Opa!

Dallas goddesses descend on Arboretum for big, fat Greek Mad Hatter's 2024

Dallas' most over-the-top spring luncheon, Mad Hatter's 2024, brought out more sorority sisters, goddesses, and Olympic dreamers than a Panhellenic party during Rush Week at SMU. (Well, almost.)

With the theme "Gardens of Greece," event chair Allison Brodnax hoped to transport guests from the already-beautiful Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden to the absolutely stunning Greek isles.

"When I think of Greece, I think of gorgeous flowers, delicious food, friendly people, and a lively spirit," she wrote in the event program.

Check, check, check, and check.

More than 520 guests at the April 18 soiree mingled around the Ginsburg Plaza to take selfies and group portraits, pausing just long enough to fuel up with Greek Mojitos and Santorini Sunrise cocktails and nibble on passed spanakopita triangles.

Attendees took the theme very seriously: There were entire groups of toga-clad Grecian goddesses topped with gold crowns, lots of Olympic flag-adorned hats, laurel wreaths, and even a few full bridal veils as a nod to My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

Small crowds formed around the silent auction tables, featuring fabulous trips, local shopping experiences, jewelry, and more. A photo booth sponsored by longtime event supporters Lisa Meyer and Venise Stuart was a popular stop, too.

When it was time to gather inside Rosine Hall, elegant emcee Cleo Greene, WFAA/Channel 8 anchor-reporter, opened the festivities and championed the work of the Women's Council of the Dallas Arboretum, this year led by president Karen Sargent. Sargent, Brodnax, and Mad Hatter's honorary chair Barbara Bigham encouraged attendees to visit the event's beneficiary, A Woman's Garden.

In a surprise announcement, Sargent revealed that the Women's Council this summer will embark on a major project in A Woman's Garden: restructuring and redeveloping the 25-year-old Pecan Parterre.

"We're going to be adding all-new accessible walkways, beautiful new trees, and a variety of plantings," she said, adding that a reopening celebration would take place in the fall.

Following remarks, a fashion presentation produced by Jan Strimple showcased looks from NorthPark Center that gave serious summer-yacht vacation vibes. Guests could follow along on the handy printed "fashion menu" and circle the looks they loved (shown on statuesque female models and a couple male models who proved very popular with the giddy crowd). Fashions were from NorthPark retailers Etro, Scanlan Theodore, Ted Baker London, St. John, and Nordstrom, with beauty by Byredo.

The highlight of Mad Hatter's each year is the hat competition, adjudicated by celebrity judges who pick winners in several cleverly named categories:

Kristen Gibbins, general manager of NorthPark Center, presented the "Greek Mythology" prize to Elizabeth Smith. Smith's Mount Olympus "12 Greek Gods in the Clouds" hat featured real smoke.

Kameron Westcott, television personality, influencer and entrepreneur, presented the "Greek Life" (Sorority) award to mother-daughter team (and Chi Omega legacies) Mackenzie Oman and Cindy Williams.

Nathan Johnson, creative director and owner of Gro Designs, presented the award for "Best Botanical Using Fresh Flowers" to Dr. Linda Burk.

Sabina Carr, CEO of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, presented the "Olympic Games" prize to Kristen Scott, Sarah Fletcher, and Karen Schaffer. (Of course, the "Olympic fanfare" played as they walked on stage to accept their prize ribbons.)

Esé Azenabor-Grembowski, owner and creative director/head designer for namesake brand Esé Azenabor, presented the award for "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" to Tammany Stern. Not only did Stern's hat showcase key elements of the film - including a real Bundt cake that she baked herself - but she carried around a bottle of Windex as an accessory.

Patti Flowers, owner and chief designer of the Patti Flowers Design Studio, presented "Greek Goddesses" prizes to Deborah McKeever’s group of Sea Goddesses and Reagan Pace’s group of My Greek College Life. While McKeever's group stuck closely to the theme, Pace's friends topped hats with beer pong cups.

Clouds blotted out the bright, sunny skies, but rain held off as attendees sat down to lunch under tents and around the patio surrounding Rosine Hall.

At tables set with dainty blue and white damask table clothes topped with gorgeous pink florals compliments of Gro Designs and Central Market, guests dined on a Mediterranean-inspired feast of Greek veggies, couscous, and tabooli; lemon chicken with fresh herbs and artichoke sauce; mini tarts for dessert; and plenty of hummus and pita for the table. Wine stewards kept glasses filled with crisp white wine and Mumm Sparkling brut and rose.

Attendees adjusted their hats for some final photos, scooped up adorable J. Rae's cookies in the shapes of lemons and olive branches, and picked up their swag bags filled with goodies from Eataly and even a tiny bottle of limoncello.

Celebrating its 36th year, Mad Hatter's Luncheon has been an ongoing fundraising event sponsored by the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Money raised assist with the development, growth and maintenance of A Woman’s Garden, a major garden at the Arboretum.

Photo by Thomas Garza and Rob Wythe

The event was decorated with gorgeous floral installations, including pink Bougainvillea, by Gro Designs.

charity galas gardening luncheons mad hatters 2024 northpark center spring luncheon

Mosaic of millinery

Mad Hatter's 2026 brings beautiful tableau of chapeaux to Dallas Arboretum

undefined

It is tradition that each chair of the Dallas Mad Hatter's Luncheon should choose a new theme for each new year - to start with a blank canvas, so to speak. But if a future chair were to repeat the 2026 theme "The Art of the Garden," it's hard to fathom anyone would complain.

