D ickensianD ickensianD ickensianChristmas festivalChristmas festivalChristmas festival

Rochester

Sat, 1 and sun, 2 December 2018

R

christmasinmedway

Medway.gov.uk/christmas

11am

Seven Poor Travellers’ Procession Led from outside The Victoria and Bull Hotel by The Lamplighter, the procession will move along the high street and stop outside the Six Poor Travellers’ House, where Charles Dickens will make a short speech.

Parades and carols12noon

Main ParadeLed by the Mayor of Medway, the parade of costume characters and performers will start in the high street by Almon Place. It will move along the high street, turn left into the Esplanade, continuing up Castle Hill before fi nishing on the Boley Hill stage. To join in the parade please meet at the junction of Almon Place and the High Street and arrive 15 minutes before the start. Our stewards will be there to greet you.

4.45pm

Candlelit ParadeLed by the Mayor of Medway, the parade will start in the High Street by Almon Place. It will move along the high street and turn left at Northgate into Boley Hill to join the carol service on the

open air stage. To join in the parade please meet at the junction of

Almon Place and the high street and arrive 15 minutes before the start. Our stewards will be there to greet you.

Dickens will make a short speech. To join in the parade please meet at the junction of Almon Place and the High Street and arrive 15 minutes before the start. Our stewards will be there to greet you.

4.45pm

Candlelit ParadeLed by the Mayor of Medway, the parade will start in the High Street by Almon Place. It will move along the high street and turn left at Northgate into Boley Hill to join the carol service on the

open air stage. To join in the parade please meet at the junction of

Almon Place and the high street and arrive 15 minutes before the start. Our stewards will be there to greet you.

5pm

Carols for ChristmasWe welcome back Rochester Choral Society Choir as they lead the magical concert. Join BAE Systems Brass Band and all the festival performers in a selection of popular Christmas carols outside Rochester’s magnifi cent cathedral on Boley Hill, under a guaranteed snow fall.

Our stewards will be there to greet you.

Parades and carols

Entertainment scheduleLetters to Santa 10am-4.30pm Outside The Crown

Try bell ringing 10am-5pm St Mary’s Meadow

Kent Costume Trust exhibition 10am-5pm Princes Hall, Corn Exchange

A Victorian Family Christmas

Bell ringing demonstration 10am St Mary’s Meadow

Skinners Rats (Sat only) 10am City Wall stage

Dance Alley 10.15am Boley Hill stage

Bell ringing demonstration 10.15am St Mary’s Meadow

Pretending People (Sun only) 10.15am Old Post Offi ce

Morrigan (Sun only) 10.15am City Wall stage

Punch and Judy 10.15am Guildhall forecourt

Talk - Welcome to Steampunk 10.30am Rochester Community Hub

Medway Community 10.30am Countryside Choir stage

Healthcare Choir (Sat only)

Rag and Bone - One Horse Open Sleigh 10.30am La Providence

Ghost of Christmas Past 10.30am Outside The Golden Lion

Cosson street theatre 10.30am Boley Hill stage

Walking tour of historic Rochester 10.45am Visitor Information Centre

The Big Sing! (Sun only) 10.45am Countryside Choir stage

Seven Poor Travellers’ Procession 11am Outside The Victoria & Bull Hotel

City of Rochester Pipe Band 11am Old Post Offi ce

Fagin photo opportunity 11am At Mary’s Meadow

Walderslade Sings (Sat only) 11am City Wall stage

Pytchwood (Sun only) 11am City Wall stage

Victorian magician 11am Crow Lane

Reading - Aspects of everyday life in 11am Princes Hall, Corn Exchange

Victorian times

Dance Alley 11.15am Boley Hill stage

The Lamplighter 11.20am La Providence

The Three Towns 11.30am Countryside Choir stage

Kent Soul Choir (Sat only) 11.30am Countryside Choir stage

Punch and Judy 11.30am Guildhall forecourt

Main Parade 12noon Almon Place to Boley Hill stage BAE Systems Brass Band 1pm Boley Hill stage

