Shop, play and feast at the Fort Museum and Frontier Village Opera House this holiday season during the second annual “A Dickens of a Christmas” on Nov. 20. Come join the many “Shoppe Keepers” where guests will discover countless treasures as the marketplace captures Christmas during the time of Charles Dickens.

“You will meet a multitude of characters from Dickens’ novels, such as, ‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘Oliver Twist,'” said Laura Crowl, executive director of the Fort Museum and Frontier Village. “This is a very uplifting family Christmas shopping event with an ‘Oliver Twist.'”

Some of the characters guests will interact with include, Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchitt and his family, Oliver Twist, Fagin, Nancy, and the Artful Dodger.

“Guests will be able to interact with the Dickens characters as well as listening to them sing beautiful Christmas carols,” said Misty Mackay, tour and volunteer coordinator at the Fort Museum and Frontier Village. During the annual event, guests will also have the opportunity to shop.

Mackay said, “There will be plenty of craft vendors, Paparazzi, homemade honey, Christmas baskets, homemade quilts, and LulaRoe to name a few. BBQ Kings will also be coming back and they are always a big hit with their homemade BBQ sauces and seasonings.” Santa will again be featured this year during the event. Children will be able to tell Santa their wishes for Christmas as well as write him a Christmas letter while their parents are shopping. There will also be food and beverages for sale for guests.

“We will have comfort foods, pies, and even hot cinnamon rolls available for guests to purchase,” Crowl said.

“A Dickens of a Christmas’ a fun, engaging, theatrical environment that brings classic Charles Dickens’ characters to life during the holiday season.

“This is our third year holding ‘A Dickens of a Christmas at the Fort’ at the Fort Museum and Frontier Village,” Crowl said, “In order to bring more awareness about what the museum offers and to draw people to the museum, we have decided to hold numerous events throughout the year that are entertaining and family oriented.”

“A Dickens of a Christmas at the Fort” will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 20th at 1 Museum Road in Fort Dodge between Iowa Central Community College and the Friendship Haven campus.

Admission is free and parking is adjacent to the Opera House and Frontier Village Trading Post building.

For more information, or if you would like to volunteer to help decorate for this event, call The Fort Museum and Frontier Village at 515-573-4231. Events are also listed on their Facebook pages and website, www.fortmuseumfv.com.