Editor’s pick: Dickens festival

We’re not sure that the sunny hamlet of Riverside has nearly enough street urchins running around in fingerless mittens; nevertheless, it will host the annual literary festival celebrating author Charles Dickens and his most sustaining creations, including “Oliver Twist” and “David Copperfield.” Activities and entertainment will include costumed characters, an ale house, plays, dancing, fashion shows and Victorian tomfoolery. It will surely be the best of times but, we hope, not the worst of times. Riverside Dickens Festival at the Riverside Convention Center, 3443 Orange St. Social hour and banquet, 6 p.m. Fri. 9:45 p.m.-5 p.m. Sat-Sun. dickensfest.com.