FAMILIES will be able to follow Alice in Wonderland for the second time on a trail celebrating one of Oxford’s most famous authors.

In 2007, the Story Museum charity organised Alice’s Day, a day-long festival of events celebrating the Alice in Wonderland stories and its author Lewis Carroll, in real life Christ Church maths don Charles Dodgson.

The first Alice's Day took a year of planning and was the largest citywide event the charity has coordinated so far.

It was such a success, with 6,000 people taking part, that the Story Museum has decided to run it again this year, on Saturday, July 4.

Alice’s Day organiser Esther Browning said: “This is a unique and exciting way to bring a classic story to life for children today.”

She said Alice’s Day commemorated “an important moment for children’s literature and for Oxford”, with Alice becoming one of the most popular and most translated children’s books ever written and marking the birth of modern children’s literature.

Oxford has since become a world centre of children’s stories and inspirational home to many famous authors and illustrators, including Kenneth Grahame, CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien and Philip Pullman.

Ms Browning added: “Ultimately, it would be great if we could make Alice’s Day an annual event for the city — it’s fun for families and it is linked to the heritage of the city.

“The Lewis Carroll Society contributed last time by displaying some photographs and the society will be involved again this year.”

This year’s trail will take in: l Displays of Alice treasures at several venues l White rabbits performing on street corners l Storytellers in college quads l Performances, talks, games and activities l A tea party picnic in the Botanic Garden.

The Story Museum is a registered charity which is seeking a permanent base in Oxford for a children’s books centre.

afrench@oxfordmail.co.uk