Mad Hatter is back for crazy Halloween weekend

Halloween in Coconut Grove is a very popular event and there are always crowds and parties going on around the village, this year, adding to the excitement of the weekend is the return of the Mad Hatter Arts Festival.

The crazy art festival is back for its 7th season on Saturday and Sunday, October 29 and 30 from 10 am to 5 pm each day.

The Barnacle (3485 Main Highway) is the center of activities but artists will be strewn along the sidewalks of Main Highway, from the Cloisters to Calamari. This juried event features artists of all types of media and it's a throwback to the "old Grove," in that it's very organic and eclectic and as you stroll under the large shady banyan trees, you get a feel of old town America. And of course, whenever you head onto The Barnacle property, it's a throwback to the 1800s.

Something new this year is the Chalk It Up! street painting festival, which is a first for Miami. This art form dates to 16th century Italy where artists traveled from town to town, religious festival to religious festival, transforming streets into temporary art galleries. Many towns around Florida have the festival yearly and hopefully this is the start of something new for Miami.

Chalk It Up! will be held in the Coconut Grove Playhouse parking lot on Main Highway. The inaugural them is "Through the Looking Glass," keeping with the Mad Hatter and Alice in Wonderland theme.

Additionally, "Watch Art Happen" will be ongoing throughout the weekend. Artists are invited to participate in this new element of the Mad Hatter Arts Festival, joining fellow artists painting en plein air on the streets of Coconut Grove.

As always, music is a highlight of the Mad Hatter, plus there is a participatory drum circle, various hat contests to enter and activities for kids of all ages. Special drinks and treats will be offered at participating restaurants and eateries. Return with a picnic to The Barnacle on Saturday evening when the gates open at 7 pm for a 60th anniversary showing of the classic, Alice in Wonderland. The movie begins at 8 pm with no entry after 8:15. Movie tickets are $5 per person for ages 6 and over; $3 for ages 2-5; and free for ages under 2.

For a sneak peak at the tent artists’ work, The Barnacle Society has arranged a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party as the opening reception on Friday, October 28 from 6-9 pm on the front lawn of The Barnacle. This quirky lawn party celebrates the opening of the Mad Hatter Arts Festival. Guests are advised to bring their own teacup and follow the white rabbit through the looking glass and down the rabbit hole to The Barnacle to a Wonderland where Tea Party Fare will be served and there will be a cash bar. Wonderland-themed costumes are encouraged.

Reservations are required with a fee of $20 per person for members of The Barnacle Society; $25 per person for non-members; and $30 for all after the rsvp deadline of October 21. Reservations and payment for the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party may be made at http://www.thebarnacle.org/.

Proceeds from the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party will be used for the care and maintenance of The Barnacle.For more information about the Mad Hatter Arts Festival, visit http://www.madhatterartsfestival.com/ or check it out on Facebook or follow on Twitter.

Meanwhile, there’s time to make that zany hat to wear!