One the biggest events in the run up to Christmas on the south coast is returning to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard for its 17th year.
The Victorian Festival of Christmas takes place between 25th to 27th November, with the return of all of the family favourites. The popular event welcomes more than 35,000 people over a three-day period.
New to this year’s event is a spectacular illuminations show where HMS Victory, HMS Warrior 1860 and the Mary Rose will be projected on to the front of Action Stations’ building. The show, titled I Saw Three Ships, is interactive and can be controlled by visitors.
In a race to raise one of the famous three ships from the Mast Pond and on to the front of Action Stations, three wheels opposite the building have to be turned. This activates projections of sailors and dockyard workers, who will be there to help pull and hoist each ship.
Those who turn their wheel the fastest will get to see a special one-minute light show and story of the ship they raised.
The Victorian Festival of Christmas will transport visitors to a bygone era where colourful characters roam the snow covered cobbled streets. Visitors this year can encounter an ever-popular traditional Father Christmas dressed in green, Scrooge in his carry carriage, bump into young chimney sweeps, and enjoy street performances from Victorian magicians and musicians.
Fagin’s Tavern in the Spiegeltent, a bustling Christmas Market and Victorian street performers along snowy Dickensian Streets – it’s all here.
The traditional Father Christmas, dressed in green, will be stopping by with his elf and reindeer this year. Be sure to ask him what you want for Christmas!
Director of Visitor Experience at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, John Rawlinson: “This is one of the biggest events in the run up to Christmas on the south coast and every year just gets better.
“It’s always such a popular event and every year it’s wonderful to see hundreds of people lining the streets getting into the festive spirit.”
Historic parts of the dockyard will see a complete transformation into a Victorian style street, complete with coffin measures, ladies of the night, street urchins, market sellers and many more.
The popular Fagin’s Tavern, a lively real ale tavern, will return alongside HMS Victory with plenty of merriment this year as performances by The Edelweiss Bavarian Oompah Band, Old Sea Dogs, and Shep Woolley & the Ansome Sea Buoys, light up the stage.
What’s more, event tickets include entry to all these attractions within the Historic Dockyard, including the new-look Mary Rose, HMS Victory, HMS Warrior 1860, HMS M.33, The National Museum of the Royal Navy, Boathouse 4 and Action Stations.
The Victorian Festival of Christmas takes place between 25th and 27th of November, open 10am-6pm.
For further information and to book tickets, please visit: www.christmasfestival.co.uk
