KATHERINE MACALISTER looks at what’s being laid on for this year’s extra special Alice Day It’s 150 years since Lewis Carroll first told the story of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Oxford is celebrating big style this year with a whole weekend of events on July 7 and 8.

Highlights include Tea with Alice, tales from the National Storytelling Laureate Katrice Horsley, a 10-minute Alice musical, an Alice sweet shop, and new this year – The Caucus Race.

So here’s our pick of the pops to keep you entertained all weekend: l The Alice flotilla – Lewis Carroll and his friend Robinson Duckworth, together with the three Liddell sisters, will walk down to the river at Folly Bridge from Christ Church and go afloat – just as they did 150 years ago – for the trip upstream to Godstow. A flotilla of boats will accompany them, including two Thames skiffs, the ceremonial shallop Royal Thamesis and a selection of Venetian boats.

lOxford Moonlight Stroll – Nine-mile, night-time sponsored walk with an Alice theme, taking in the dinosaurs in the National History Museum. Walkers are invited to dress up in Wonderland costume.

lStory Museum – The 10-minute Alice musical. Come and see the Caucus Race story, presented by Oxford Girls’ Choir, with opera singer and composer Roderick Williams starring as the Dodo.

lCaucus Race – The Caucus Race will take place in Merton Field. Participants will be joined by a strange array of creatures, from the Dodo to the Dormouse and will involve dance, street theatre and Wonderland games for all ages.

lBlackwell’s Bookshop – An Alice-tastic day full of activities for families of all ages, including Alice craft activities and an all-day reading of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

lThe Quadrangle – National Laureate of Storytelling Katrice Horsley takes you down the rabbit hole, or through the garden trellis or into the magic tea cup to see what story you create together.

lOxford Botanic Garden – Family picnic afternoon in the garden where Lewis Carroll used to meet the Liddell family. Live music and storytelling.

lChrist Church Cathedral – Treasure hunt in the home of the real-life Alice, with a nice surprise at the end!

lMuseum of the History of Science – Explore the Museum with a camera, and help to create an Alice’s anniversary album.

lMuseum of Oxford and Town Hall – Family arts and crafts, storytelling and music – plus a space to sit down and relax with your family. Craft activities cost £1.50 per person and will be available all day.

lOxford Castle Quarter and Unlocked – Giant croquet, Alice-inspired arts and crafts, Wonderful Wonderland storytelling sessions with local actress Lucy Walters. Alice-themed eating and drinking, with Mad Hatter’s tea parties including one for grown ups in The Living Room with Alice-inspired cocktails and canapé menu and Alice-inspired film screenings. For families there is tea in Castle Gardens.

lScience Oxford – Alice’s Day Discovery Zone Trail solving Wonderland challenges such as how to help the White Rabbit find the fastest route to the tea party, make the Cheshire Cat disappear and solve the Mad Hatter’s riddles.

lAshmolean – a Mad Hatter’s tea party on the Ashmolean Museum’s rooftop terrace.

lWaterstones – book signings by relatives of the real Alice Liddell.

lWalks and talks – local historian Mark Davies takes you along the river and gives a series of anniversary talks.