CAMBRIDGE, Ohio (AVC News) — Dickens Victorian Village will celebrate its official opening day Saturday, Nov. 7, with a full schedule of activities, entertainment and holiday festivities throughout downtown Cambridge.
Events are planned from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., with visitors encouraged to explore downtown shops and restaurants between activities.
The day begins at 10 a.m. with “Living History” at Old City Cemetery, behind the Guernsey County Senior Center. Actors dressed in period costumes will share stories of early settlers from the Isle of Guernsey who are buried in the cemetery. The presentations will take place at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Admission is $5 per person. Local historian Rick Booth wrote the script.
Beginning at 11 a.m., vendors will line Wheeling Avenue, and families can participate in a downtown scavenger hunt. Forms are available at the Dickens Welcome Center. Participants who complete the hunt and return their forms to the center will be eligible for prizes.
The annual Shop Hop, sponsored by Cambridge Main Street, also takes place throughout downtown. Participants can pick up a Shop Hop card at the Dickens Welcome Center or any participating business. Completed entries must be returned to the Welcome Center for a prize drawing.
At 1 p.m., Friendship VII Sweet Adelines will perform Christmas songs in front of the Dickens Welcome Center. Visitors also may encounter Chris Hart, dressed in period costume and sharing information about Victorian times as he walks through downtown.
The Monroe Singers will perform holiday music at 2 p.m. on Seventh Street near Ellie’s Cottage.
At 4:30 p.m., the annual Run Rudolph Run fundraiser for the Holiday Light Show will begin at the Guernsey County Courthouse. Participants can run or walk, with awards presented on the courthouse steps following the event.
The official opening ceremony and ribbon-cutting will follow at the courthouse. Participants include Cambridge Mayor Tom Orr, Guernsey County Commissioner Jack Marlin, Dickens Julie Davey, Guernsey County Library Director Michael Limer, Chamber Director Jennifer Vincent and Queen Victoria.
The Chordial Chorus will perform Christmas songs and lead the crowd in singing “Silent Night” as candles are lit around the courthouse square.
Following the ceremony, visitors can enjoy the Courthouse Light Show, which will feature several new additions this year. Carriage rides will also be available on Eighth Street near the courthouse.
The day’s activities will conclude with the Dickens Grand Opening Reception at the downtown branch of the Guernsey County Library. The Cambridge City Band will perform, light refreshments will be served, and visitors can take part in a vintage Christmas craft.
Organizers invite families and visitors to spend Saturday in downtown Cambridge and take part in the opening celebration.
Last Updated on November 4, 2026 by AVC News
