Characters from one of the most famous literary tea parties will be on hand at the Creston Museum on Aug. 10, when the museum hosts its 15th annual Old-Fashioned Tea, this time with an Alice in Wonderland theme.
“Last year, we had our suffragette theme, and the challenge was out there,” said museum manager Tammy Hardwick. “As people were leaving, they asked how we were going to top it this year.”
At the 2012 tea, members of Footlighters Theatre Society attended as real-life suffragette Dorothy Davis and her entourage, and led a rally for the cause. This year, members of the troupe will return, this time playing notable characters from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, including the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, the Queen of Hearts and Alice herself.
Anyone planning to attend should note that the actors don’t have to be the only ones in costume — guests are also welcome to dress for the theme, although most usually need very little encouragement.
“We’ve noticed that whenever we do a theme, people are really good at participating,” said Hardwick.
This year, three guests — one from each of the 1, 2 and 3 p.m. seatings — with the maddest hat will win a prize, a uniquely styled teapot discovered by museum board member and Imperial Gift Shop co-ordinator Janet Holder. These same teapots inspired the theme for this year’s tea.
“They are very cool, funky things,” said Hardwick.
Matching perfume bottles will be on the tables as vases, but without the usual dainty, embroidered tablecloths that typically cover the tables — they didn’t fit this year’s theme.
“They will not be making an appearance,” said Hardwick.
Admission to the Old-Fashioned Tea is $8, which includes tea or lemonade, finger sandwiches and dainty goodies, and a museum tour. Reservations are strongly recommended by calling 250-428-9262.