July

10-11
3rd Annual Jane Austen Festival
10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Historic Locust Grove
Louisville, Kentucky
Mark your calendars to attend the 3rd Annual Jane Austen Festival in Louisville, Kentucky. Several activities will be offered, including Regency-era workshops, talks, and demonstrations and a silent auction for Jane Austen books, movie memorabilia, and tea-themed baskets, among other items. Attendees can enjoy a four-course afternoon tea each day for $20 per person. Admission to the festival is $10. Learn more about this weekend and the other activities available by calling 502-897-9845 or at jasnalouisville.com.

13
2nd Annual Classic International Tea and Sweets Pairing
7:00 p.m.
Gong Fu Tea
Des Moines, Iowa
Join the proprietors of Gong Fu Tea as they showcase classic tea and dessert pairings from four different international tea cultures in the relaxed atmosphere of their Asian-inspired teahouse in the heart of Des Moines’ East Village. They will partner with Sweet Binney chef and owner Ryan Binney for this event. A total of four pairings will be offered at $30 per person, with space limited to the first 30 reservations. Make reservations at 515-288-3388, or find out more about Gong Fu Tea at gongfu-tea.com.

24-25
2010 Rocky Mountain Tea Festival
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse
Boulder, Colorado
The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse’s 11th Annual Rocky Mountain Tea Festival provides a place to learn about tea. The event features 10 workshops and brings experts from across the country to present different aspects of tea. Attendees can enjoy a Tea Dinner, at which chefs use tea as a star ingredient in each dish, and a Children’s Tea Party, one of the most popular events of the weekend. The cost of each workshop is $10 and up. Call 303-442-4993 for detailed information, or visit boulderteahouse.com.

August

14 and 15
Dolls Come to Tea
2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
David Davis Mansion State Historic Museum
Bloomington, Illinois
Enjoy a program on doll history, and view the museum’s doll display while enjoying an afternoon dessert tea. Attendees are encouraged to bring their favorite doll to the tea. Cost is $20 per person, with prepaid reservations required. Call 309-827-2200, or visit thetealadiesinc.com to learn more.

15
Victorian Mad Hatter Tea Party
Seating times: noon, 1:30 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.
Wyandotte Museums
Wyandotte, Michigan
Make a date with the Wyandotte Museums for their annual Victorian Mad Hatter Tea Party. Sponsored by the Wyandotte Historical Society, this afternoon of tea features freshly baked scones, sandwiches, and other treats served in the newly restored 1896 Ford-MacNichol Home. A visit from Alice, the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, and the Cheshire Cat will cap off this celebration of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children (12 and under). Call 734-324-7284, or find out more about the museums at wyandottemuseums.org.

24
Tea with the First Ladies
3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Big Meadows Lodge in Shenandoah National Park
Luray, Virginia
Journey through the history of two of America’s most spirited women, Lou Hoover and Eleanor Roosevelt. Historian Babs Funkhouser, director of the Museum of American Presidents, presents an informative narrative while desserts from the First Ladies’ favorite recipes and a variety of teas are served. This educational tea is offered at $14 per person. Call 800-778-2872 for reservations, and find out more about Shenandoah National Park at visitshenandoah.com.

25
Afternoon Tea at Filoli
1:00 p.m.
Filoli
Woodside, California
Enjoy afternoon tea at Filoli. This 654-acre property is the historic site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and one of the finest remaining country estates of the early 20th century. Attendees will savor pastries, scones, Filoli lemon curd made from the Meyer lemons grown on-site, salad, and tea sandwiches. The tea is $35 for members, $45 for nonmembers. Tickets also include admission to the House and Garden. Call 650-364-8300, extension 288, for reservations, or visit filoli.org to learn more.

