Queen’s Birthday Party Moves to Wonderland

With Easter come and gone early this year, there’s all the more reason to mark calendars for an April social highlight. The British Embassy Residence will open its doors April 19 in the western San José suburb of Escazú for the sixth annual Queen’s Birthday Garden Party (QBP).

The day offers fun and games for the whole family. This year’s theme follows “Alice in Wonderland,” so picnic goers can start searching for their Cheshire Cat, dust off the dormouse and prepare to meet the Queen of Hearts for some offbeat entertainment.

This is also the time for the young and young-at-heart to dress up in Wonderland costumes for the fancy dress contests.

As regular QBP goers know, there’s plenty for everyone and every age. The main stage features choirs and bands from local schools, Scottish dancing, theatrical snippets and raffle draws for great prizes. A second stage hosts popular musicians ranging from folk to rock to get people moving to the mood and working up an appetite for delicacies provided at the many food outlets – plus there’s a British produce stand, the tea tent and, of course, the pub.

Each year, the QBP raises thousands of dollars for its charitable cause of Schools in Need. Last year mustered $21,000, which was used on equipment and building work for several underprivileged schools as well as specialized teaching devices needed for the 230 students with physical and mental disabilities at the SpecialEducationCenter in Heredia, north of San José. This year’s focus will be the Ciudad de los Niños in Cartago, east of the capital, which provides secondary and technical education for underprivileged boys age 14 to 17. The goal is to donate a tractor for their agricultural program.

The Queen’s Birthday Party will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the British Embassy Residence in Los Laureles, Escazú. Ample guarded parking will be available. Admission is ¢2,000 ($4) for adults, ¢1,000 ($2) for kids under 12 and free for kids under 5. For further details, e-mail Kate Cruse at the British Embassy at kate.cruse@fco.gov.uk.