The streets of Carlyle were alive with Victorian charm this weekend as the annual Dickens Festival drew record-breaking crowds, filling the town with festive spirit, carriage rides, and bustling entertainment.
While there is no official attendance count, organizer Dawn Faber said the guestbook, filled with “pages and pages,” points to a standout year.
“It’s hard to say because we don’t actually have a method other than our guest book to say how many people come,” Faber said. “But according to the high tea, they said that they had record numbers, and our hall was completely full all weekend.”
Festival-goers enjoyed traditional favourites like carriage rides and high tea, as well as live performances at Fezziwigs, which extended its hours to meet demand.
“The entertainment at Fezziwigs was completely jam-packed all weekend long,” Faber said. “We just had a really good lineup, and we had it going until 1 a.m. this weekend.”
Faber noted new additions, including pet photos and a selfie station, which drew plenty of attention.
“We saw lots of people making use of the selfie station, which is always fun,” she said.
One of the weekend's highlights was the new play, It’s a Wonderful Hockey Life, a twist on It’s a Wonderful Life that celebrated small-town Saskatchewan living.
“They got a standing ovation when I was there, and it was almost completely sold out,” Faber said.
The festival’s impact extended beyond entertainment, giving the local economy a significant boost.
“Our festival brings in so much spending,” Faber said. “All our vendors, all our retailers have amazing specials all weekend long, and you can just see people going in and out of all the stores. It brings a lot of economic boost to our area for sure.”
The festival also served as a moment of community bonding, with many enjoying the bonfire under the clear skies.
“It’s always the weather that’s our problem,” Faber said. “So with it being so nice this weekend, it worked out so well. Lots of people were at the bonfire too, which is nice.”
As the event wrapped up, organizers are already looking ahead to the future, with ideas brewing for the festival’s 25th anniversary in 2028.
“We’re going to keep it going for sure,” Faber said.
For those eager to join the festivities, the Dickens Festival returns on the first weekend of December every year.