This year's most-anticipated spring luncheon wove the setting itself - the Dallas Arborteum and Botanical Garden - into an event mosaic of marvelous millinery, modeling of fine fashion, and mingling with friends over food and drink.

The artsy theme was chosen by chairs Reagan Pace, Sheridan Reeder, and honorary chair Anne Stodghill as a way to honor the Dallas arts community, including the city's museums, artists, the Dallas Art Fair, and the burgeoning gallery scene. It also happened to coincide - "as if we had commissioned it ourselves," they write in the program - with sculpture artist Hunt Slonem's large-scale exhibition, "Bunnies, Birds & Butterflies," which had just opened on the grounds of the Arboretum days before the April 25 luncheon.

Like any masterpiece, Mad Hatter's 2026 also took some risks, rearranged some focal points, and elicited emotion from those in attendance - from awe to "aw dang, it's warm out here."

Now in its 38th year, Mad Hatter's remains the beloved fundraising event sponsored by the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. It's also one of the most coveted tickets in town.

Mad Hatter's 2026 This group went all in on a Monet "Water Lilies" theme. Photo by Ashley Gongora

A few hundred VIPs mingled on the Ginsburg Plaza, clad in their finest floral frocks and with bubbly in hand, for a first look at each other's hats and the first chance to bid on silent auction items. Guests went all out in their execution of the "art" theme - from fascinators featuring Monet's "Water Lilies" to big hats with paint brushes and palettes.

It was also the first time folks got to view the new set-up for the event's fashion show. Instead of the traditional catwalk inside Rosine Hall, the runway would be the al fresco pathway through the garden between Rosine and A Tasteful Place (a risk, considering it had been a cloudy, windy morning). Pretty paper parasols had been placed on each seat, which would prove useful not only as sun protection, but as seat place holders.

At 11 am, clouds parted, the sun came out, and the crowd of about 500 took their seats (and opened their parasols) for the fashion show featuring the designs of acclaimed Dallas designer Esé Azenabor. The unmistakable intro to Abba's "Dancing Queen" came over the speakers, and to the audience's surprise and delight, a group of little girls - not grown-up fashion models - appeared on the stage. Walking two by two on the runway, they modeled Azenabor's darling new children's collection.

Then, legendary fashion show producer Jan Strimple began sending models out to showcase more than 50 stunning looks by Azenabor, including breathtaking ballgowns and wedding gowns with intricate ornamentation and draping. The audience was so close to the runway that the rhythmic "swishing" of silk and "clinking" of beading could be heard as the models walked by. "I felt like I was Anna Wintour at the front row of Fashion Week," one attendee could be overheard saying. The program provided descriptions and prices for all the designs - from slightly less than $1,000 to $28,000 - adding to the fairy tale of it all.

Mad Hatter's 2026 One of the stunning couture gowns in the Ese Azenabor fashion show. Photo by Ashley Gongora

Instead of the luncheon following the fashion show this year, an outdoor reception took place around the plaza. Here, the hat judges got up-close looks at the most impressive creations of the day, and guests posed for each other's photos and videos. DJ Lucy Wrubel - wearing a party-ready hat topped with a champage bottle - kept the beats lively.

With temperatures pushing toward 85 degrees, some patrons headed inside to the air-conditioned relief of Rosine Hall and A Tasteful Place, and began enjoying the cold water set at their place for lunch.

The big moment came when hat awards were announced in seven art-themed categories. Winners and judges were:

The Inaugural Carole Ann Brown Best in Show: Prashe Shah (judged by honorary chair Anne Stodghill)
Italian Masters: Debbie Murray ("classical creations," judged by Capera Ryan)
Impressionists: D&M Leasing group ("best group category," judged by Nicole Myers)
Surrealism: Elizabeth Smith ("over the top creations," judged by Sharon Lee Clarke)
Rococo: Sarah Ring ("best use of live botanicals," judged by Eliot Whitall)
Cubism: Allison Brodnax’s group ("monochromatic geometry," judged by Hannah Fagadau)
Pop Art: Erin Jett ("brightly colored tribute to pop culture," judged by John Sughrue)

Mad Hatter's 2026 "Surrealism" category winner Elizabeth Smith, whose hat twirled around like a carousel. Photo by Ashley Gongora

At tables adorned with gorgeous spring floral centerpieces by Gro Designs and The T Shop, guests dined on a spring salad of mixed greens, feta, candied pecans, pickled onions, and champagne vinaigrette; a plate of finger sandwiches (chicken salad and pimento cheese), Greek pasta salad, and mini mandarin orange souffle; and a decadent individual carrot cake for dessert. Wine stewards kept glasses filled.

Attendees adjusted their hats for some final photos at the valet line, and picked up their swag bags filled with goodies from Eataly.

Money raised through Mad Hatter's assists with the development, growth and maintenance of A Woman’s Garden, a major garden at the Arboretum.

Scroll through the photos, above, to see who was there and glimpse all the highlights of the hats, fashion show, and more.

Photo by Ashley Gongora

The winning group of the "Impressionists" category in the hat contest.

luncheons fundraisers charity fashion show galas mad hatters