Though the Christmas traditions Victorian England may date back a few centuries, they are being brought to Pocatello in a whole new way by the directors of Pocatello’s Assemblé Events Center, Char Tovey and Tiffin Bennett. The annual Dickens Festival opens Dec 6 from noon to 8 p.m. at the Idaho State University Pond Student Union Ballroom, and events resume Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The festival concludes with an original theatrical ballet on Dec. 7 at 7:30 pm in Frasier Hall called “Scrooge’s Christmas,” created and choreographed by the combined talents of Bennett and her husband, Geoffrey Bennett, and the whole community is invited to get involved.

“We had seen Dickens Festivals done in other places like in the South, back East or Utah and California,” Tovey said. “But they don’t have anything like this in Pocatello.”

Throughout the festival, the ISU Ballroom will be full of vendors and distributors selling their Christmas wares and crafts in period costumes. Patrons will find themselves surrounded by Christmas music, Victorian decorations, street urchins, puppet shows, jugglers, stage entertainers, and they will get the chance to visit with a 19th Century Father Christmas.

“In normal craft fairs, people just walk up and down and look. This one will have ambiance,” Bennett said. “We wanted something that the whole community could be a part of and that kids could perform in over the holidays if they wanted to.”

In October, Tovey and Bennett held try-outs for anyone in the community who wanted to be a part of the either in the all-day fairs or the original theatrical ballet. Though the ballet will involve students from her ballet school, Miss Tiffin’s Ballet, Bennett said the production was open to anyone. Some of the pointe dancers are not even members of Bennett’s school.

“Anybody who wanted to be in was in,” Bennett said. “Auditions were just to see where everyone would fit best. We found a part either in the theatrical production or the fair that would show them off to their best and where they felt comfortable.”

Though the ballet is closed now for auditions, the fair still has a few openings for street performers. Interested community members can contact Lindsay Perry, of Two Shoes Productions, at 208-244-4826.

Bennett said there are also still spaces available for stage entertainment during the two days of the fair. Tovey and Bennett invite local choirs, dance studios, singers, bands, etc., to schedule a time to perform. Bennett said that performers can be professionals or amateurs or those who just want to have fun such as those performing from her “all-inclusive” dance class involving dancers with disabilities. Piano performers are welcome, but need to bring their own electric piano. Entertainment involving Christmas music is requested.

“Come share your talents. Come show off your kids. Come advertise your program,” Bennett said. “It’s a free stage. We’d love to have you. We really want the community to be a part of this and enjoy it and share their talents.”

Tovey said that she and Bennett began discussing the idea for the Dickens Festival over a year ago. Outside of Tovey’s full-time appraisal career, she said that bringing the Dickens Festival to fruition has required a significant amount of her free time.

“It’s been 24/7,” Tovey said with a laugh. “When we’re not working, we’re thinking about it. The first year is going to require a lot more time because we still have to do sets and costumes. … But as people have found out more about this, they have wanted to be a part of it and are excited.”

Bennett added, “The fun thing with this being the first year is that if one of our dancers or choreographers has an idea to try something, we try it and a lot of times it works. The kids are then really invested because they helped create this.”

In July, Tiffin and Geoffrey Bennett (known for his annual one-man production of “A Dickens Christmas,” which he will be performing again at the Assemble Center in December) began writing the script together for the theatrical ballet. Tiffin compiled the musical score and with the help of three of her teachers from her ballet school has choreographed the whole ballet.

Tiffin Bennett said that their theatrical ballet, which will involve about 70 performers, is very different than a traditional ballet — so different that even her own students have not done anything like it before.

“No one will have to turn to their neighbor and ask, ‘Now, what’s happening?’” Bennett said, “We’re telling a story with narration and dance that everyone can enjoy that is based on Dicken’s ‘A Christmas Carol.’ … They don’t just dance in a line and you might see some dances that look very contemporary or Irish. The dancers are constantly doing something, even if they’re not dancing. … Our three ghosts are going to be amazing. They are completely on point and very balletic, yet each with a completely style of ballet. One has very slow, adagio movements; one is very quick or allegro; and one is very contemporary.”

Tovey and Bennett both said that they plan on producing the Dickens Festival again next year and hope it keeps growing.

“We want to have everyone who wants to be involved,” Tovey said. “And if that means we have to have two shows to get everybody in, then we’ll do it. We’d love to do three shows eventually.”

The entrance fee for the fair is $5. Tickets to the theatrical ballet are $10, but reduced to $8 with a purchase to the fair. Tickets can be obtained online at www.assemblecenter.com, at the Assemble Center located at 820 E Young St, M-T between 4-6 pm, or at the door. For questions, call 208-380-2998 or email at assemblecenter@gmail.com. Tickets for and information about Geoffrey Bennett’s “A Dickens Christmas” can be obtained by calling 208-890-7579.