The Curiosity Gala

Join us for The Curiosity Gala on July 25, 2025, as we celebrate the 45th Annual Dickens Universe Conference!

Now open to the public, this enchanting evening invites community members to don their finest Victorian attire and enjoy a night of lively entertainment—including Victorian dance lessons, casino tables, a raffle, postprandial potations, and a live auction!

Hosted by the Dickens Project, the Dickens Universe is a unique cultural event that brings together scholars, teachers, students, and members of the general public for a week of stimulating discussion and festive social activity on the beautiful Santa Cruz campus of the University of California—all focused on one or two Victorian novels, with this year’s novel being Charels Dickens’s The Old Curiosity Shop.

The week-long conference culminates in The Curiosity Gala—a festive celebration that brings together conference attendees and community members. Purchases from the evening’s activities will support the Dickens Project’s educational programs.

Tickets are $50 benefiting the Dickens Project's educational programs.