Dickens On The Squares - December 5-6

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 COVI D-19.

Held December 5-6 from 10am to 6pm daily, Dickens on The Squares will offer guests ticketed access to specially crafted Dickens experiences while adhering to local, state, and federal guidelines on public gatherings. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for youth 6 to 18, and free for children five and under.

Galveston Historical Foundation members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets before the public sale date. Guests in Victorian attire will receive a limited-edition commemorative keepsake.

Event Over view and Covid Response To be clear, this is not a Dickens as usual. The annual festival traditionally welcomes over 35,000 guests to historic downtown Galveston Island and a mass gathering of that size is not in GHF’s plan.

This year’s event will take place in five separate locations (Hendley Green, Old Galveston Square, Saengerfest Park, Galveston Historic Seaport, and Pier 22) with each featuring a dedicated entrance and exit, strict capacity limits, mask requirements for entry and participation, sanitation stations throughout the grounds, social distancing reminders, and more from a city-approved COVI D response plan.

Ticketing blocks are available for a 10am to 2pm or 2pm to 6pm timeframes Saturday and Sunday, and tickets will only be available for purchase online. Guests will be required to wear masks upon entering and while in the squares, and access to the locations will be open in two blocks daily.

Visitors who are unable to comply with the plan can be removed from the event grounds. In addition, GHF will remain in contact with city and community leaders and health officials. Should a spike in COVI D-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.

Each square will feature entertainment, Dicken’s pubs, and food options with a specially designed holiday market on Pier 21. The market features numerous craft, food, and holiday vendors that guests seek out each year. Additionally, the 2020 event will feature a select number of specially ticketed private events at numerous GHF sites, all following similar safety protocols.

More information, including access to ticketing and event guidelines, is available at www.dickensonthesquares.com.

FACE COVERINGS REQUIRED IN GALVESTON BUSINESSES

In response to the ongoing fight against Covid-19, the City of Galveston is now requiring all customers of public-serving Galveston businesses to wear masks. This order is in effect thru September 30, 2020. The order requires commercial entities that provide goods or services directly to the public to establish a health and safety policy requiring face coverings for customers aged ten or older. The face coverings should fully cover your nose and mouth. The order does not apply to nonprofits and other noncommercial operations that serve the public.

ISLAND ETC BRINGS SEASONAL SILLINESS TO THE STAGE WITH BOTH LIVE & STREAMED PERFORMANCES

Island ETC (East-End Theatre Company) proudly presents “The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical” November 13 – December 12, 2020. Betsy Kelso created the book for his companion piece (not sequel) to “The Great American Trailer Park Musical.” Providing the music and lyrics is David Nehls.

If you are a return visitor to Armadillo Acres, you will find the holidays in the park to be totally hysterical and full of heart. Enjoy the silliness as Betty, Lin, and Pickles take advantage of a case of amnesia and jingle their way through the holidays.

In preparation for the performance, the theatre is frequently deep cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized. Only a select number of tickets will be sold for each live performance during which masks and social distancing will be required.

ETC will also record the performances live. Tickets will be sold that direct purchasers to a link where the performances will be broadcast.

Performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings at 8:00pm (no performance on Saturday, November 21 or Thanksgiving Thursday, November 26). There will also be a 2:30pm matinee on Sunday, November 22.

All performances for this sidesplitting musical are at ETC, 2317 Mechanic in downtown Galveston. In-person tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for students and senior citizens. Streamed tickets are $30 each.

Visit www.IslandETC.org for more information and to purchase tickets. Due to excessive profanity and innuendo, ETC recommends this show for mature audiences