Ice Sculptures

Sunday, all day; Penn Eben Park

An outstanding display of carved ice sculptures will be located in Penn Eben Park. Enjoy the ice block throne for a memorable photo op. During Dickens of a Christmas, ice is just the tip if the iceberg.

Pickwick Raceway Park

Sunday, Noon; YPCC

The little urchins will love the opportunity to race miniature cars around a huge race track. Our Pickwick Raceway Park features over 120 feet of track with 1:32 slot cars. While more than a bit outside of the Victorian era, children and adults will enjoy this form of racing and begin a new holiday tradition.

Racing, in all of its forms, is an age-old tradition in England. Chariot racing was one of the earliest forms of racing. Something like modern horseracing began to take shape around the turn of the 17th/18th centuries. Steeplechasing developed as a winter sport with high levels of danger and violence as well as the additional dimension of jumping. It assumed its long-term form and name during the Victorian period. criticism, Culture and Anarchy, published in 1869, refers to “an account of the crowd at Epsom on Derby day, and of all the vice and hideousness which was to be seen in that crowd . . . ”.

The first automobile race ever organized was in 1887 in France. It was won by Georges Bouton in a steam car he constructed himself, but as he was the only competitor to show up it is rather pointless to call it a race. The first auto race in the United States took place in 1895 in Illinois. The winner traveled the 54-mile course in 10 hours and 23 minutes.

The origins of slot car racing can be traced to England, where in the late 1950s a small motorized car was first developed. A 2-lane track system was also designed for those early model cars to run on. The first track system was marketed in England by Playcraft under the brand name Electric Highways Model Motoring.

Admission for this event is only two crown ($2.00) per person. Those attending can enter a time trial, with the fastest time being announced at the end of the weekend. The same fee includes slot car racing and trains.

Miniature Trains

Sunday, Noon; YPCC

Choo! Choo! Switch gears and visit our huge miniature railroad. All little urchins will get a thrill operating the eight different trains!

While aboard in Ebensburg, remember that we are located in an area with a rich railroad heritage. Visit scenic points along the mainline in small neighboring towns of Summerhill and Cassandra. Check out www.ebensburgpa.com for other railroad related attractions within 30 minutes of Ebensburg such as Allegheny Portage Railroad in Cresson, Gallitzin Railroad Tunnels, Horseshoe Curve, Railroaders’ Memorial Museum in Altoona, the Johnstown train station, and Staple Bend Tunnel in Mineral Point.

Model railroading has become an integral part of Christmas in America Ironically, it is undeniable how much Dickens abhorred the rail system and the impending industrial revolution that was to sweep England (and the world) in the mid-nineteenth century. Dickens writes of railways as though they were the epitome of gloom and doom, catastrophic, as demonstrated in Dombey and Son. Charles Dickens seems to be mourning the death of a different life, one he will never return to. Dickens was using the railway and the death of a particular lifestyle as a metaphor for the death of young Paul Dombey.

Charles Dickens is mentioned in most books that were written on the history of the British Rail system, which is indicative of the fact that Dickens' critique of the railways and the industrial revolution must have reached far beyond the pages of Dombey and Son.

Admission for this event is only two crown ($2.00) per person. The same fee includes slot car racing and the trains.

Teddy Bear Tea

Sunday, 1:00 p.m.; Young Peoples Community Center

Adults and children of all ages are invited to attend the YPCC Teddy Bear Tea. Guests will be treated to a lavish high tea, including scones with jams, a variety of finger sandwiches, sugar cookies, assorted teas and fruit punch. Additionally, there will be a special visit from Santa Claus with a gift for each child, as well as holiday entertainment throughout the afternoon. Children are encouraged to bring their favorite teddy bears to share the afternoon tea!

In order to cover the costs of materials, there is a $15.00 fee for this event. Period costume is encouraged, but not required.

Christmas Family Skate Indoors

Sunday, 1:00 p.m.; North Central Recreation Center

Cambria County’s indoor skating facility will be open all afternoon and evening during “Dickens” for ice-skating. There is a $4 fee for this activity. Rental skates are available for $3.

