⛸️ Ice Skating. On. Main. Street.

Yes, really. A full ice skating rink right at Main & Branch. Skate rentals included.
Hot tip: pre-purchase your time slot so the line doesn't get out of control. You will absolutely not want to stand on the sidelines watching other people live your Hallmark Christmas life.

🎪

The Tight-Rope Walker is back — and now someone is LEVITATING

Main & Bank Street is the place to be for this one.
High above the crowd, the tight-rope walker returns… except this time, a Dickensian woman literally rises into the air.
5:15 PM and 7:00 PM.
If you miss it, you will hear about it from everyone.

❤️ Presented by SJS Title — a sponsor who shows up for this town

Three years running. Three years of stepping up, saying yes, and supporting an event that takes an entire village to pull off. SJS Title is one of those businesses that makes you think, “Wow, we are really lucky they’re ours.”
Stop by their spot at Main & Union. Tell them thank you. They deserve it a thousand times over.

🎄 A Walk Down Main Street on Festival Night

4:30 PM – Santa Parade & Tree Lighting

Santa and Mrs. Claus kick things off at the Gazebo after parading down South Main. The tree lights up, the crowd cheers, and suddenly the whole street feels like it’s glowing from the inside out.

🎶 Entertainment Highlights (and there is a LOT happening)

Father Christmas Stage – 11 N. Main

• 5:00 PM — DJ Father Christmas
• 5:30 PM — Today's Dance Center Ensemble
• 6:30 PM — Mainstream Dance Academy
• 7:30 PM — South Jersey Pops Jazz Ensemble (yes, they’re phenomenal, yes, go watch, the singer is also one of my very closest friends)

Fezziwigs Stage – 11 S. Main

• 6:00 — “A Christmas Carol” reenactment by Pirates of Fortunes Folley (This is incredible, if you haven't seen their routine, don't miss it!)
• 6:30 — Broadway Bound Players
• 7:00 — “A Christmas Carol,” round two
• 7:30 — Dickensian magical performance
• 8:00 — Father Christmas Entertainment

Papa Elf Stage – 65 S. Main

• Three Wise Guys Jazz Trio at 4 PM these are 3 high school kids that are seriously talented at their instruments, give them a listen!

On the Streets (literally everywhere you look):

• Stilt walkers (Poinsettia, Toy Soldier, and Elf)
• The Grinch & the Grinch Mobile
• Town Crier
• LED Light Dancers
• Pennyfarthing rider
• Four magicians
• Carolers popping up where you least expect them
• DJ Kris Kringle
• Nonprofits, artists, crafters, and food vendors in every direction

🐴 Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides

Free, courtesy of our sponsor, Zallie's Community Foundation! Classic. Perfect. Running all night at Main & South. These horses are absolute beauties!

🐑 Live Nativity at Tomlinson Park

Every half hour from 5:30–8:00 PM. It’s beautiful, peaceful, and a long-standing favorite.

🥤 Coca-Cola is showing up with THIRTY THOUSAND mini Cokes

I don’t know what 30,000 of anything looks like, but I’m pretty sure this is the closest Medford has ever come to hosting a beverage avalanche. Grab one. Or two. Or, you know… responsibly enjoy a festive amount. They'll also have a photo booth! Be sure to grab a photo! Thanks to Coca Cola for providing free cokes for all! Santa loves a Coke, right?!

🍔 Food Trucks & Local Shopping

Both ends of Main Street are packed with artisan booths, treats, gifts, hot food, cold sweets, and all the independent shops that make Medford… Medford. If your holiday shopping isn’t done after this, that’s on you.

🚗 Getting Around:

Parking, Shuttles, oh my! Shuttles run all evening from Freedom Park, Sharps Run Plaza (at Game On Arcade, one of the Festival Organizers!) , and Union & Cherry.
Wear good shoes. Dress warm. Plan on lingering! There is SO much to see! There will be an info booth at Main & Union's intersection where you can pickup a paper copy of the itinerary so you know what's happening! While you'e there grab a limited edition Dickens Hoodie or Long Sleeve Tee!

🌟 Why We Do This

Since 1989, the Main Street Merchants have poured everything into making this festival feel like stepping into the pages of Dickens. And truly — they do it for the community. For neighbors. For kids seeing Santa for the first time. For the shop owners who open their doors with pride. For the people who come back year after year because they can’t imagine missing it. Big heartfelt thank you to the small group of people that put on this magical evening - Lesha Moore from ELM Gallery, Abbie Galie from Lower Forge Brewery (that's me!), Angela Cocivera from Girlfriends on Main, Craig Coccaro from Game On Arcade, Susan Drummond from NJBalance & April Willard from Zen Den on Main! Brought to you by The Main Street Merchants

Dickens isn’t just an event. It’s Medford at its absolute best! If Santa's sleigh is powered by Christmas Spirit (like ELF would have us believe), I think we generate enough Christmas Spirit on the first Saturday of December every year to make Santa's sleigh travel the whole world!