September

11 and 12
Gone with the Wind Tea
2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
David Davis Mansion State Historic Museum
Bloomington, Illinois
Fans of Gone with the Wind will enjoy this teatime inspired by the popular novel and movie—complete with movie facts, trivia, and prizes—hosted by The Tea Ladies, Inc. Attendees can come dressed as their favorite character for the dessert tea to be served in the formal parlor of the David Davis Mansion. Cost is $20 per person, and prepaid reservations are required. Find out more by calling 309-827-2200, or visit thetealadiesinc.com.

18
Four Seasons Tea
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Historic Washington State Park
Washington, Arkansas
This seasonal event focuses on inspiration, quilts, and tea. Guests recall favorite memories and lessons learned while enjoying or creating a heritage quilt and are encouraged to bring a family quilt to the tea. Refreshments at Williams’ Tavern Restaurant include a variety of sandwiches, soups, desserts, and, of course, tea. Admission includes a surrey ride and a visit to the Royston Townhouse. Cost is $20 for ages 14 and up. Call 870-983-2684, or e-mail historicwashington@arkansas.com for reservations.

19
My Fair Lady Tea
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Lakeside in Desert Shores
Las Vegas, Nevada
Enjoy afternoon tea with a My Fair Lady theme hosted by the Royal Tea Society in Las Vegas. Professional singer Jeannine Martin-Mason will make a guest appearance as Eliza Doolittle. Many guests will be dressed in period costume, including hats, dresses, and parasols, and will enjoy delightful cucumber-mint sandwiches, smoked salmon rolls on marbled rye, black currant scones, and tea-hat petits fours. A professional photographer will take guests’ photos at an outdoor garden tea scene. Contact the Royal Tea Society to learn more at 702-233-3795 or royalteasociety@cox.net.

27
16th Annual Pink Ribbon Tea
11:00 a.m.
The Georgetown
Washington, Arkansas
Hosted by the sustaining members of the Junior League of Youngstown, the tea gives breast-cancer survivors an opportunity to come together and celebrate. Over the past 15 years, the Junior League has hosted more than 4,000 survivors and partners with Susan G. Komen for the Cure Northeast Ohio Affiliate, The American Cancer Society, and Humility of Mary Health Partners. Attendees will enjoy a tea luncheon, music, and an auction, as well as speaker Regina Brett, columnist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Learn more at jlyoungstown.org, or call 330-743-3200.

October

2 and 3
Third Annual Northwest Tea Festival
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.;
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
This popular festival is back for the third year with tea experts from around the country, along with vendors from the Pacific Northwest, participating. The event is free to the public, but guests can make a $5 donation by purchasing a porcelain teacup with the festival logo. Tea tastings will be available for groups of 8 to 10 to sit with a tea expert and try a variety of teas. This year, the festival will host the Specialty Tea Institute’s first regional tea-certification program. Learn more at nwteafestival.com.

16
Tea Leaves for Life Cancer Awareness Tea Party
3:00 p.m.
Newburg Rescue Squad and Volunteer Fire Department
Newburg, Maryland
Celebrate cancer survivors, and learn more about early detection. Free health screenings are offered locally at the Tea Leaves for Life Cancer Awareness Tea Party sponsored by Shiloh Community United Methodist Church. For a $15 donation, enjoy games and door prizes, an elegant hat show, refreshments with an assortment of teas, testimonies from cancer survivors, and much more. Proceeds will be distributed to various cancer-research organizations. For more information, call 301-934-0937.

23
Children’s Pirate Afternoon Tea
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Chauncey Conference Center
Princeton, New Jersey
Children will love this opportunity to dress in pirate costumes and take tea. They will receive prizes for their costumes and parade around the tearoom. Guest speaker Eliza Blackwell will dress in period attire and discuss the history of tea during the pirate era. Refreshments include an assortment of tea sandwiches, scones, pastries, and cupcakes, along with a choice of loose-leaf tea, decaffeinated tea, local orchard apple cider, or creamy hot chocolate served in vintage china teacups. Reservations are required. Call 609-921-3600, or visit chauncey.comfor more information.