THE white rabbit has his pocketwatch out again to remind people not to be late for a very important date this summer.

The first events for the city’s fourth Alice’s Day on July 9 have now been announced and it looks set to be bigger than ever.

Events are being co-ordinated by the Oxford Story Museum and celebrations will be held in Oxford Castle, the Bodleian Library and city museums.

Co-director Kim Pickin said: “It is all just starting to take shape. It will be the same mix of everything that people have come to know and love.”

Highlights will include an outdoor Jabberwocky performance by the Mad Dogs theatre group, a Mad Hatter’s tea parties, outdoor film screenings and walks along the River Thames.

Ms Pickin said: “The event seems to be building each year. It’s not just local people coming, but fans from further afield and they are even coming from abroad.”

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was written by Lewis Carroll while he was living in Oxford. It was published in 1865.

It tells the story of a young girl who falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world. Along the way, she meets iconic characters like the White Rabbit, Queen of Hearts and the Cheshire Cat.

Ms Pickin said: “I think Alice in Wonderland is so popular because it marked an important turning point in children’s literature.”

She added: “And I think the recent film with Johnny Depp has spiked more people’s interest.”

The event takes place as close as possible to the date when Lewis Carroll first told the story to Alice Liddell on July 4, 1862.

Next year will mark the 150th anniversary of this day and secret plans are already underway for the celebrations.

For more information and to see pictures from last year, visit storymuseum.org.uk/alice or call 01865 790050