All Photography by Vita Hewitt.
Welcome the holidays with a look at the Bay Area’s best holiday faire, The Great Dickens Christmas Faire (known simply as Dickens Faire), returning for its 42nd season! It’s a holiday tradition for many families that has a new theme each year, creating an exciting adventure everyone loves. Whether you’ve attended countless times or are experiencing it for the first time, you’ll quickly discover why this is one holiday tradition you won’t want to miss!
Festive cheers is everywhere at Dickens – photo by Vita Hewitt
Always Bringing a Sense of Adventure to Your Holiday
My favorite part of Dickens Faire is how it encourages curiosity and adventure while weaving in little moments of history along the way. For example, did you know the first hot-air balloon was invented in the late 1700s? This year, the fair is bringing that sense of adventure to life with a photo opportunity featuring a real hot-air balloon and basket just inside the entrance. You’ll even be able to snap a photo with a new Dickens character, British balloonist Margaret Graham, who made history in 1826 as the first British woman to take a solo balloon flight.
Pro Tips for a Great Day at Dickens
You can’t go wrong by just wandering if you want to meander and let the day unfold as you;d ike it to. But there are some pro-tips that might make your day a little easier. Last year I took my 13-year-old nephew with me for “Aunt Katy Time” and so I needed to optimize our time to make sure we kept moving and he didn’t get bored.
Arrive early! The best time to come is either right when it opens or come in the afternoon for Twilight Admission. The best part of arriving when it starts is that the crowds are minimal and the whole day is ahead of you to pack in all the adventures you have planned. But if you come later in the day you can take advantage of a cheaper ticket and the crowds die down later in the day, too.
Grab a map!!!! Dickens is a feast for the eyes… there’s so much to see and do! The map changes every year and it’s a valuable resource. My family and I will often open the map right after they take our ticket and then when we are sitting down to take a break so we’re equal parts using the map and being more spontaneous as we’re enjoying the sights all around us throughout the day.
Best Place to Grab a Bite: Head towards the meat pies. Last year they were in the back left corner of the event space. This has the fastest line since it’s not next to the foot court, the pies are being made throughout the day and so there’s little to no waiting for your food. We also found they are less expensive than some other meals, filling and perfect for holding and continuing to walk around.
Make any necessary reservations early: There’s a LOT to see. There’s a really sweet full tea service you can do but it will take up time and you need to plan for it. My best tip is that if you want to do this, go and make a reservation right when you get there and then work your day around that. This is a good pro tip for anything that you need to sign up for a time slot. Head straight to the attraction and get your reservation first.
About dressing up: You’ll have a little FOMO if you don’t dress up at least a bit! My nephew was growing like a weed, so I didn’t want to invest in a full-on Victorian-era suit. Instead, we opted for a thrifted vest he could wear for a couple of years, a button-down shirt, and slacks. We also found a toy pocket watch that he absolutely loved pulling out to check the time. He said he was glad he dressed up a little because he felt like he fit in more, but he also had fun getting into character.
Holiday Shopping: I wrote about this a couple years ago but this is the TOP TIER place to find gifts for the whole family. The artisans who are featured here are some of the best in the business when it comes to unique hand-made gifts.
Visit the 21+ events which change each year: I am really excited about this one and I plan to try and schedule it into my day. New this year, you can join Master Mixologist Dr. Inkwell for a fun and spirited deep dive into gin’s scandalous history, a tasting and a cocktail, too!
Tickets and Info!
Purchase tickets exclusively through the Great Dickens Christmas Fair’s official website, dickensfair.com.
Adult tickets $50
Youth tickets $30
Twilight Admission 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm entry, sales beginning November 1
Adult tickets $35
Youth tickets $20
Parking fees are charged at the entrance to the lot by the Cow Palace. The Cow Palace charges $20 per vehicle for parking.
WHEN: Five weekends, November 21–December 20, 2026
Saturdays and Sundays, plus Friday, November 27
10 a.m.–6 p.m.
WHERE:
The Cow Palace Exhibition Halls
2600 Geneva Avenue, Daly City, CA 94014
