Dickens Festival Establishes Barbi Bedell Costume Collection

Chestertown, Md. – The organizing committee for Main Street Chestertown’s “Dickens of a Christmas” weekend announces the creation of the Barbi Bedell Costume Collection and invites donations of Victorian and Dickens-themed clothing and accessories to help outfit volunteers for the new annual festival.

The name is a tribute to the volunteer who last year outfitted more than 75 people, including house-tour docents, welcome-center hosts, vendors and musicians, to contribute more mid-19 century atmosphere to the weekend. “Barbi, with a lot of assistance from friend and colleague Jennifer Kafka Smith, did an amazing job on very short lead time last year and really helped establish the event,” says Kathleen King, who co-chaired last year’s event and is leading the effort for 2018. “She worked tirelessly to help our volunteers and vendors pull together their Dickens looks, and we learned a lot that will carry forward this year.” Bedell is providing guidance and resources to the committee for the 2018 weekend.

Needed are contributions of women’s items such as long skirts, crinolines, ruffled blouses, capes, gowns, prom and bridesmaids’ dresses, fitted jackets, aprons, bonnets, fascinators and mobcaps. Appropriate menswear items include knickers, plaid trousers, white shirts, morning coats, frock coats, tails, vests, and boots, along with headwear such as bowlers, top hats, and newsboy caps.

Items can be dropped off at Town Hall, 118 N. Cross Street, Chestertown. Or call 410-778-2991 to arrange for a pick-up.

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~ Main Street Chestertown