When economic development policy wonks talk about the importance of the region’s “creative economy,” we doubt they had Wendell in mind, but the good people of Wendell are adding a new meaning to the phrase.

Wendell has a reputation for its quirky creativity and artistic verve, so much so that little that its residents come up with surprises us. Who else would raise money for a local cause with an event involving appearances from lookalikes of Jesus, Santa, mermaids and Zeus?

Yes, Wendell’s Misfit Prom is back.

Organizer and artist Kelly Laughton pretty much summed up this classic Wendell fundraiser the other day when she said, “Wendell is really small, but we have all these amazingly creative people … Everyone goes nuts and makes these amazing costumes.”

The Misfit Prom is actually a parade, a party and a concert. Started in 2009, it was on hiatus for the past of couple of years. But it seems you can’t suppress Wendell’s creative juices and civic energy.

This year’s Misfit Prom is themed Alice in Wendelland, and will draw inspiration from Lewis Carroll’s most famous book while raising money for the Swift River School, the elementary school Wendell shares with neighboring New Salem. In a time of tight municipal finances and ever growing school expenses, these local artists and activists have found a fun way to supplement their tax dollars spent on education. Organizers plan to spend the money to help construct a pavilion or to make better use of its outdoor property.

In previous years, the prom had an underwater theme, an outer space theme, a carnival theme and a “Promageddon” theme, and benefited local institutions like the Wendell Fire Department and the town’s library.

According to organizers, they have raised about $2,000 in past years, although they don’t set a specific monetary goal.

A raffle for local artwork — this year thematically-painted cornhole boards — will also raise money. The only people who get paid is the band, so that nearly all the proceeds go toward a local charity — boosting the local economy.

After talking with friends who work at the Swift River School, where there have been talks about trying to better utilize its outdoor space, Misfit Prom organizers chose the cause for its 2018 charity.

Laughton is hoping, after a two-year break, the Alice in Wendelland theme will bring Misfit Prom back with a vengeance.

If nothing else, the June event will keep its organizers busy during this snowy mud season.

Laughton is already working on her character: “My costume is playing off of that ‘Alice in Wonderland’ cake that says ‘eat me,’” Laughton told the Daily News. “It’s pretty radical. I’ve devised a way to make fake frosting and I’m piping it everywhere.”

Other towns engage in antics and games to raise money to supplement local tax dollars or to help nonprofits that their taxes can’t help directly. Irish road bowling, for example, in Conway a while back raised money for the town’s 250th anniversary.

But you could say that the Misfit Prom takes the cake.