Low tech â€" and low attendance â€" marked the vibe at the Dickens Holiday in Tacoma's Stadium District this weekend.  A huge shame as the district put on a great show.

The Weekly Volcano started at Taqueria El Guadalajara (the Queen’s Stage), where we had a delicious Mexican lunch to the sounds of the Ladies in Red Sax Quartet.  A group of very impressive carolers wished us a merry Christmas as we finished up, and then we all had a laugh at the Entertainmen Jugglers.  My daughter noted the “safety violation” that was knife juggling, and I noted that the young guys put on a good show, even if the audience primarily did consist of the Ladies in Red, with a smattering of others.

As we walked to King’s Books (also, the King’s Stage) to pick up a book I had ordered, my daughter excitedly saw the horse-drawn carriage.  As I talked to Kris at Vin Grotto on my cell phone only to have our ride stolen by a wandering dude with a British accent and Victorian garb. We retrieved it at Rankos, (Picadilly Circus) where Santa entertained my daughter, who was only a trifle petrified, and then I whined to get a horsey-ride, but alas, the carriage was full.

So we hoofed it on human feet to King's, where the Victorian Music Hall Show was setting up, and where an impressive crowds had assembled earlier in the day to watch Punch and Judy, Peter Berry (Celtic Harpist and storyteller) and the Ladies in Red.

I was dying to see my first Punch and Judy show, though, so we trotted up the street to the “Royal Courtyard” in front of the First Presbyterian Church, where I laughed harder than I have in a long time.  Though the puppets were reminiscent of Mr Rogers’ friends, the stories â€" a sweet retelling of "St. George and the Dragon," a hilarious Christmas tree tale, and a Punch and Judy tale to top it all off â€" were timeless, well-timed, and sharper than St. George’s sword (which was a butter knife.)

Finally, I stopped to ooooh and aaaah at the beauty, fashion, and really good hair (thanks to Angelo Mendi salon) at the Tiki Lounge’s fashion show.

It was a cool day I feel lucky to have been a part of; thanks to all the work and energy that was put forward by the Stadium merchants to make it happen. â€" Jessica Corey-Butler