May Faire in Wonderland

“Curiouser and curiouser!”

The May Faire is Victorian history with a twist.

We will be celebrating the story of Alice in Wonderland this year as well as the storied history of Hezekiah & Agnes Smith and the Smithville Mansion with a free event for the whole family.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (often called Alice in Wonderland) was written by Lewis Carrol in 1865. The story features many famous characters like the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit, the Queen of Hearts and, of course, Alice herself, all who you will find wandering the grounds of the Historic Smithville Mansion.

Built in 1840, the mansion is the former home of Hezekiah B. Smith, an inventor, entrepreneur, and politician who founded the company town of Smithville in the late 1800s, an international center for the production of woodworking machinery and the Star Bicycle.

Join a whimsical adventure learning the lore and facts about the special trees that grace our park culminating in a tea party with the Mad Hatter, play croquet with the Queen of Hearts, dance the May Pole, and experience the enchanting Bubbleverse, Magic Lantern, and theatrical and musical performances. There will be fun for everyone as May Faire goes down the rabbit hole.

o Mad Hatter’s Tree Party – both trees and teas with the Mad Hatter, our Parks Naturalists and Characters from Alice in Wonderland – performed by Fortune’s Folly with refreshments by Tea-For-All.
o Alice in Wonderland by Riddlesbrood Touring Theater
o Wandering Wonderland Characters
o The Magical Bubbleverse
o The Queen of Hearts Croquet Game
o Giant Lawn Chess Game
o American Magic Lantern Theater
o Horn’s Punch & Judy Show
o May Pole and Millstone River Morris Dancers.
o Fantasy Face Painting and balloon artist (additional charge to benefit the Friends of the Mansion at Smithville)
o Screening of Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland”
o Historic Arts & Crafts Demonstrations; Blacksmith, NYC Tintype Photography, Yarn spinning and soap making.
o Tours of the stately Historic Smithville Mansion decorated with period furniture ($5 additional benefitting the Friends of the Mansion at Smithville) and tours of the grounds (Free)
o The New Jersey Wheelmen will be displaying their vintage bicycles
o Vintage Baseball Exhibition Game; Athletic Baseball Club of Philadelphia and the Hunky Dora teams playing by 1864 rules.
o Artisan Marketplace with talented local artisans displaying a variety of handmade items.
o History groups from all over Burlington County sharing their stories.
o 2nd PA Regiment encampment
o Live Music
o Libby Prison Minstrels
o Shameless Band
o Kids Craft Activities
o Horse & Carriage rides
o Beer Garden to support the Burlington County Saint Patrick’s Parade
o Foodies bring your appetites; we’ll have Food Trucks!