Friday was time to set up for TeaFestPDX. Tents were going up. Rain was on the way.
Ready, Set, GO
The tent looked amazing! Thanks to all that helped and put it together.
This would be my last year to organize the tent.
I figure 10 years is a good run and time to hand it off to younger, more energetic ones.
Next to the British tent there was a tent for gently used teaware. It helps raise money for next years event and is very popular.
And so we begin!!!!
These first ladies, Lisa Hand and Lynelle Harder, present in the British tent every year and come in costume.
This year it was all about Beatrix Potter and tea.
Through out the day we have a table of donated tea related items that people thoroughly enjoy. I love that vendors are so generous to donate tea from Harney & Sons, Tea Time Magazine, and Effie's biscuits.
Our second presenter was Tony Tellin sharing the story of Earl Grey tea.
This was his second year and I love having him in the tent.
Then over the noon hour, Karmel and Devorah, shared their new children's tea book about Zesty with a hand craft and reading.
Kristen and Erin, from Framer's Touch shop in Forest Grove, returned for an exercise in teabag art.
Here is one example that someone painted on a teabag.
Jeni Dodd of Jeni Dodd Tea spoke of women's suffragettes and tea.
Jeni comes from New York just for our festival.
She was encouraging people to get involved.
Yours truly was the final presenter of the day. While the attendees enjoyed afternoon tea I read small excerpts from literature that referenced tea. I read quite a bit and find it fascinating how often I come across those characters inviting someone to have a "cuppa" or "let's put the kettle on".
There was some poetry read too.
Just as I began the rain did pour and the thunder clapped.
The tea food came in a lovely box put together by my partner at the British tent. I saved my tea time for dinner as I was too busy to eat.
The British tent has six presentations after which I took a short break to visit a few vendors and say hello. This year we had about 45 vendors and a lot of tea tasting was going on. I always stop by the ceramic artists booth; their pottery is so beautiful. Jeni Dodd Tea booth is in the background. I have offered to help her next year just to pour tea, much easier than organizing a whole tent.
Finally the TeaFestPDX is in the bag for 2026. It was a great year. The rain didn't keep anyone away, in fact there were more than ever coming to sip tea in the rain. We had people from all around the world, even a writer for a magazine in Germany came to cover the festival. They said our reputation is that we are a top tea festival in the US and they wanted to check us out. I even met a tea farmer from Mississippi and two others from Sri Lanka. It was a great festival.
If you ever find yourself in Portland, Oregon at the end of June check out the tea festival at the World Forestry Center.
Sending love,
Marilyn