Pickwick Club photo opportunity 1pm Guildhall forecourt

Rock Choir (Sun only) 1pm Countryside Choir stage

Morrigan (Sun only) 1pm Countryside Choir stage

Pretending People 1.15pm Outside Oliver’s wine bar

The Fabulous Fezheads (Sat only) 1.15pm City Wall stage

Bell ringing demonstration 1.15pm St Mary’s Meadow

Reading from Oliver Twist 1.30pm Rochester Community Hub

Fagin photo opportunity 1.30pm St Mary’s Meadow

Rag and Bone 1.30pm Outside The Golden Lion

The Fabulous Fezheads (Sun only) 1.45pm City Wall stage

Medway Can Sing 1.45pm Countryside Choir stage

Punch and Judy 1.45pm Guildhall forecourt

City of Rochester Pipe Band 2pm Old Post Offi ce

Pytchwood (Sat only) 2pm City Wall stage

Walderslade Sings (Sat only) 2pm Countryside Choir stage

Victorian magician 2pm Crow Lane

Walking tour of historic Rochester 2.15pm Visitor Information Centre

The Lamplighter 2.15pm La Providence

Dance Alley 2.15pm Boley Hill stage

Talk - Welcome to Steampunk 2.30pm Rochester Community Hub

Bell ringing demonstration 2.30pm St Mary’s Meadow

Ghost of Christmas Past 2.30pm Outside The Golden Lion

Salvation Army Band 2.30pm Guildhall forecourt

Skinners Rats (Sat only) 2.45pm City Wall stage

Morrigan (Sun only) 2.45pm City Wall stage

Rochester Choral Society 2.45pm Countryside Choir stage

Cosson’s street theatre 2.45pm Boley Hill stage

Pretending People 3pm Old Post Offi ce

Victorian magician 3pm La Providence

The Three Towns 3.20pm City Wall stage

BAE Systems Brass Band 3.30pm Boley Hill stage

Reading from Oliver Twist 3.30pm Rochester Community Hub

Reading from The Pickwick Papers 3.30pm Rochester Community Hub

Rag and Bone 3.30pm Outside The Golden Lion

Pytchwood 3.45pm City Wall stage

City of Rochester Pipe Band 3.45pm Countryside Choir stage

The Lamplighter 3.45pm La Providence

Bell ringing demonstration 3.45pm St Mary’s Meadow

Candlelit Parade 4.45pm Almon Place to Boley Hill stage

Carols for Christmas 5pm Boley Hill stage

Entertainment is on both days unless stated otherwise

Multi-storey car park

The Victoria & Bull Hotel

City Wallstage

The Crown PH

H I G H S T R E E TCrow Lane

Corporation StreetAlmon Place

The Vines

VISITOR

INFORMATION

CENTRE

HUGUENOTMUSEUM SIX POORTRAVELLERS HOUSE

EASTGATE HOUSE

The Esplanade

St Margaret’s Church

EsplanadeGardens

RIVERMEDWAY

CASTLE

Start of Main Parade, 12noonCandlelit Parade, 4.45pm

THE GUILDHALLFORECOURTTo Strood Station

(5mins walk)

RochesterChristmas Market

Funfair

RochesterStation

5pmCarol ConcertBoley Hill

Baptist Church

St Mary’sMeadow

BoleyHill

Old Post Office

ProduceMarket

ROCHESTER COMMUNITY HUB

A

JIHG

D E

CB

F

North

gate

S T R EE E T

Rochester Dickensian Christmas Festival Baby changing and feeding, NCT

Park and ride drop-off/pick-up point

Toilets, all have disabled facilities

Changing Places First Aid point

Letter to Santa Stage

Coach pick up points

ChristmasInMedwayFMedway.gov.uk/christmas

THE CORN EXCHANGE

A

The Golden Lion PH

Rochester Dickensian Christmas FestivalRochester Dickensian Christmas Festival

Park and ride drop-off/pick-up point Park and ride drop-off/pick-up point

Changing Places First Aid point Changing Places First Aid point

City WallCity Wallstage

RESTORATION HOUSE

CountrysideChoir Stage

CATHEDRAL

Rochester Community Hub Readings from Chatham and Rochester Dickens Fellowship, see schedule for times.

Come and listen to Welcome to Steampunk by Kentspectations. Learn all about steampunk and how it relates to the Dickensian era.

Join our craft sessions inthe junior library.

Rochester Community Hub Readings from Chatham and Rochester Dickens Fellowship,

Welcome to Steampunk by Kentspectations. Learn all

Join our craft sessions in

Tue, 15 Jan, 7pm

Dickens Festival Planning GroupCorn ExchangeWe’d love your feedback.

Festival highlights

The Ghost of Christmas Past Floating through the crowds, this ethereal Dickensian ghost is waiting to whisk her victims back through time to right their wrongs.

Salvation Army Band We are very pleased to welcome the Salvation Army Band to our festival.

Rochester Cathedral Bell Ringers St Mary’s MeadowCome and have a go at bell ringing. The bells of Rochester Cathedral are nearly 100 years old. To maintain the current bells and add three more all donations are welcome.

Walking tours of historic RochesterLed by guides from the City of Rochester Society, this tour starts from the Visitor Information Centre. 10.45am for a 45min walk and 2.15pm for a 90min walk.Tour are free - although donations are always welcome.

ethereal Dickensian ghost is waiting to whisk her victims back through time to right their wrongs. to right their wrongs.

Rag & Bone - The One Horse Open SleighFun, festive, interactive roaming entertainment.

Pretending PeopleVictorian troubadours playing a mixture of traditional festive music.

