Flat Tire Took Us to Dickens Victorian Village in Cambridge, Ohio.
Nobody wanted a flat tire during their holiday trip, but when it took us to Dickens Victorian Village in Cambridge, Ohio, it was a different story. That’s what happened to us on our way home to Texas from Pennsylvania one Thanksgiving holiday.
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Flat Tire Took Us to Dickens Victorian Village in Cambridge, Ohio.
My husband was changing lanes to the left when I started hearing a loud sound. I turned my head to the right and thought, “That white truck sure makes a loud sound.” My husband had the same thought until the light indicator in the dashboard came off. “It’s our car,” said my husband, and changed lanes right away. Fortunately, there weren’t cars behind us on highway I-70W at that time.
Yep! The right front tire was flat to the ground. My husband started to change the tire while I prayed for a stranger to stop and help us.
It was raining, windy, and cold. I only wore thin sweatpants and a rain jacket with a T-shirt underneath it while my husband was in shorts and short sleeves because our first stop for the night would be in the 50s, so it was not that cold. Fortunately, his sweatshirt wasn’t in the luggage. Phew!
Cars and trucks passed by at full speed. I wonder if someone would stop. I even hoped the highway patrol car would come and help us, but they were not in the view at all.
Finally, a stranger in a white Range Rover stopped and helped my husband with the tire. His wife and children waited patiently in the car until they finished the work. Thank God for sending this kind stranger our way! Later the highway patrol appeared, but everything was under control by the time they arrived.
After we all settled back in the car, my husband said we had to buy a new tire because the spare one wouldn’t be able to take us home all the way to Texas. “I think next town is Cambridge. We’ll stop there to find a tire place,” said my husband who spent several years working around Zanesville, so he still remembered the area.
I couldn’t find any national tire chain in the area when I checked through the GPS, but they have Wally World to the south of the highway. So, there we went. Unfortunately, there were 6 cars ahead of us and it would take 3 to 4 hours before they could touch our car. Sorry! We couldn’t wait that long. The guy gave my husband the name of a local tire company which he wasn’t sure whether they open or not. Of course, they weren’t. It’s the Saturday after Thanksgiving anyway. Then my husband asked me to check on GPS again and I found another tire place across the highway.
This time the GPS took us to downtown Cambridge, Ohio. We passed lots of businesses along the way and hoped the tire place was open.
Not long after we drove under the city’s welcome sign, we saw people dressed up in the Victorian era, flocking here and there. “Is there some kind of celebration? But why don’t they move?” I wonder. When we got closer, we realized those were mannequins. They were Christmas decorations.
I think my husband saw my brain was smiling. “Do you want to check it while they fix the tire?” he offered.
A Dickens Christmas in Cambridge, Ohio.
Another good thing happened to us. The tire place was open and there were only 2 customers ahead of us and they were almost done with one customer. Yipee!
I asked a couple who were sitting there about those mannequins. They explained to me that those were Dickens Victorian Village, the biggest thing that happened in Cambridge every Christmas. People came in buses just to see Cambridge during the holiday. Every mannequin has a plaque that has brief information about it that visitors can read when they walk from one mannequin to another. There’s also a Chocolate Walk happening soon in the city and that day, Saturday after Thanksgiving, was their Christmas Parade. They would light the Christmas lights around the Court House.
Hmm… sounds wonderful and festive but too bad we couldn’t stay for the parade and Christmas lighting.
After that my son and I left, leaving my husband taking care of the car. He didn’t want to go either because he was still wet from changing the tire on the highway.
Christmas at Cambridge, Ohio – A Trip Back in Time
Here is some information I retrieved from the Cambridge Dickens Victorian Village official website:
- The Dickens scenes are stationed along Wheeling Avenue at each antique lamppost and bench, between 6th and 11th Streets, in windows on street level, and second-story windows.
- Wheeling Avenue is the historic National Road/Route 40 and features an outstanding streetscape of original buildings from the 1800s.
- The Dickens Victorian Village scenes are comprised of life-sized and hand-made mannequins wearing real vintage clothing. The faces of each character are individually sculpted and painted by local artists.
- The displays include engaging depictions of classic Dickens-era scenes and figures such as Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim, the town crier, groups of carolers, a bucket brigade, lamplighter, school children, street peddlers, and Father Christmas, all posed in active scenes that appear frozen in time.
- Visitors are invited to stroll amidst over 92 scenes of 180 lifelike figures representing classic scenes from the Victorian era from November through December each year.