Holiday Home Tours

Sunday, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Tour five of the area’s most beautiful and unique homes, all festively decorated for the holiday season. This is a self-guided tour that allows you to tour the homes at your leisure. A pass is required.

There is a $10 fee for this event. Tickets may be purchased in advance, or at the Dauntless Craft Fair.

Festival of the Nativities

Sunday, 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Ebensburg United Methodist Church

The Methodist Church welcomes all to an open house, where visitors will view a display of more than sixty nativity scenes and crèches in the church sanctuary. Hot drinks will be served.

Holiday Open House & Art Exhibit

Sunday, 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.; Cambria County Historical Society

Join us for our annual open house in the holly-decked halls of the A.W. Buck House, home of the Cambria County Historical Society. Refreshments, tours and more. Our Christmas tree in the library is always a holiday delight. This year, the historical society joins the Ebensburg Art Alliance for an exhibit in the community room. "Cambria Victoriana" features area artists interpreting themes from Cambria County's history and/or the Victorian Era.

The A.W. Buck House was built in 1890 (only 20 years after Dickens’ death) in the Victorian Queen Anne Style. The house belonged to a well-known local banker, and more recently served as a convent until the Society acquired it in 1991. There is no charge for this event.

Gingerbread Contest & Display

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm; Cambria County Historical Society

The entire community is invited to participate in our inaugural gingerbread contest, sponsored by the Cambria County Historical Society. While the contest is for entrants age 18 and under, everyone is welcome to display their own gingerbread masterpiece! Prizes will be awarded for most creative, most original, most artistic, most representative of Cambria County’s history, and best of show.

Entries must be dropped off at the Historical Society BEFORE Dickens Weekend. Contact the Historical Society for rules
(814-472-6674).

Join the fund and start your own Christmas tradition! Visit the gingerbread display during regular hours over the weekend.

Cresson Lake Playhouse Holiday Production

Sunday, 2:00 p.m.; Cambria County Courthouse

The holiday production by Cresson Lake Playhouse is one of the favorite events during Dickens, and something you and your family will not want to miss. Check out www.ebensburgdickens.com later in the year to see details of this year’s production.

Call early to reserve your seats for this family production. Admission to the production is twelve crown ($12) for adults and five crown ($5) for children. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (814) 472-4333 or visit www.cressonlake.com.

The following events will take place weather permitting:

Cross-Country Skiing

All Weekend; Ghost Town Trail

The Ghost Town Trail from Ebensburg to Nanty Glo is an 8-mile section of rails-to-trails that connects with 12-miles of trail to Dilltown, Indiana County! Walkers, joggers, bicyclists, cross-country skiers, etc. have the chance to experience scenic beauty at it's finest! The Ghost Town Trail will be open the entire weekend for cross-country skiing. There is additional hiking, biking, and cross- country skiing trails in and around Ebensburg, including around the reservoirs and Lake Rowena.

It is the best of snow; it is the worst of snow (to paraphrase Dickens from A Tale of Two Cities).

Sled Riding

Friday evening & Sat. and Sun. afternoon; South Cherry Street

Wait until you try this! An experience unheard of anymore today, actually sled riding down a borough street! South Cherry Street stretches for five blocks between Ebensburg’s downtown and the Ghost Town Trail. During certain periods over the weekend, it will be available for sled riding, weather and conditions permitting. The hill doesn't look like much from the bottom, but from the top, it screams "Sled me!"

It was referred to as “coasting” in Victorian England. American laws have greatly restricted, and in most places prohibited, the practice, once common, of coasting on the highways. But after all, what would a Dickens Christmas be without coasting?

Warning! Riders are cautioned of the dangers inherent in sled riding. Riders are encouraged to wear appropriate safety gear, including helmets. This is not a regulated event, there is no staff available to monitor the event, and riders participate at their own risk. The Borough of Ebensburg is not responsible for injuries sustained during this risky activity. Crossing streets are barricaded; however that does not assure safe passage. The ride is bumpy at each intersection. Quality sleds should be used. There may be vehicles parked along the route. Sleds that have difficulty stopping at the bottom will cross Prave Street to a parking lot, where there will obviously be parked cars.

"...and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Every One!"

Charles Dickens