The Trenton City Museum hosted a Mad Hatter tea party Sunday in conjunction with its "Alice Revisited" art exhibit for the 150th anniversary of the book's publication.
TRENTON - The Trenton City Museum celebrated the 150th anniversary of the publication of Alice in Wonderland with a very merry unbirthday and "Mad Hatter" tea party Sunday.
The tea party - serving Alice-themed cookies, sandwiches and tea - was in conjunction with the museum's newest art exhibit "Alice Revisited," which features local and international artists' interpretations of the classic story by Lewis Carroll.
"We went for the whole Alice shtick," Jean Bickal, president of the Museum Society, said. "It's the perfect day to come celebrate Alice."
An Alice doll sits next to a cookie platter decorated for the Mad Hatter tea party at the Trenton City Museum Sunday Nov. 29, 2015. Along with Alice-themed decorations and crafts, there was a "mad hatter" character who walked the room, a game of croquet, "mad hatter" hats given to attendees and a ukulele player performed live music.
Bickal said the museum committee wanted to highlight the book - penned by English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson under the Carroll name - instead of Disney's popular cartoon version.
"I think so often people just remember the movie," Bickal said. "The book itself, there's a lot more there."
Besides if we did Disney we would need some sort of permission," she added with a laugh.
Lawrence resident Ellen Madigan - there with daughters Beatrice Moore, 2, and Charlotte Moore, 6, - said she enjoyed coming out to an event that is interesting for both her and her young children.
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"It's a great way to introduce Alice in Wonderland to kids," Madigan said. "It's a different way to celebrate the story other than the Disney version. And I can get out and look at art."
A car collage by Valerie Young displayed in the Trenton City Museum's "Alice Revisited" exhibit. Madigan also said Charlotte loves tea parties so it was the perfect event.
"We usually have a tea party every other day," Madigan said.
The exhibit was in the room next to the tea party where adults could view the artworks which features various acrylic paintings, sculptures, watercolor paintings, collages and more depicting scenes from Alice in Wonderland.
The artists included Valerie Young, Eric Schultz, Rhoda Kassof-Isaac, Dallas Piotrowski and Csilla Sadloch.
"It's really a beautiful space," Madigan said.
Lindsay Rittenhouse may be reached at lrittenhouse@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
