***Given the newest forecast models for heavy rains, by joint decision of the Sunrise Rotary and the Medford Police Department, the Dickens Festival has been postponed until Sunday, December 7th from 4:00 – 8:00 pm. ***
The Medford Friends Meeting (Quakers) free concert will still take place on Saturday evening, Dec. 6th at at 7:00 p.m. at the Meeting House located at 14 Union Street. The concert will feature the acclaimed ChildrenSong of New Jersey, founded and directed by Polly Murray, a music educator with numerous awards to her credit. ChildrenSong will perform a variety of seasonal works and a holiday sing-along with the audience. Guests are invited to enjoy cookies and cider. The Pinelands Garden Club, the Woolman Memorial Society and the children's chorus will also have wreaths and CDs available during the reception. All are welcome and admission is free. More about Medford Friends can be obtained by calling 609-953-8914.
The Sunrise Rotary of Medford is most pleased to announce that the 25th annual “Dickens Festival” will take place along historic Main Street on Saturday, December 6th from 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. The Dickens Festival was saved by the Medford Sunrise Rotary Club with the help of Murphy’s Market four years ago, and has been awarded “One of the Best of 2014” by readers of the Burlington County Times. A town crier will lead a parade up Main Street, as he heralds the arrival our Grand Marshall Ron Murphy of Murphy’s Markets, the presenting sponsor of the event, and Santa and Mrs. Claus. The festivities will begin with the Annual Holiday Tree-Lighting Ceremony at the Main Street Gazebo at 18 North Main Street at 6:15 p.m. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be greeting each child in their own personal, warm way all evening long.
Meanwhile, the street will come alive with musical groups caroling and entertaining from one end of the street to the other. Immerse yourself in the holiday spirt as you roam the street lined with dimly lit lampposts and twinkling lights and as you visit the many village shops all decorated for the holiday.
Strolling the street will be several caroling groups, so be sure to ask for your favorite carol to be sung. Stilt walkers will be greeting visitors throughout the evening. There will be face painters, balloon artists, a moon bounce, as well as the favorite jugglers. Stop by the food court at Union & Main Streets where an inflatable movie screen will show holiday movies all evening.
Children: be on the lookout for three of your favorite Frozen characters wandering the street. A special treat for young and old will be an entertaining ice carving of a very special person by Michael Dormer. Visit Tomlinson Park (across from the Pinelands Library), to witness the live nativity scene offered by the Medford United Methodist Church.
Be sure to come hungry, and choose from light fare to hot food from a variety of local restaurants and caterers. And there will be vendors with everything from crafts to unique artwork.
New this year, the festivities will extend up to Kirby’s Feed Store where the local band, The Lake Rats, will be performing. Radio station B101 will also be airing live remotes from the Festival.
The Medford Arts Center at 18 North Main Street (next to Santa’s Gazebo) will welcome visitors to stop in to see the visual art works on display and a special demonstration by cartoonist Dave Bullock that will bring smiles to all. While in California, Bullock drew for companies such as Warner Brothers, Disney Animation, DC and Marvel Comics, Hasbro and many others. He has recently moved to Medford. The MAC will be open from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Dickens night. There is no admission charge. More information can be found at www.MedfordArtsCenter.org.
Down the street at the Medford Memorial Community Center “Winter on My Mind” art exhibition will open on Friday featuring several area artists. During the Dickens Festival, refreshments will be served and the artists will be present to meet and greet. The Community Center will also be serving festival-goers its famous hot chocolate and cookies.
The Pinelands Branch Library is joining in the fun with an "Old Christmas Show" starting at 7 pm. Performed in period costume, the audience will see how Christmas was celebrated in the 1870's.
Plan to bring your entire family and celebrate the start of the holiday season with the Annual Dickens Festival, the traditional start to the holiday season bringing over 10,000 people to Historic Medford Village every year. For information about the Dickens Festival visit the Sunrise Rotary’s website at http://www.medfordsunriserotary.org or Medford Township’s website at www.medfordtownship.com/events.
Please note: Main Street will be closed to all vehicular traffic during the course of the event, from 5pm to 11pm, from Route 70 to Chapel Avenue. Parts of Union Street and Bank Street will also be closed. For more information, visit www.MedfordPolice.org. the week prior to the event. A listing of directions and Medford Village parking areas can be found at www.medfordtownship.com/events