Activities & Diversions
Miniature Live Steam Train. New this year, visitors may purchase a ticket to ride the miniature live steam train as they arrive at the Fair’s Victoria Station lobby. Guests of all ages are welcome! After your ride, conductors will point the way through the Station and into London in San Francisco!
Children’s Painting Garden (Rebecca Love) A veritable storybook of handmade, collectible ceramic shapes created to paint upon. A delightful ornament for your tree or to give as a gift – and an activity for both the young and the young at heart!
Mrs. Piper’s Photo Parlour (Alwyn L’hoir) What character would you choose to be in old London? Step into Mrs. Piper’s Photo Parlour and find out. From the sublime to the saucy, our well-trained staff can outfit you in style, and you will carry home a delightful photographic memento of Victorian England. Photographer to the royal family for more than 35 years, Mrs. Piper continues to create unique portraiture.
Silhouettes by Jordan (Jordan Monsell) Traditional and simple yet full of character, silhouettes recapture a piece of the past and remain the charming form of portraiture that has delighted generations. The process takes only 5 minutes and can be done from photos as well as by sitting for the artist in person at the event.
Silhouettes and Illustration art are available online in Jordan’s Etsy shop.
Adorn Thy Hair aka Madame Louise’s (Lynn Combs) Manager, Miss Brenda
French braids and romantic one-of-a-kind updos that transform your visit to the Fair. For both long and not-so-very-long hair, our talented hair braiders can produce a masterpiece for any occasion. From weddings and proms to a blind date or a day at the Dickens Fair, braids are appropriate for any event. Adorn Thy Hair offers a unique alternative to hairdryers and curlers – unlike modern styling practices, our braiding magic makes use of the natural beauty of your hair.
Paint the Roses Red (A & M Patterson) Grab a paint brush and come help us paint the roses red before the Queen of Hearts arrives, in this charming game of flipping the roses from white to red!
Boot the Cat (A & M Patterson) Wield an old boot against pesky, noisy alley cats on the back fence and win!
London Sweep Dispatch (Angelo Salarpi) Up and at ’em! Flip the chimney sweep dolls toward the townhouse chimney tops – if they land inside, you win a prize!
Corinthian Rose Sporting Club (Greg Pursley) Come and join the members of the Corinthian Rose Sporting Club as they open their doors to teach the noble art of Fencing. Beginners to advanced students, children to seniors are all welcome!
The Adventure Carousel (A & M Patterson) Pick your favorite colorful animal for an adventurous ride on this hand-made, hand-powered children’s carousel!
Fairy House Activity Area, brought to you by Claudia Swanson, proprietress of Whispers from the Past. A beautiful, hands-on craft area for you to enjoy creating your very own Fairy House to take home or gift to a very special person on your holiday list.
Time Machine (Richard Murillo) A time machine within a time machine! The intrepid inventor Dr. Murillo has created (in his home laboratory no less!) a cross between a comfortable carriage one might take to the park on a Sunday, and a mechanical marvel that promises to whisk its passengers into outer space! Settle into the padded red seat, reach for the brass controls, and envision your destination in another time and place. For a small fee, you can even have a photograph taken (with your own device) to prove you traveled to Victorian London!
The London Printer (Sharon Sullivan) Come by and see how printing was done in the mid to late 1800s. Featuring an authentic 1860s printing press!
Photo by Philip Pavliger