We didn’t need a time machine to visit 19th century London, but one was readily available at the 2024 edition of the Great Dickens Christmas Fair, taking place this month at Cow Palace in Daly City, California, just south of San Francisco.
The contraption, built by Richard Murillo, was inspired by the Time Machine from the 1960 George Pal movie of the same name, which itself was inspired by the classic H.G. Wells novel. Guests could take a seat in the conveyance and have their photos taken as they imagined themselves traveling to other eras.
It was just one of many attractions at the Dickens Fair, which opened Nov. 23 and runs through Dec. 22. If you’ve never been to one, you can think of it as a Renaissance festival, except indoors and set a few centuries later.
Covering four acres of exhibit halls, it offered an immersive experience where you could encounter characters from the works of Charles Dickens along with historical figures such as Edgar Allan Poe, H.G. Wells, Oscar Wilde, and Dickens himself.
The event also featured music, dance, comedy, theatrical productions, and countless opportunities (or so it seemed) for holiday shopping.
You can see some of the highlights in the gallery below. Learn more on the Dickens Fair website.
