Merry & Bright Dickens of a Christmas brings Victorian-era charm to historic Hernando Square
The everlasting tale of “A Christmas Carol” came to
in period-authentic clothing to match the Victorian theme.
life this past holiday season when Hernando’s historic town
Hernando was incorporated in 1832 around the same time as
square hosted the city’s first-ever Dickens of a Christmas event,
the famed Victorian era, just 11 years before legendary author
a festive weekend bash that was hosted on November 9 from 1
Charles Dickens penned A Christmas Carol, which made the
to 5 p.m.
city a perfect fit for the festive event.
We have some businesses on the square who decorate
“Downtown was a beautiful place to do it, and we
beautifully for the holidays during the yearly open house,”
wanted to do something that would incorporate the cultural
said Gia Matheny, Community Development Director with the
aspect of our city, as well as bring a little Christmas spirit to
City of Hernando, “But the city itself hasn’t really had a way to
the surrounding area,” said Matheny.
bring about the Christmas spirit.”
The event, which was hosted in conjunction with the
Given the subject matter, a partnership with Desoto
Family Museum only made sense for adding context and an
Hernando Chamber of Commerce and the annual Christmas
authentic sense of history to Hernando’s first-ever Victorian-
Open House on The Square, featured 19 local businesses
era Christmas celebration.
decked out in holiday décor in effort to recreate the timeless holiday tale, as well as scores of local merrymakers dressed
Hernando
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