Dickens on the Strand & Galveston's Festivals

Each December the Strand — Galveston's National Historic Landmark district of grand 19th-century commercial buildings, once called the Wall Street of the Southwest — puts on a top hat and steps back in time. Dickens on the Strand, staged by the Galveston Historical Foundation since 1974, fills these cast-iron and brick blocks with Victorian-costumed revelers, parades, carolers, and the spirit of Charles Dickens's London. This short walking loop traces the festival's stage: the historic buildings that host it, the grand opera house nearby, and the preservation story that saved this street and gave the festival its home. Whether you come during Dickens itself or any day of the year, the architecture tells the tale. Wear comfortable shoes and look up at the ornate facades.