Aug 8, 2012

Byers’ Choice Commemorates Charles Dickens’ 200th Birthday With Author’s Great-Great Grandson And Dickens Festival

One of the greatest authors of all time is celebrating his 200th birthday this year and Byers’ Choice, makers of the handcrafted Caroler figurines, is throwing a weekend-long party in his honor. Charles Dickens, who has been celebrated worldwide throughout the year—including by British Royalty—will now be remembered in the Philadelphia area from September 14—16.

As the birthday party moves across the pond, the City of Brotherly Love—home to one of only two Dickens statues in the entire world—can celebrate with Byers’ Choice’s guest of honor, Gerald Dickens, great-great grandson of the writer and a one-man performer of his ancestors’ famous works.

With touches of Dickens’ legacy throughout the Byers’ Choice workshop, Gift Emporium and Christmas museum, the Chalfont, Pa. company headquarters will grow into an all-out Dickensian epicenter to make guests feel like they’ve taken a trip back to London in the 1800s.

For the first time ever, Byers’ Choice is also releasing all of the Carolers in its “A Christmas Carol” line, available throughout 2012 in honor of Charles. The 12-piece set includes unique Carolers, handmade to replicate Scrooge, Tiny Tim and even Marley’s Ghost. In addition, a Charles Dickens Caroler was also created to mark this important year. All of the figurines will be available to purchase at the Byers’ Choice Gift Emporium throughout the weekend.

“Charles Dickens has been an inspiration in so many of our Caroler designs, it’s only fitting we honor him this year with a full weekend dedicated to his 200th birthday,” said Joyce Byers, founder, designer and mom of Byers’ Choice. “It is always such a joy to have Gerald here at our Byers’ Choice workshop, and this special anniversary makes his visit even more monumental.”

The weekend of events will be backed with live performances, Dickens-themed activities, Byers’ Choice workshop tours and more, to ensure everyone will have ‘the best of times’.

· Doctor Marigold show and Gerald Dickens meet-and-greet (Friday, Sept. 14, 5:30 p.m.) – The festivities will begin on Friday, Sept. 14, at 5:30 p.m. with a performance of “Doctor Marigold” by Gerald Dickens. The inspiring story tells the firsthand account of a traveling salesman that adopts a young deaf girl as his only friend and companion, which was written by Charles Dickens in 1866. Cost: $45.

After the show, there will be a reception in the Byers’ Choice Christmas Gallery with Gerald. Guests are invited to enjoy coffee and desserts, as well as be part of the unveiling of a special Dickens-themed birthday cake. A birthday party isn’t complete without a delicious cake and who better to create a confectionary masterpiece than the nationally-known Carlo’s Bakery of TLC’s “The Cake Boss.”

· Mr. Dickens is Coming (Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 15 and 16, 10:30 a.m.) – The one-hour light-hearted and varied look at the life and character of Charles Dickens encompasses scenes from the great author’s work, diary and relationships. Cost: $15

· “A Victorian Christmas” by the Magic Lantern (Saturday, Sept. 16, 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.) – Enjoy a type of film that’s the forerunner to motion pictures, with a Magic Lantern show. “A Victorian Christmas” will be projected on a full-sized screen by this early type of image projector developed in the 17th century. Scrooge, Santa, animated comedy and carols will all be dramatized on the screen by a live showman and singer/pianist. Charles Dickens himself used to enjoy these same shows (http://www.magiclanternshows.com). Cost: $5

· “Sikes & Nancy” (Saturday, Sept. 15, 2:30 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 16, 1:30 p.m.) – Gerald Dickens will perform “Sikes & Nancy,” the story that is the most notorious reading from the classic “Oliver Twist,” depicting the horrific murder of Nancy by Bill Sikes. Cost $15

· Unlacing the Victorian Woman (Sunday, Sept. 16, noon and 3 p.m.) –Barbara Darlin will perform “Unlacing the Victorian Woman,” a living history lecture about the private life of fashionable Victorian women. The performance gives a personal and entertaining account of what life was like for women of the Victorian era. Darlin is a Victorian era enthusiast, as well as a seamstress who creates all of the costumes worn in her production. Cost: $8

Other events throughout the weekend include a Fezziwig Ball complete with all the fixings on Saturday, Punch and Judy puppet shows, fortunetellers, a meet-and-greet with Byers’ Choice founder Joyce Byers, as well as opportunities for guests to design their own Caroler figurine. In addition, Byers’ Choice has commissioned famed local artist, James Florentino, to paint a commemorative portrait of Charles Dickens, which will be unveiled during the Byers’ Choice Dickens Celebration.

Thousands are expected to attend the celebration and space is limited. For a full list of scheduled events or to purchase advanced tickets, please visit www.byerschoice.com.