‘Dickens on Main’
ready for busy w
eekend
Organizers: Enjoy thespiritof
Christmas present
The biggest party of the year is just days away and city officials expect more than 50,000 Christmas revelers to take part.
“Dickens on Main” is back for its 25th annual run Friday and Saturday, as dazzling lights, merry tunes and yes, snow, convert downtown Boerne and the Hill Country Mile into all things Christmas, organizers said.
Lissette Jimenez, director of Boerne’s Parks and Recreation Department, said city staffers have been gearing up for weeks to pull the event together.
The festivities are inspired by the classic holiday novel “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, first published in London in 1843.
Jay and Sarah Pennington, from left, enjoy their roles as Mr. and Mrs. Dickens, along with friend Elaine Palance, who plays Mrs. Dickens’ sister, all dressed in Victorian outfits during 2024’s Dickens On Main event.
Star file photo It features memorable characters including Ebenezer Scrooge, various Christmas ghosts and Tiny Tim.
The downtown area will be divided into four distinct “villages”: North Pole Village is set up on Main Plaza; Tiny Tim Village is along East San Antonio Avenue; Dickens Village will occupy the parking lot at 157 S. Main St., next to the Richter Building; and South Pole Village will be set up in and around the Hamby’s parking lot, 437 S. Main.
Each village stages events all weekend, from the popular ice-carving show and competition at North Pole Village, to the ice slide at Dickens Village, to the trackless trains at South Pole Village, and kids’ activities and visits with Santa Claus at Tiny Tim Village.
“Last year, we had over 48,000 visitors and 75% of them were from outside the 78006 zip code,” Jimenez said. “A lot of them could be first-timers, and what an introduction to Boerne, if that is your first time here.”
Many retailers and restaurants along Main Street will remain open for extended hours.
Highlights from the different stages include:
North Pole Village (Main Plaza)
• On the stage: Scenes from “The Nutcracker,” 3:30 p.m. both days Ice carving show, 6:30 p.m.; ice carving battle, 8 p.m. (both days)
• At the gazebo: Last Chance Forever Birds of Prey show, 1-4 p.m. (two shows) Friday; noon-2:30 p.m. (two shows) Saturday Caroling singalong, 5-5:30 p.m. Friday Official tree-lighting ceremony, 6 p.m. Friday
Tiny Tim Village (East San Antonio Avenue)
Trackless train for kids, both days Visits with Santa, 3-8 p.m. both days Dickens Village (Main Street parking lot) Ice slide for kids 5-9 p.m. both days (at the Kendall County Courthouse) Boerne Community Theatre performances, every 45 minutes both days Dance, cheer, taekwondo performances Friday and Saturday
South Pole Village (Hamby’s, 437 S. Main) Kids activities, face painting both days Food, drink, cigar bar both days Trackless train, 5-9 p.m. both days An addition to the weekend will be the “COW – Cell On Wheels,” a collaboration between the Boerne Police Department and the city’s IT department.
“Dickens is crowded. There is very limited cell service and more importantly, for the emergency and public safety aspect, people (in the past) weren’t able to make phone calls out,” Jimenez said.
The Cell On Wheels will provide a boost, at least for AT&T and First-Net users.
Jimenez said Main Street and adjoining intersections will begin shutting down at 3 p.m., with the Hill Country Mile closed off from 4-10 p.m. both days.
Cars not removed prior to 2:30 p.m. could be towed at the owner’s expense, planners said.
First-come, first-served parking is available in several public lots including the Boerne Visitors Center, City Hall and the Patrick Heath Public Library.
“What an introduction to Boerne, if that is your first time here.”
— Lissette Jimenez, Boerne Parks and Recreation Department
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