Travel: It’s Christmas, Sir! A Florida Dickens Holiday on Amelia Island
Leave your Scrooges at home and Bob Cratchit your way through this Victorian experience.
Take a trip back in time to a Dickens’ themed holiday experience like no other in downtown Amelia Island. Photo courtesy of Amelia Island CVB
Take a step back in time this holiday season when you visit the Dickens on Centre, a multi-day, free festival December 7-10, 2023 held along Centre Street in historic Amelia Island. Located in Northeast Florida, the area prides itself on sharing its rich history with visitors during the festive holiday season.
Dickens on Centre – A Victorian Holiday Celebration
In its ninth year, Dickens on Centre allows visitors to experience the holiday season in Victorian times dating back to the1840s.
From the costumed residents roaming the historic district, depicting Victorian-period times telling stories and sharing conversations with festivalgoers, to holiday movies shown throughout the weekend and even small details like the sounds of trolley cars and townsfolk coming in through hidden speakers, Dickens on Centre is a magical way to enjoy the holiday festivities.
Performances from the Amelia Community Theatre and the Amelia Island Opera take place throughout the weekend and the lively Victorian-era Carolers stroll the streets singing classic songs to celebrate the season.
The Tiny Tim’s Kid Zone features festive activities like the opportunity to write a
letter to St. Nick, visits with St. Nick himself inside his workshop or create your own holiday cards at the arts/crafts stations. Kristen Sparrow Circus’ stilt walkers, jugglers and acrobats perform throughout the weekend and can also be found roaming the festival.
Shop and Stroll in Amelia Island
The festival’s Enchanted Village is home to local vendors selling holiday gifts and trinkets for the season. Shop from local artists and makers for a unique, holiday gift or pick up a handcrafted souvenir as a reminder of your trip to Amelia Island. For a bite to eat, dine al fresco at one of the historic district’s restaurants or enjoy a meal from one of the area’s local food trucks on Oliver’s Alley, also known as South 3rd Street.
In addition to the specialty vendors, many of the boutique shops along Centre Street have later operating hours for visitors. Don’t miss visiting The Book Loft, home to a variety of special books including a vast Florida section, pirate history, a vibrant children’s area and plenty of holiday favorites, including A Christmas Carol. At the nearby Olive Amelia shop, pick up a culinary gift for your favorite at-home chef with high-end olive oils, vinegars and kitchenware.
Don’t miss a visit to Villa Villekulla, Amelia Island’s neighborhood toy store, filled with joy and wonder for the holiday season. This family-owned, independent shop features educational, old-fashioned toys for babies to teens. With play encouraged inside the store, little ones can find items to add to their Christmas wish list.
Another family-favorite spot is Fantastic Fudge in the heart of the historic district. Enjoy marble slab fudge, hot chocolate, ice cream, hot coffee and holiday themed treats. Pick up a few boxes of assorted chocolates or pecan pralines to give as holiday gifts or stock up on chocolate fudge for a tasty snack.
Alice in a Christmas Wonderland. Photo courtesy of Amelia Island CVB
Special Offerings for Dickens on Centre
Jason Woods Productions returns to this year’s festival to perform his one-man A Christmas Carol on the Main Stage along with performances of The Legend of St. Nick and Alice in a Christmas Wonderland and the popular, family favorite, The Little Toy Shoppe.
When night falls, bring your lanterns for a leisurely stroll as part of the Dickens Illuminated Procession. Visitors and community members come together to make their way through the historic district to the waterfront to witness a memorable drone light show finale that fills the skies with lights.
Other special offerings during the festival include dining inside a decorated snow globe with charcuterie boards and themed, shared plates. Reservations sold out quickly in 2022, so plan ahead! The late-night, 21 and up crowd can experience ‘Dickens After Dark’ featuring festive food, an open bar, live music and a spooky ghost tour after the day’s festivities have ended.
Dickens Enchanted Village provides a private experience of what it would be like to be inside a life-sized snow globe. Photo courtesy of Amelia Island CVB
Where to Stay
Spend the night at the Amelia Schoolhouse, a trendy boutique located just a few blocks from the Dickens on Centre events. Built in 1886 as the first schoolhouse in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, the property received a complete overhaul in 2017 turning it into a seventeen-room boutique hotel preserving the windows, wood flooring and brick of the original structure.
If you’d rather have the holiday festivities right outside your hotel, book your stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites Amelia Island-Historic Harbor Front. Here, you’ll be just steps away from Dickens on Centre, perfect for celebrating the season.
For those interested in celebrating the holidays along the oceanfront, complete your visit with a stay at the Omni Amelia Island Resort with 402 rooms overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and a short drive from the historic district.
At the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, enjoy coastal luxury with oceanfront views. Six miles from the historic district, the resort’s 40-foot tall Christmas tree is a sight not to be missed.
To take advantage of Amelia Island’s special offers and packages surrounding Dickens on Centre events, visit ameliaisland.com/dickens
