Happy Holidays from the Jane Austen Fest

Dear Jane Austen Fans,

A few more days until Christmas! Lots of hustle and bustle yet. The tree is beautiful with its lights and ornaments. Lots of excitement and screams and thank you’s floating across the room yet to come.

Mount Dora is lit up. The lighting of the park is spectacular. Every year it gets better and better. Annie Donnelly Park is aglow. I wish we could talk the City into keeping the lights up until we have the Fest. But so far it’s not happened but if every year we ask maybe….

The plans and excitement for the 2024 Fest are on-going. We now have the Fortune Teller committed for our Sunday morning Marketplace, the juggler is set to come, and the Bag Pipe Band is tuning up. We have heard a small group of children will be doing some Regency dancing. New surprises!

Some of our workshops are new and some are our standards. Of course, the Bonnet and Turban workshops are on the schedule as well as Paper Quilling, Lawn Bowling, Regency Dance workshop, and Stained Glass. Our new workshops include a Jane Austen Silhouette, Parlor Playlets, Regency Mask, and Make a Housewife (a little sewing kit). We urge you to register for one.

And don’t forget Afternoon Tea at the Donnelly House. The house was built in 1893 as a gift from J.P.Donnelly as a wedding gift to his wife Annie Donnelly.

Know of a woman who is in school who needs a financial boast? Our Scholarship deadline has been moved up to January 15th. For more information Click Here

In past years we have had people attend the Fest because someone gifted them the experience. Maybe you know someone who needs and an unusual and special gift. The Jane Austen Fest in Mount Dora is the perfect gift choice. All registration takes place in our Website.

In the past couple of weeks we have had two articles written about the Fest; one is Seeking Jane at the Austen Fest in Mount Dora (.) And the second one has appeared in the UK…Sense and Sensibility in Mount Dora – AllWays Traveller Features.

Christmas Blessings to you all and a very Happy New Year,

The Jane Austen Fest Board:
Margaret Andersen
Dallas Smith
Carolyn Lockerd
Betsy Buzbee
Nancy Hurlbert

A Foot in the 21st Century and a Toe in the Regency Era