Travel to 1840s London without ever leaving St. Charles, Missouri at A Christmas Carol Stroll every Wednesday (12/3, 12/10, 12/17) from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM during Saint Charles Christmas Traditions®. As you walk along brick-lined Historic Main Street, it’s easy to forget that you're in St. Charles, especially when there are Victorian carolers singing Christmas classics on the street corner. Bump into iconic A Christmas Carol characters and 1840s Londoners who take visitors back in time.
The iconic story is broken into six chapters that span South Main Street for visitors to see the story played out as they shop and dine. It begins with Bob Cratchit at the OPO Plaza as he represents Chapter One: Scrooge and Marley’s Counting House.
Find the ghost of Jacob Marley at Chapter Two as he gives visitors the same admonitions that he gave Scrooge along with a forewarning of the impending visits from three other spirits. Visitors soon encounter Chapter Three, where the Ghost of Christmas Past holds a glowing orb that reveals scenes from long ago, teaching guests that reflecting on their past can help them overcome challenges and find success.
Look for the Ghost of Christmas Present at Chapter Four near Bike Stop Café and find a decrepit cemetery at Chapter Five, where the shrouded ominous figure of the Ghost of Christmas Yet-to-Come looms over the lonely crutch of Tiny Tim Cratchit and a gravestone bearing the name "Ebenezer Scrooge". The story doesn’t end there, A Christmas Carol Stroll is the only place where you can meet happy, transformed Scrooge. Come across this joyful sight at Chapter Six: God Bless Us Everyone, where a joyous Scrooge with Tiny Tim reminds everyone to spread Christmas cheer.
Visitors are likely to run into Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig on their journey who will be delighted to see company. This cheerful couple loves to play games with guests. Each chapter has its own commemorative card, just like the Legends of Christmas at Saint Charles Christmas Traditions®. When you collect all six, you’ll have an abbreviated version of A Christmas Carol that can fit right in your pocket.
Saint Charles Christmas Traditions® A Christmas Carol Stroll has more than just characters from the iconic story. To really set the scene of 1840s London, different professions come to life to create an immersive experience. Children’s faces light up when they meet the 19th Century Toy Maker who shares her many toy inventions. “Now Bring Us a Figgy Pudding” … visitors talk to a real Victorian Cook about popular holiday staples in the Victorian era and can watch a performance by British Pantomime performers. Visit Queen Victoria in the Tourism Center and learn about how she popularized the Christmas tree in both England and the United States. She’ll even show you how she decorated it! While at the Tourism Center, visitors can purchase Saint Charles Christmas Traditions® merchandise and vote for their favorite film adaptation of the story.
But wait, there’s more! Don’t forget to get some hot wassail and fire-roasted chestnuts while you’re exploring and keep an eye out for signs near each chapter stop for fun, little-known facts about the story like the original proposed names for Tiny Tim and what iconic author, Mark Twain, thought of the story when he attended one of Dickens’ New York readings.
A Christmas Carol Stroll is a fun, interactive holiday event Wednesday nights this December. Transport to the past, where even people who aren’t familiar with the story will have a new appreciation and excitement about the holiday season after visiting.