Jeanne Garant: First Dickens Festival Got Off to a Shaky But Successful Start

Jeanne Garant said that some of the biggest challenges kicking off the first in Port Jefferson came from Mother Nature. The bell tolling ceremony that signaled the start of the festival took place at the on East Main Street. But since the bell hadn't been used in a while, some unexpected creatures had taken up residence in the bell tower and when the bell was rung bats literally flew from the belfry.

In this first part of a series of interviews with this year'shonoree, former mayor and founder of the Dickens festival Jeanne Garant talks about her experiences launching what has become a beloved tradition in Port Jefferson Village, lo these many years.

Watch , , and of our interview with Jeanne Garant, founder of the Dickens Festival in Port Jefferson.