It's Mad Hatter Weekend in Coconut Grove

The 10th Annual Mad Hatter Arts Festival is this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, November 15 and 16 at The Barnacle State Park (inside and out).

Above, Felice Dubin, left, from the Bookstore in the Grove, donates a bunch of colorful hats to Louis Del Borrello, one of the board members at The Barnacle.


Ran into my friend Uta, Grove artist, setting up on Friday for the weekend. She's got one of the first booths as you enter the grounds. Uta is just off a very successful weekend of showing (and selling) art at the Fairchild Gardens Ramble.


Mostly art, there is also live music, some food, games contests and really a lot of fun. A lot of it is out back on the big lawn but it spills out onto Commodore Plaza where you are sure to see lots of people dressed up for the occassion. 

At the end of each day (around 3 pm) there will be a contest for "Maddest Hatter" aka the person with the most outrageous head gear to win prizes from local Coconut Grove businesses.


From last year, this is Liz Gibson,the Queen of Hearts and Audrey Scott, the Mad Hatter. 
On Saturday at 7 pm, there will be an outdoor picnic-style viewing of the Original Disney classic "Alice in Wonderland" movie projected on the big screen out back.

There will be plenty of arts and crafts and you will also be able to make your own creation at the free Chalk It Up event at the parking lot next to GreenStreet on Commodore Plaza. They will provide you with a space and some chalks and you supply the creativity.

Get a funky hat, dress up and join in both days from 10 am to 5 pm.

Friday, as tents we up, artist lugufelo has already displayed some of his colorful installations on the back lawn, ready for a big weekend.