It’s early December and for several years, this has meant a trip back in time to Victorian London for junior Elizabeth Andrews.
Andrews was a greeter at Heritage Church’s annual Dickens Village and was distraught to hear news of the sudden cancellation of this event.
Although it was unintentional, officials from the Fayette County Building Permits Department took on the role of Scrooge this holiday season, delivering the bad news to senior Pastor Doug Fultz in early November. They noted concerns about potential safety issues and code violations about the church’s metal shipping containers that are used to create the stages or scenes throughout the Village.
Dickens Village is a re-creation of a late 19th century London village, authentic down to the last details from English accents to old-style clothing and candle-making activities.
It usually takes place for six weekend nights at the end of November and beginning of December. Volunteers filling all sorts of roles gather at the Heritage campus on Bernhard Road to spread holiday cheer and give something back to the community.
Fultz said he and church elder Robert Carroll received the notice after members of the church had already set up the village.
“Fayette County told us we must obtain a permit before we can hold the event again,” Carroll said.
Carroll said they were then forced to make the difficult decision to cancel the seasonal event because they didn’t have enough time to address the codes issues.
AP and Gifted World History teacher Whit Jones, who has been a wandering townsman who made people feel like they were in Victorian London, was disappointed because he would not be able to use his English accent.
“Dickens Village got canceled because there were certain things to do with no time to do them,” Jones said.
The village had been scheduled for 6-9 p.m. Nov. 30-Dec. 2 and this weekend.
Carroll said part of the issue is that the Permit Department didn’t know how to categorize their event. Last year more than 9,000 people visited Dickens Village during the six days it was open, and during the last 10 years, more than 50,000 people stopped by, Carroll said.
The cancellation caught not only church members by surprise, but also many faculty, parents, and students.
For senior Tyler Nowicki, said he will miss something he has participated in for several years.
“I have never been a character,” Nowicki said. “Instead, I serve in the children’s ministry watching the children of the people working in the Village.”
Guidance counselor Paula O’Shields said she is upset about the situation. For the past several years, O’Shields has been a villager who interacts with guests to make them feel welcome.
“I am so disappointed that we can’t do it because of safety problems with the buildings and structures,” O’Shields said. “It is the church’s gift to the community.”
Senior Daniel Sims has also been a part of the Dickens tradition.
“I was disappointed to hear that the Village was canceled,” Sims said. “I know how many people enjoyed coming to it to get into the holiday spirit.”
The future of the event still looks bright, however, because those involved said they were excited to come back next year.
“Even though it was canceled, something else good will come out of it,” Andrews said. “Next year will be the best Dickens Village ever.”
The church is attempting to revive the holiday spirit later this month by planning something else, Carroll said.
“We are trying to get approval to light the Christmas tree that graces the center of Dickens Village,” Carroll said. “If we do, there will be the tree lighting, carol singing, and lots of hot chocolate so that people can still enjoy the company of their neighbors.”