The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party will become a reality in Minehead’s Blenheim Gardens on Saturday when characters from the Alice in Wonderland story invite local families and visitors to share four hours of children’s entertainment.

The fun afternoon, the first of its kind in Minehead, is organised by the volunteer community organisation Gateway Events. Proceeds from the day will go towards this year’s Minehead Christmas Festival.

Entry is free, and local cafés and restaurants will sell picnic party food so that families can join the Mad Hatter and his friends at tables under the trees.

Other entertainment, taking place from noon to 4pm, includes an Easter egg hunt, fairground attractions, various crafts, face-painting, bouncy castles and rides along The Avenue in a steam lorry.

Gateway Events chairman Bill Howard thanked local organisations that had made the day possible and said it was part of a programme of events “which will make each year bigger and better than the last”.