Rochester Dickens Festival and Xmas Market

Rochester does love to celebrate its famous son, Charles Dickens, despite the fact he was a resident of Chatham and not Rochester.

Rochester is well-to-do and Chatham is down-at-heel. The difference is startlingly Dickensian.

Twice a year those who can afford it dress up in their crinolined finery and parade along the High Street. The May Dickens event is not the same thing as the Sweeps' Festival, though the two are almost indistinguishable as both attract a high proportion of Steam-Punk costumes. The December event attracts more purists.

Today's parade began with a pipe and drum band, and although all wore kilts, not all were male. They were followed by those dressed properly as Victorians, including both a beautiful young Queen Vic and an elderly widowed Queen, as well as those who had come as specific Dickens characters; Ebineezer Scrooge, Fagin, Jacob Marley, Miss Havisham to name those I recognised. Then some lovely young morris dancers and finally a straggle of Steam-Punk pretenders.

The drumming was great!