Amelia Island Dickens on Centre Festival Achieves Milestone

The 8th annual Dickens on Centre Victorian Christmas Festival supported a record-setting estimated economic impact of more than $6.1 million from off-island visitors and on-island residents in 2022, according to a media release from the Amelia Island Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Amelia Island Tourist Development Council.

This represents a nearly 23% increase from 2021, and a nearly 370% increase since its inception in 2015.

“We originally created Dickens on Centre to stimulate visitation during a historically slow period, and, as the data shows and local partners confirm, it continues to move the needle and grow every year,” said Gil Langley, president and CEO of the Amelia Island CVB, in the release. “Using local feedback, we’ve fine-tuned the event over time, improving logistics and adding great new features to keep visitors coming back, such as this year’s drone light show, which was a huge hit.”          

Dickens on Centre is the centerpiece of Amelia Island’s many traditional holiday events, which together are part of the CVB’s marketing strategy to support local tourism during shoulder seasons. The event has been honored with multiple marketing awards, including a Henry Award at the VISIT FLORIDA Flagler Awards, and a Silver Award at the HSMAI Adrian Awards.