Third annual Mad Hatter’s Easter Festival April 23

Waynesboro will once again welcome spring to the Valley with the annual Mad Hatter’s Easter Festival on Saturday, April 23.

The Mad Hatter and the Moms Club’s White Rabbit will open the gates to the Easter Festival in Waynesboro’s Constitution Park at 10:30 a.m. For the next three hours, the park will be the place for magic, puppets, music, juggling, stilt walking, free pony rides, obstacle courses and arts and crafts. The Mad Hatter will also be joined by other characters from Alice in Wonderland, including the White Rabbit, Alice, the Red Queen and a set of her Cards.

The annual event is a joint project of the Shenandoah Valley Art Center, The Wayne Theatre Alliance, The Waynesboro Cultural Commission, and the Waynesboro YMCA.

The Blue Ridge Magicians of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, Ring 320, will take over the Green Valley Book Fair Stage for two hours of magic. Appearing on the show will be Steve the Magic Guy, Tobini Magic and other area magicians.

The Waynesboro Kiwanis arts and crafts area will provide face painting and assorted arts and crafts projects with the help of the Shenandoah Valley Art Center.

Performing under the Parrott Orthodontics’ yellow canopy will be a variety of live entertainers. The Global Puppet Ministry of Galen and Alice Heatwole, will perform at 11 a.m. They will be followed by juggler David Stuart, at noon.

The YMCA will provide a family fun area with an obstacle course and team building games. The area is sponsored by Rockfish Gap Outfitters.

Free pony rides will be provided by Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative and the Rotary Club of Waynesboro/East Augusta Stilt Walker will entertain throughout the event.

At 1 p.m. the Mad Hatter will end the day with a hunt for the White Rabbit’s special eggs sponsored by the Waynesboro Cultural Commission. Treats will be provided by support from Sheetz, Hershey Chocolate of Virginia, Books-A-Million, Oriental Trading, and McKee Foods. Children will be divided into age appropriate groups for the hunt.

Thanks to support from local businesses and organizations, the Mad Hatter’s Easter Festival’s admissions fee is only $2 per person or $5 per family. Food and beverages are available at an additional charge.

In case of inclement weather, the Mad Hatter’s Easter Parade will be moved to the Waynesboro YMCA.