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For the past five years, Paducah has kicked off the Christmas shopping season with a trip back to Victorian times.
During the annual Dickens of a Christmas event, locals wander the streets in elaborate Victorian dresses and stately 19th century suits. Visitors climb into John’s Pass carriages decorated with holiday garlands while sipping hot chocolate given freely in the streets. And, carolers brighten up the atmosphere with a repertoire of holiday classics.
This year, mark your calendar for Nov. 24, when the 2018 event will spread holiday cheer Downtown from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Paducah Main Street sponsors Dickens of a Christmas, and Director Katie Axt believes many will want to participate in this sweet celebration of community and Christmas spirit.
“It grows every year by word of mouth, and it has become a tradition for many families,” she explains.
The event started as a way of celebrating Small Business Saturday, held the first Saturday after Thanksgiving. Paducah Main Street began the festivities in 2013 to attract locals and visitors to the city’s many quaint shops in Downtown and Lower Town and to support the local economy.
“It grows every year by word of mouth, and it has become a tradition for many families,” she explains.
From the beginning, Katie says, this holiday extravaganza has given shop owners a lively way to kick off the holiday shopping season. It’s also provided Paducah residents with a chance to support the city’s small businesses while also enjoying Christmas activities with their families
“The holiday season is the most important time of year for our small businesses,” she says. “By visiting our local stores, restaurants, and cultural attractions, you help create jobs in Paducah and keep our tax dollars local, which contributes to public services, schools, and amenities like parks and the library. Plus, these businesses give back by strengthening our community, creating vibrancy, and a more interesting experience. Also, it’s fun!”
During the 2018 event, locals can expect to see horse-drawn carriages, hot chocolate, carolers, and costumed pedestrians, along with other beloved activities like arts and crafts and visits with Santa. Plus, they’ll also discover a few new treats this year.
“The holiday season is the most important time of year for our small businesses,” she says
The Smedley Yeiser House will participate with an artisan market located several blocks from the event’s traditional location in the Downtown area. Paducah Main Street wants to make sure visitors have access to Dickens of a Christmas events in both Downtown and Lower Town, so it’s adding a new “Jolly Trolley.” People now can catch a free ride on the Paducah trolley and enjoy holiday music on the way to the Smedley Yeiser and back again.
“We’re really excited about being able to add another experience to all of the traditional things we’ve offered in the past,” she says.
Learn more about these events in the Dickens of a Christmas promotional flyer.
You’ll find a full schedule and a list of all the Small Business Saturday discounts, deals, and giveaways offered by local shops.
Then, pack up your family this Saturday for a trip to the Dickensian era. You can take a carriage ride through Paducah’s streets and get a little shopping done. Just make sure the kids see Santa before you head home.
