Dickens on the Strand , Galveston TX.

**Zardoz** · 7th December 08, 02:15 PM

Last weekend, 12/6th-7th, was the 35th annual 'Dickens on the Strand' Victorian Christmas fest in Galveston. It was a little smaller event this year in the aftermath of hurricane Ike, but a really good crowd came out to see the sights and support the Galveston community. Keep in mind that the streets you see here were under 8 to 12 feet of seawater during Ike's storm surge.

Shelley (MrsZardoz) and I. BTW Shelley's dress was made by her mother out of an old bridesmaid's dress.

here we are with our friend Sandy, who took most of the photos

Ello,Ello, what's all this then??

My girls trying to explain to these beer drinking bobbys that they are not 'ladies of the evening' it's 11 AM! Fortunatly we got it sorted, and the plod were able to return to guarding the pub behind them!

St. Nick

One of the many well turned out ladies, Those of us who like to dress for the event made an extra effort this year.

Zardoz finds were the beer comes from !!

Some of Mr.Dickens characters..

Santa !

**Zardoz** · 7th December 08, 02:23 PM

Some pipers from St.Thomas school earning a little extra cash, many of the performers waived their fees this year.

I make new friends, this fellow had lots of questions about my outfit. My "Kilt Info" sheets come in handy!

HM Queen Victoria makes her progress.

Putting Shelley back together after some hat shopping.

A nice day brings out a pretty good crowd.

**Hendry** · 7th December 08, 02:37 PM

Nice pix, looks like a great time. thanks for sharing

**Spc. Scott** · 7th December 08, 02:53 PM

That looks like it was a really good time! Thanks for the pics.

Looks like a very good job was done getting things back together after the storm as well.

**Jack Daw** · 7th December 08, 02:54 PM

Great pics, Zardoz. Wished I had gone! (I'm in between business trips)

**Standard** · 7th December 08, 03:29 PM

Great pictures, thanks for sharing. There are an amazing number of kilted folks in your pictures. It was Dickens on the Square here this weekend, but it looks like your weather was much more pleasant than the 20 deg (f) here in Illinois.

**Zardoz** · 7th December 08, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by Spc. Scott

Looks like a very good job was done getting things back together after the storm as well.

The City and Galveston Historical Society did a heroic job of cleaning up that part of the Strand area for the weekend! Sadly there are many areas of town that are much worse, and about 90% of the businesses in the historic district have not been able to recover yet.

This is the Strand a few weeks ago...

**McClef** · 7th December 08, 03:46 PM

Pity Dickens didn't write a kilted story but lovely pics!

**The Vicar** · 7th December 08, 03:50 PM

Bravo!

Great to see the people have returned and made such a wonderful event out of the day!

Thanks for sharing your photos.

The warm weather and beer make me a wee bit envious.

"V"

**Zardoz** · 7th December 08, 04:19 PM

Like a bad vacation slide show, I got a few more!

Here's me reponding to someone saying; "The Guiness tap is working!"

Some friends from Ren Faire, never seen them in "normal" clothes!

A Dickens wedding.

Hey, it's Capt. Jack! Lots of people dress as pirates, Galveston Island's first European settlers were Carribean pirates in the early 1800s.

The 'Queen's Christmas Tree' was one of the few bits of green vegetation on the island, being submerged in saltwater killed back most of the trees and grass.