Kent Costume Trust Come and listen to talks about everyday life in Victorian times and see the Victorian family Christmas costume exhibition and learn about crafts of the time.

10am – 4.30pm

Letter to santa Outside The CrownSeal your letter to Santa with real sealing wax.

10am – 4.30pm

Book signingRochester Community HubAuthor, Terry Ward will be signing copies of his new book Jack Dawkins, his sequel to Oliver Twist.

Park and Ride• Return pick-up point - Corporation

Street bus stop outside Eastgate Lane, Strood-bound carriageway.

• Last bus leaves Rochester at 6pm.

Eastgate HouseStory-telling with our Victorian Father Christmas. 11am – 4pmGather round, get comfy and listen as our Victorian Father Christmas reads a unique story all about the mice of Eastgate House. £2 per child, £4 per adult, under 5s free. No need to book, just turn up.Or simply just visit the house and discover how the Victorians created many of the traditions we enjoy today.

Charles Dickens Writing ChaletStanding in Eastgate Gardens, this is the private space where the great author worked on some of his best loved novels and publications. Medway Council is currently working with The Dickens Fellowship to raise funds to restore and conserve. At present the chalet is too fragile for visitors to go inside.

Guildhall MuseumBuilt in 1687, the Guildhall Museum is one of the finest 17th century civic buildings in Kent and featured in Dickens’ novel Great Expectations. In Dickens’ time the Guildhall was used as a magistrate’s court and it is where Pip was brought by Mr Pumblechook. Free.

Rochester CastleGet a bird’s eye view of the Dickensian Christmas festival from the top of Rochester Castle Keep. Having survived three sieges, the castle has many tales to tell, so come and explore for yourself.Adults £6.40, children/concessions £4Open: 10am-4pm (last entry 3.15pm).

The Six Poor Travellers’ HouseInspiration for Dickens’ 1854 Christmas story, The Seven Poor Travellers. Open to the public during the festival, courtesy of the residents of the almshouse. Open: 11am-1pm and 2-4pm (closed during procession).

Visitor Information CentreThe ideal port of call for visitors to the area. It is wheelchair accessible and offers a full tourist information service.Open: 10am-5pm. visitmedway.org

Rochester Art Gallery Anatomica paper textiles from Cabinet of Curiosity Studio. Fri 7 Sep – Sun 2 DecShowcasing work from the beginning of the 21st century to the present day. Free.

Huguenot MuseumThis museum tells an important story of Britain’s’ first refugees (French Protestants), the crafts, trades and skills they brought with them.Open: 10am-5pm (last entry 4,15pm) adults £4 concessions £3, family ticket £10.

Attractions to visit 10.30am – 4.30pm

Rochester Baptist ChurchCome and enjoy live street theatre performances of Scrooge from A Christmas Carol. There is also a bookshop and café.

Rochester Cathedral Saturday8.45am Morning Prayer9am Holy Communion12.30pm Carol Service*3pm Carol Service*Sunday 8am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)9.45am The Cathedral Eucharist12noon Cathedral opens for entry 12.30pm Carol Service*3pm Carol Service*6.30pm Advent Procession* Favourite Christmas carols and readings,

lasting about 30mins – all are welcome.

10am – 4pm

St Margaret’s ChurchClimb the tower and enjoy spectacular views of Medway. Also, come and visit our cake and Christmas gift stalls. Refreshments will be available throughout the day.St Margaret’s is one of the distant churches noted by Mr Pickwick and friends in Dickens’ The Pickwick Papers.

other christmas events

Free entry

Set in the picturesque Rochester Castle Gardens, browse a variety of stalls for unique gift ideas and unusual stocking fi llers.

Come and wander the Bavarian food village or visit the funfair. There will also be live performers keeping you entertained.

There is even a guaranteed snowfall, all framed by Rochester’s fairytale cathedral and castle.

Set in the picturesque Rochester Castle Gardens, browse a variety of stalls for unique gift ideas and unusual stocking fi llers.

Come and wander the Bavarian food village or visit the funfair. There will also be live performers keeping you entertained. entertained.

Visit

Free entry

There is even a guaranteed

Free entryFree entryFree entryFree entryFree entryFree entry

There is even a guaranteed There is even a guaranteed snowfall, all framed by snowfall, all framed by Rochester’s fairytale cathedral Rochester’s fairytale cathedral and castle.

Sat, 24 – Sun, 25 Nov, 10am – 6pm

Fri, 30 Nov, 12noon – 8pm

Sat, 1 – Sun, 2 Dec, 10am – 7pm

Friday, 7 Dec, 12noon – 8pm

Sat, 8 – Sun, 9 Dec, 10am – 6pm

at Rochester Castle Gardens

Every Friday

rides only

£1

Free entryFree entry

With thanks to Classicus Estates for production parking