TeaFestPDX 2022

 TeaFestPDX 2022 is a wrap!

More pictures than I usually share, but thought you might enjoy!

If you have followed me for awhile you will know I drink tea; but you might not know just how involved I am in the world of tea. One of the things I do is organize the British Tea Tent each year for TeaFestPDX (Portland, Oregon's Tea Festival). The tea festival began in 2016 and met in person for 4 years, then the next year we met on zoom due to the pandemic. We skipped last year, but were thrilled to pick it up again this year. Last Saturday was our event and we greeted around 1200 attendees.

My role each year has been to solely organize and execute the British Tea Tent. You can tell it is my tent by the flags draped around the tent.

Here are my morning volunteers. They were great at making tea, serving it to our guests, and wiping down the tables with disinfectant after each session.

In the afternoon my husband and a good friend volunteered. I will say my husband ("live-in gardener") also did the lion share of hauling everything to the tent and back to the car at the end of the event, plus running a couple other errands too. Needless to say, we were both exhausted when we returned home that night.  I couldn't have done it without my great volunteers.

There were 6 events throughout the day. The one right above and below is Jennifer Petersen sharing the story of Blue Willow China. She has written several books related to tea and also mentors new tea entrepreneurs.

I love posting the sessions on my blackboard. My son helped by writing the schedule of the day for everyone to see.

I was thrilled to have Lorna Reeves join us this year. She is the editor of Tea Time Magazine and flew in from Birmingham, Alabama. What a treat to have her sharing about what her role is with the magazine. Tea Time Magazine has always donated magazines for us to hand out to attendees, but this year they shared their editor too.

Andy Hayes, owner of Plum Deluxe tea company, shared about making blended/flavored teas. When he started his business about 9 years ago he contacted me to do some taste testing for him. I don't normally drink blended/flavored teas, but enjoyed doing it for him. We had never met face to face; so it was fun to finally meet.

Lisa Hand comes every year and her presentations are always filled. She and her two assistants come in costume and share something that fits with tea in England. This year it was Tea with Jane Austen. The attendees love her presentations.

There were two other events in my tent. Sadly I didn't get pictures. At noon Lovejoy's Tearoom delivered afternoon tea to the tent and Susan Patterson did a poetry reading as attendees enjoyed teatime.

We finished the afternoon with Anne Johnson of Mamancy tearoom sharing her story of coming from Kenya and starting two tearooms during the pandemic. She also shared her story of making gorgeous chocolates that she sells in her shops.

The Seasoned Teaware tent was next to my tent. Many of us in the WuWo Tea Ceremony group donate used teaware to this tent. Attendees can be found making a quick trip here first thing in the morning to get first pick at great deals and it raises money for the tea festival for next year.

 

One of my friends, Dana, set up a cozy spot to read tea leaves. It was quite popular and she was busy all day.

 

I took a quick peek through the vendor tent wishing I had a moment to sit and sip tea with these "porers" of tea.

The slogan for the year was "Make Friends, Drink Tea". Definitely this was happening all over the grounds at Lewis and Clark College. It was a beautiful day and the weather totally cooperated. When Jenn, the head dreamer of a Portland tea festival, started this festival she envisioned a party where we drank tea together. I do believe the goal was achieved. It was one day of joy, friends, and drinking tea.

 

Have a great weekend, dear friends!

Thanks for stopping by and definitely have a cup of tea.