What The Dickens Is Going On In Ulverston?

Ulverston in the Lake District, that perennial offender when it comes to organising festivals, is at it again! Coming up shortly, on the weekend of the 24th and the 25th November is the annual Dickens festival, probably one of the most popular and best supported of the many such events that crop up with regularity in this lovely Cumbrian town.

Now in its fourteenth year, the festival gives the locals an excuse to dress up extravagantly and generally make exhibitions of themselves all with a Dickensian theme. Find yourself transported back to the 1850's where Ulverston plays itself magnificently, providing a backdrop of specialist shops, great pubs and cafes, cobbled streets and great atmosphere.

All sorts of events and side shows have made an appearance over the years including hog roasts, mulled wine, old fashioned food, gifts, crafts and toys. There has also been free hat making, dance music, horse drawn carriages and balloon modelling. There's always a chance of a fairground, and music ranging from folk right through to brass band. All on all, a reason for people to join in and have a fabulous time. The event is popular so make sure that you allow enough time, because there is likely to be a Christmas market as well.

The organisers are being coy as usual, claiming that it is difficult to say in advance what attractions will be available, as so much depends on local support. But this has never been a problem in the past. As mentioned at the start of the blog, Ulverston portrays itself as very much a festival town, so I suspect we may be coming back here before long.

It also has another claim to fame, being the home of the only Laurel and Hardy Museum in the world. It has this unlikely setting as Stan Laurel was born in Ulverston in 1890. I can feel another blog coming on about that!