Mad Hatter Tea Party

Fanciful, mischievous and absolutely mad! A tea party fit for the Mad Hatter herself.

On May 13th, the City of Marco Island held its annual Mad Hatter Tea Party at the Family Church. All were invited to attend the Alice in Wonderland themed event in celebration of Mother’s Day.

The tea party, now in its seventh year, was born out of Recreation Manager Lola Dial’s love for teapots and

tea culture. Each year Dial brings out teapots from her own personal collection to be used for the party.

“I’ve been collecting teapots since I was a little girl,” explained Dial. “I have so many that I can’t even put them all out!”

Besides providing the necessary teapots, Dial plays the role of the nonsensical Mad Hatter. Once she dons her oversized hat, she gets into character and silliness

ensues.

Attendees also came dressed to impress, wearing their most elegant tea party attire. Great-grandmother Neola Butt, of Nebraska was there with her two great-grandchildren, Laelia and Aurora. The girls wore matching headbands adored with big blue flowers and Butt wore a complimentary pink headband.

Festivities kicked off with arts and crafts. Mothers and their children made jewelry boxes, necklaces, DIY Kool-Aid lip-glosses, and, with the help of the

Mad Hatter, planted flowers in pots they had decorated themselves.

After the crafts were complete tea party goers were taken to the magical tearoom. Teapots of all shapes and sizes sat on the long tables, giant playing cards acted as silverware settings, and each plate was lined with lace doilies. Imagery from the 2010 Alice in Wonderland film plastered the walls. It looked as if Lewis Carroll decorated

the room himself.

Due to construction of the new Mackle Park building, the party was somewhat smaller than previous years. But, despite having to work with less space, Dial and her crew pulled together to make the tea party one mothers and their daughters won’t soon forget.

Though no fathers attended this year, Dial says that they are more than welcome to attend: Something to keep in mind for the tea parties to come.