prices: https://bit.ly/2xNgkyp
... To get yourself in the spirit of the event, make a Gin-Sling at home that Charles Dickens would be proud of!
Ingredients:
2 ounces gin 1/2 ounce Cointreau 1/2 ounce lemon juice 4 ounces club soda Lemon wedge
Directions: Shake the gin, Cointreau and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain the contents of the shaker into an ice-filled highball or Collins glass. Squeeze the lemon wedge over the drink and drop it in. Add the club soda to combine, and serve.
Please drink responsibly.
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How much do you know about Charles Dickens?
Take our quiz today and find out if you're a history buff or a Dickens dud. Let us know your score in the comments!
Book your tickets today the the Dickens Christmas Festival to meet Dickensian characters walking snowy streets, shop Christmas markets, or relax and unwind in our brand new gin & prosecco parlour! https://bit.ly/2xNgkyp

We're so excited to announce that we're adding in a dash of gin to our festival this year with the BRAND NEW Gin & Prosecco Parlour.
To celebrate this, plus the tenth year of World Gin Day, we're giving away a limited edition bottle of oak-aged HMS Victory Gin worth £395! Only 251 of these were ever made, so don't miss the chance to own a taste of history.
Want to win? All you have to do is buy your tickets for The Dickens Christmas Festival, Portsmouth Victorian Dockyard bef...ore midnight on Saturday 9 June. You'll be put into a draw and the winner will be chosen at random.
Book your tickets today at early-bird prices: https://bit.ly/2xNgkyp
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Treat yourself this payday with tickets to our Festival of Christmas.
We’re bringing you new markets, new performers and a brand new Prosecco Parlour!
Book your tickets today at early-bird prices https://goo.gl/YmY8wk

Did you know that the Festival of Christmas is 19 years old?
That's the same age as The Green Mile, The Matrix and Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace!
This year, we've got BRAND NEW attractions and festive delights; new markets, new performers, new characters and a new Prosecco Parlour!
... Book your tickets today to get early-bird prices: https://goo.gl/YmY8wk
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Ahoy Christmas fans! It’s never too early to get into the festive spirit.
For our 2018 Festival of Christmas, we’re celebrating the works of Portsmouth’s own Charles Dickens!
Meet characters from Mr. Dickens’ most famous novels; Oliver Twist, The Old Curiosity Shop, Great Expectations, David Copperfield and (of course) A Christmas Carol as we transform the dockyard into Victorian Portsmouth.
... Try and cheer up the grumpy Scrooge, come face-to-face with the fearsome Miss Havisham, meet loveable pickpocket Fagin, all while enjoying access to our 11 incredible attractions.
We’re bringing you brand new features for 2018, including new markets, new performers, and a brand new prosecco parlour.
Plus all your old favourites, and a Fagin’s Tavern that’s bigger and better than ever before!
Make sure you get your tickets today at early-bird prices! https://goo.gl/nyUA6z
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Attention Christmas fans!
Applications for Festival of Christmas stallholder pitches are now open!
Want to apply or know someone who would? Visit historicdockyard.co.uk/traders

Spirit of Christmas past is a big hit for visitors to festival. Appearing in The News, Portsmouth yesterday.
Buy tickets for 2018 Festival of Christmas here: https://tickets.historicdockyard.co.uk/†¦/sh…/ViewItems.aspx…

The Carousel Bagpipers!

What a fantastic couple of days it's been at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard Victorian Festival of Christmas! If you've loved it and can't wait to come again next year you can already buy tickets for the 2018 Festival of Christmas here (at this year's prices!): https://tickets.historicdockyard.co.uk/†¦/sh…/ViewItems.aspx…

We're very pleased to announce the winner of our colouring competition. Evie, aged 3, who LOVED meeting Father Christmas yesterday and receiving her present!
Many thanks to all of you who entered - it was fantastic seeing all of your #NutcrackersInColour.

Went to this year's Victorian Christmas market located in Portsmouth historic docklands . I have to say I preferred it to winter wonderland in Hyde Park. I loved all the snow and all the extras you got with the entry fee like the Mary Rose museum. Fab day out , will be back .

We love this event every year. There's always something to see. The angels are awesome. Definitely our favourites. But all of your characters are great and they make it a really lovely start to the run up to Christmas.

We have visited for the last six years but this year Portsmouth city have decided to put a height barrier on park n ride � so all campers now wandering around city looking to park.

Thank you to the chap at no 81 behind gun wharf keys for letting us use his residential space for the day, there are some nice folk out there �

Thoroughly enjoyed our day out on Sunday. It was the first time we took our 20 months along and he loved it. Yes you paid £1.50 for rides but these were run by outside companies like the food and market stalls. We didn't go to the museums as Jack is a bit young but think the overall VFM element was very good. Could have done with more Christmassy stalls and more indoor areas to keep warmer.

Great day and will def be back.

If you want to spend very little cash see an array of amazing sights including Mary Rose, HMS Victory & Warrior. Plus several other attractions all gathered in one area and on top of that be entertained with a Victorian Xmas theme with stalls and cabarets and walk around characters you could do no wrong in going to the Historic Dockyard and indulging yourselves in this wonderful event!

