One‑Day "Wonderland" festival in Colorado Springs

Old Colorado City’s Wonderland-themed spring festival returns as a one-day event built around family activities, costumed entertainment and local shopping on Saturday, March 21. (gazette.com) The event is the second annual Spring Wonderland Festival, and organizers said it will spread across Colorado Avenue and Bancroft Park in Colorado Springs. Old Colorado City Associates’ Tiffany Dahl told The Gazette the district has more than 200 small businesses, with at least 20 taking part in the festival. (gazette.com) The public schedule centers on “Mad Hatter Saturday,” a free event listed from noon to 6 p.m. in Old Colorado City. PeakRadar and Old Colorado City’s event page say activities include a tea party, hat decorating, costume contests, photo booths, face painting, games, live music and character meet-and-greets. (peakradar.com, shopoldcoloradocity.com) The festival is laid out in three themed zones along West Colorado Avenue. Old Colorado City’s event page lists the Mad Hatter Tea Party at Bancroft Park, Alice’s Wonderland at 2501 W. Colorado Ave., and the Queen’s Court near 2611 W. Colorado Ave. (shopoldcoloradocity.com) A separate Wonderland Vendor Market is scheduled from noon to 5 p.m. at 2506 W. Colorado Ave. The listing says shoppers can expect local artisans, handmade crafts, treats, photo opportunities and activities presented with Everyday Girl Adventures. (happeningnext.com, everydaygirladventures.com) Most of the festival is free, but one featured activity carries a ticket price. The Gazette reported the family event is free overall, while the tea party costs $10. (gazette.com) Organizers are using the Alice in Wonderland theme to turn a neighborhood promotion into a street festival. Dahl told The Gazette the goal is to “get people excited about Old Colorado City” and give businesses along Colorado Avenue a way to participate. (gazette.com) The format also builds on an existing Old Colorado City tradition. PeakRadar lists Mad Hatter Saturday as a prior Old Colorado City Association event in March 2025, and this year’s festival expands that idea with vendor booths, multiple activity zones and themed stops inside nearby shops. (peakradar.com, shopoldcoloradocity.com) For families, the pitch is simple: dress up, walk Colorado Avenue and move between crafts, performances and local storefronts in a single afternoon. For Old Colorado City merchants, it is a spring foot-traffic event tied directly to the district’s small-business corridor. (gazette.com, shopoldcoloradocity.com)