And here are more pictures from our stroll. Every mannequin is a photo op and of course, you can make a beautiful family Christmas picture here.
The one of my son standing next to the mannequins reminded me of him standing with the Lincolns when we visited the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield, Illinois.
In the end, I have to admit my son and I had good times strolling along Wheeling Avenue even though it was drizzling and cold. Gone is the stress from the flat tire. It was taking us to a happy end.
I wish we could stay for the Christmas Parade and Court House Lighting, but we had to go back to our daily activities on Monday.
There are antique stores, souvenir shops, and cafes along Wheeling Avenue, but we only entered one of the cafes for hot chocolates. Most stores hadn’t opened for business as it wasn’t 10 yet.
For more information about the Dickens Victorian Village in Cambridge, Ohio you can find it here, and find here for directions.
Horse-drawn carriage rides, Victorian Teas, Trolley Tours, and Themed Scavenger Hunt are some of the seasonal events they have during Christmas at Cambridge beside the Victorian Scene.
Distance to Cambridge from major cities around the area
– Colombus, Ohio: 79.2 miles, 1 h 15 min. Drive on I-70E to OH-723 in Cambridge Township. Take exit 176 from I-70 E. Then make a turn to US-22 E/US-40 E to Wheeling Avenue in Cambridge.
– Cleveland, Ohio: 119 miles, 2 h. Follow I-77 S to US-40 W in Cambridge Township. Take exit 46 from I-77 S. Then turn right onto US-40 W (signs for Cambridge.)
– Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: 108 miles, 1 h 45 min. Take I-79 S and I-70 W to OH-209 W/Southgate Pkwy in Cambridge Township. Take exit 178 from I-70 W. Follow OH-209 W/Southgate Pkwy to Wheeling Avenue.
Dickens Christmas at Cambridge 2023 Calendar
- This year the town of Cambridge will celebrate its 18th year! Dickens Victorian Village will be displayed from November 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023.
- Wednesday, November 1 will be the unveiling of the 2023 Guernsey County Courthouse Light Show, starting at 5.30 p.m. This light show will run nightly.
- Other events that are scheduled for the season are Victorian Teas (2x), Cemetery Tours (2x), and Trolley Tours.
- The Dickens Victorian Village Welcome Center is open Monday – Thursday, 10 am to 6 pm, and Friday – Saturday, 10 am to 7 pm, starting November 1. They will closed early on days before holidays, and closed all days on all holidays.
Have you been to Dickens Victorian Village in Cambridge, Ohio? Or any other towns that have Dickens Victorian Village during the holiday season? Let me know by commenting below. Maybe in the future, I will come and visit during our holiday trips.
In the meantime, I will be very happy if you help share this Dickens Victorian Village in Cambridge, Ohio post with your friends, family, and followers. Thank you in advance! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Last updated: 8/29/2020.
I’ve never heard of this little town before. I can imagine that it would be a perfect destination at Christmas time. I can imagine it just elevates that holiday spirit.
My first time in town, too, that is apparently famous in Ohio and neighboring states. Thanks to the flat tire.
I hate the thought of having a flat tire when travelling home! That said, my kids and I would have absolutely done the same as you. Christmas is my favourite season and if I’m stranded anywhere Christmas in Cambridge is the place to be!
Right? If we didn’t go back to our routine Monday after Thanksgiving, we would spend a night in Cambridge.
Dickens village looks intersting to sat the least. The manniquins all tell an interesting story but they are a little creepy, I can imagine at walking at night makes it even more so!
Haha… Imagine when you arrive in the evening for the very first time.
It’s funny how circumstances can bring on a new discovery, isn’t it? lucky that guy stopped by to help you out. This village is really cute so the road incident worked out well in the end…
Yeah. We drove on this highway every year but didn’t know about the Dickens Village. They should put a billboard on the highway.
I was born and raised in Cambridge, Ohio. I love that they are capitalizing on the heritage, and vintage surroundings. (It is an old place.) I’m always sad when they have to tear down an old place. There are also little shops on the walk full of crafts, antiques and collectables. Much fun to explore.
I hope to make another visit there. I actually thought about spending a night in Cambridge, but it would be a long drive straight home the next day. I’m with you with old places. It’s sad to see them gone one by one.
Like they say somethings happen for a reason. What a lovely little town you got to visit because pf the flat tire. I can see why people come all the way to see these statues, it definitely is a great way to take trip back in time. I’m sure the Christmas parade is equally lovely
Yep! I would have not seen this Victorian Village if we didn’t have flat tire.
