SALEM — The Salem Federation of Women’s Clubs is inviting the community to join them in Wonderland for a special themed tea party.

The Mad Hatter Tea Party will be held at the Smucker House at 271 S. Broadway Ave. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 24. The tea party will include a luncheon with themed snacks including vegetable and meat and cheese skewers, fruit cups, “Rabbit Food” veggie cups, tomato and string cheese mushrooms, Rice Krispy treat cards, and traditional cucumber finger sandwiches and Victorian jam sandwiches. There will also be multiple Alice in Wonderland-themed activities for children in the pollinator garden, weather permitting, including a Chesire Cat-themed event, card stacking, a ping pong ball in a cup game, and the Queen of Hearts Says.

Kelly Bush, Tea Party committee chair and Smucker House vice president, said that she would be dressing as the Mad Hatter, and that another committee member would be dressing as the Queen of Hearts. Attendees are welcome to dress in costumes also, but stressed it is not required.

“They’re welcome to wear costumes as well. I can see some kids that would like to dress as Alice in her little blue dress, or the Chesire cat, or white rabbit, things like that. They don’t have to, it’s completely up to them,” said Bush.

Bush said that the event had been conceived as a way to involve the next generation in the organization’s programming, and as an opportunity for the community to gather in the tradition of an English tea party.

“We thought it was a good idea to involve children in our programming. Thinking about the future of the house, we want to get the next generation started, and learn about the house and what we do,” said Bush. “We kind of also thought it would be a good community event. I know people that don’t have children or grandchildren, but they’re welcome to borrow some neighbor’s grandchildren and bring them and give their parents a break. It’s a nice way to get people together which is the history of a tea; it’s not about the food, it’s about the communication and the interaction.”

Bush also said it would be an opportunity for younger residents to gain a sense of the history of the Smucker House and of the city at large, and of the English tea tradition.

“This is an old century home which can give them a feel of the history in [Salem] and of the idea of English teas — with a twist,” she said.

The event costs $15 per adult and $10 per child, with advance registration required so the appropriate amount of food can be prepared. Those interested in attending should RSVP by messaging the Federation’s Facebook page with the number of adult and children’s tickets needed, name, address, and a phone number to confirm the reservation, or by emailing the same information to ccaldwell663@icloud.com.

Bush urged anyone interested in the event to RSVP sooner rather than later, and said they were asking attendees to pay in advance if possible. Checks can be mailed in advance to the house and should be made payable to the Salem Federation of Women’s Club’s.

mahart@mojonews.com