Oxford will be turned into a Wonderland for Alice’s Day

Alice’s Day returns on Saturday, July 4, with a programme of family-friendly events, performances and interactive experiences inspired by Lewis Carroll’s beloved character.

The festival marks the anniversary of the first telling of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, shared by Charles Dodgson with Alice Liddell and her sisters during a boating trip from Folly Bridge in 1862.

Events will take place across the city at venues including The Story Museum, Alice’s Shop, the Bodleian Library, Christ Church, the Museum of Oxford and Oxford Botanic Garden.

Conrad Bodman, CEO of The Story Museum, said: “We’re proud that Alice’s Day has become such firm fixture in Oxford’s cultural calendar.”

A highlight of this year’s celebrations will be a street theatre performance by Creation Theatre, reimagining Alice as she chases the White Rabbit.

At Westgate, Rough Magic Theatre will present the Jabberwock using a mix of shadow puppetry and live singing.

Visitors will be able to try their hand at croquet in the Master’s Garden at Christ Church and attend a Magic Lantern show in the Dodgson Room.

The Museum of Oxford will offer a special Hands-On History session exploring the objects and stories connected to Alice’s Day.

At the Weston Library, storyteller Lucy Walters will perform tales from Wonderland.

The Bodleian Library will also host talks from the Lewis Carroll Society.

The Story Museum will offer half-price entry to its galleries, including Small Worlds, and a full day of themed activities.

These will include face painting, poetry with the Oxford Poetry Library, a giant interactive board game, and a talk by author Anna James about her latest book, Alice With a Why.

Afternoon tea will be served in the Story Museum’s Magic Common Room, with traditional sandwiches, cakes, and treats.

The event is sponsored this year by law firm Howes Percival.

Alice’s Day is held on the first Saturday of July each year, close to the date of Carroll’s original storytelling in 1862.

The festival commemorates not just a story, but a turning point in children’s literature and Oxford’s literary legacy.

Mr Bodman said: “Over the years, we’ve welcomed Alice fans from around the world who want to celebrate an enduring literary icon.”

After the publication of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Oxford became known worldwide as a centre for children’s storytelling, inspiring writers such as Kenneth Grahame, CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien and Philip Pullman.