Oh it is too frightening to have flat tyre on the middle of road but it is great that you have found cute victorian village to stroll around. As your visit to Dickens victorian village in Ohio is unplanned but then also you have seen something new and you felt that you are transported to old era. I would love to see this cute village to witness those 92 scenes.
Yeah. It’s like blessing in disguise.
What a travel story! Interesting little village. I got to say those statues freak me out a little but glad you got to do some impromptu exploration. 🙂
Haha.. They’re not freaky as you see them in person.
Having a flat tire on a journey can be real bad luck. Thankfully you got someone to help. But its good that you also explored Dickens Victorian Village. All the statues look so old world. And being a chocoholic, I am really intrigued by the Chocolate walk.
It’s like entering a different world. 🙂
How cute is this place? I’ve never even heard of it. I mean, the statues look kind of scary to me but this sounds like a fascinating stop on your journey, even if it was an unplanned one! 🙂
I would say it’s cute. You just have to see it in person. 🙂
That is pretty cool that they have that many statues devoted to the Victorian Village. Thank goodness someone stopped to help change the tire. Unfortunate it happened in the first place but everything happens for a reason I suppose because you were able to explore this nice area.
Right. Everything happens for a reason.
Sorry you had a flat time – that happened to me once while travelling and it sucks. This place looks like a great find.
Definitely!
Sounds like this trip was off to a rough start but ended up being great. I could see this being a really good and interesting trip with kids. Looks like you all had fun!
Adults with love it, too, if they like to dress up in Victorian style.
Sign me up for the Chocolate festival!!! What a great turn of events from a not so fun Flat tire!!! Cheers!!
Who doesn’t like chocolate, right?
I’ve lived in Ohio my whole life and have never heard of Cambridge. I’ll have to check it out!
Oh, my. Yes, you must. I hope it’s not that far from where you live.
What a neat little thing to stumble upon! You never know what kind of crazy things will happen on road trips. Seems they never go as planned. Luckily you got a good experience out of it!! A Chocolate Walk sounds amazing….
We always thought everything would be fine. but, it was fine at the end.
What a great way to make lemonade out of lemons! While it was unexpected, Cambridge turned out to be a great stop. I’ve never seen a Dickens Victorian Village before so this is pretty neat. I love that your son got to enjoy the adventure with you.
I was surprised my son wanted to come with me. Glad he enjoyed it, too.
It’s nice that you could turn some bad luck with a flat tire into an adventure! Pretty cute discovery in that town. I have never seen a town done up with Victorian statues for Christmas like that!
Yeah, we were glad that we could take care of the flat tire, and we got to experience this Victorian Village.
I’ve never heard about this place but it sure seems interesting. Sometimes the best experiences happen by accident. If the flat tire didn’t happen, you wouldn’t have discovered this amazing hidden gem.
You’re right. Never thought about stopping in this town for the past 15 years.
I love it when unexpected things happen on a trip, sometimes these are the most enjoyable! I think it’s lovely that the town celebrates Christmas in this way, I’m from England and I’d never imagined that something like this happened in America. I’m glad everything turned out well for you in the end despite a bumpy start!
Like they said, expect for the unexpected. I read that Ohio has bigger numbers of town named based on cities in England. I think the first settlers who came or built the city were from England.
Sorry for your flat tire! It seems like an little interesting stop though even if you didn’t plan on it.
Yes! For sure.
Hold up. Chocolate Walk?!? SIGN. ME. UP! What a crazy experience for you guys, and I’m really glad you made it home safe! I can’t imagine how frightening that would be realizing that your tire was flat in not so good weather and all the places to get a new one are closed or too busy. Definitely a blessing in disguise here!
Definitely a blessing in disguise. That Chocolate Walk sounds yummy, right?
I have never heard of the village like that, however it looks interesting. It reminds me of a horror movies I have seen but I don’t know if that’s the right connection. I am glad you made it there and managed to repair your flat tire, what an adventure!
I have a few people saying the same thing, and it can be like that. Probably like early in the morning or in the evening. lol.
It’s cool to me that this exists- but i also find it creepy!! I do enjoy the clothes though!
Actually when you see the statues in person they’re not creepy at all. 🙂
That must have been frightening to get a flat tire in the middle of the highway! But what a great discovery and such a neat place to stumble upon.. I love Victorian novels so that world feels very familiar, and it must be a great town to spend Christmas in too.
And it was the busy highway. I made sure we stayed on the sides all the time. I’m happy with our discovery though. It’s pretty neat!