Plenty of hot chocolate, mulled wine and cider to keep the winter chill off� well done to the event organisers, thank you to the hanky seller who offered me her second hand hanky for a penny� and well done all the entertainers out there braving the cold to keep us all amused! Tickets already booked for next year � X

I went yesterday with my little boy and my mum for the 2nd time and some of my aunts and uncles came too for the first time it's a magical experience just like last yr. My 3 yr old especially loved the snow as he hadn't seen any before, there is plenty for all ages to see and do everything is so well put together and so much thought has gone into everything would recommend to everyone to go

I go every year and can hardly wait for the 2017 Vikky Fest! There is always a wonderful atmosphere which is made from the snow filled streets, the people in Victorian and Steampunk costume, the great food and drink and the huge selection of Christmas stalls to browse, accompanied by marching pipe bands and the waft in the air of toasting chestnuts, hot sweet almonds, mulled cider and wine and the wonderful spectacle that is HMS Victory, Mary Rose, Warrior and more. A fantastic venue, a great way to prepare for Christmas. You won't be disappointed! There's a beer tent providing entertainment daily (mustn't forget that)! and a grand gallopers merry-go-round that is not to be missed. Keep your eyes peeled for Scrooge and the fabulous Angels (my favourites)!

I didn't know what to expect so was very pleased to find what a great variety of things to do for young and old. The market was very atmospheric and seasonal, the Mary Rose educational the food stalls great, the boat house interesting, HMS Warrior unbelievable and all the costumed enacters entertaining. I will be back next year but for two days as l want to see everything next time.

Great atmosphere, so much to see and do. This was my first visit and will definitely come again. A lovely selection of stalls and can highly recommend the carousel and don't miss the boat ride which is included in the entrance fee. The only thing which would have made my day would've been to meet the penguins, we were there all day and didn't hear about them over the tannoy or see them at all. In terms of entertainment there was plenty going on, watch your bag if Fagin's about �, carol singers and much more x

As a first time visitor to this event I thought was extremely good value for money. The snow was a good touch as were the wondering characters all of which were happy to have photos taken. Plenty of stalls selling various gifts and whilst some were pricey, it was no more expensive than what you would find at any such event. Compare that however to the fact that you had free access to all of the attractions within the dockyard all in all great value.

We have been going for some years now and I have to say I prefered it back then .the stalls were in the big white building as u entered on the left more of them much more christmassy. Not so over priced as they are now.also very disappointed with the food on offer from the inside cafe to the burger van both not very nice .like fagen beer tent but again u used to have dancers in there doing cancan. Having said all that the actors and costumes were lovely and I will be returning next year .

I really enjoyed it again this year. I went today, but can I suggest that you put the end off day parades back on. This is such a shame seeing everyone waiting to see it happen, only to be told they weren't doing it this year. It's a nice way for everyone to applaude all the entertainers for the fantastic show they, have put on all day long. Not impressed with that, such a shame. Love Helen

2nd year going and my son loved it. The Father Christmas was brilliant (the best I've ever seen), the characters were brilliant, my son loved Claude the lion, the rides! queuing for santa had a lot of empty buggies in the que which took up a lot of room, maybe a buggy park separate? Food/drink prices were a bit high but that obviously can't be helped.

The acts, staff and exhibits were the saving grace of this event. Lots to see and do. The staff were informative and efficient.

The actors were lovely and everywhere which was great.

The snow was amazing and obviously the setting was fab!



The stalls however left a lot to be desired. Food was all fun fair stuff, nothing artisanal or Victorian in style or manor and most stalls were rubbish or alcohol. Very few Christmas stalls at all.



My main reason for wanting to leave this review however is to bring up the fact that at least three stalls selling hats and gloves were selling REAL FUR! I mean really??? Proudly advertising it. I would have thought this would be something that most people these days would find abhorrent?



I’d love to see more emphasis on ethic and artisanal stalls next year and also more for the veggies than one stall ;)

Not the same as it used to be! No French/Farmers market, not as many stalls as previous years. Even the entertainment seemed less. We’ve been about 8-10 times in the past, and this year was disappointing. Kids upset they didn’t see the snow lion as we went on the Saturday.

From a bit of a different angle for us as we were there exhibiting with our steam engine and living van..

We felt as though we were a bit out the way as there was nothing around us that suggested Christmas!! No stalls, no Christmas trees or lights and also no entertainers were near us, we felt as though we were a bit out of all the fun. We did have an ok time but it would be nice if we were nearer the gallopers maybe next time so we feel a bit more included.

We've been wanting to go to this event for years and were able to visit for the first time this year. We were both really disappointed and it's not worth the money. The best part for us was seeing real reindeers and the fake snow was a good touch. The stalls were nearly all food and drinks and were overpriced. We won't go back again.

Today I paid £35 to watch Mr Alexander. He's good but not worth that. That was the only entertainment offered as part of the ticket price outside of the tavern which We don't go in as there with kids. We have been to the festival most years for about a decade now and noticed a decline every year. Even many usual stall holders seemed to be missing and it seemed very quiet visitor wise. Perhaps most visitors from last year were not as daft as us to pay again.

Very disappointed with my visit today after buying 2 tickets and only really bought them to see Claude the lion as you had pushed om your Facebook page. I went to customer services after 4 hours to be told that he is only here in Friday and Sunday. Blatant miss-selling as I went last year and ONLY bothered this year in the freezing cold as you advertised something new!