The Freed-Hardeman University Associates’ will host their ninth-annual Victorian Tea Party Saturday, May 7. Designed to delight women of all ages, the tea party is scheduled from 1:00-4:00 p.m. at the N.B. Hardeman House on White Avenue in Henderson. In case of bad weather, the tea party will move to the Henderson Church of Christ building.
Guests will be served a full afternoon tea featuring sweet and savory treats and will be invited to participate in several activity venues including making paper roses, learning embroidery, seeing a tutorial on tablescaping, and playing croquet on the lawn. The ticket price includes afternoon tea and access to all activities. Advance tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children, aged three to ten. Tickets purchased at the door will be $18.00 for adults and $10.00 for children. Children two and under are admitted free of charge. Tickets may be purchased at the Freed-Hardeman University Store, Lookin’ Good Hair and Tanning Salon or by calling the Hardeman House at 731.989.2641. More information and pictures from past events are located online at
http://www.fhu.edu/associates/teaparty.aspx
Tea party guests look forward to the event all year. “Celebrating traditional and beautiful social occasions, like this tea party, is what spring is made for. My four-year old niece and I enjoy picking out each other’s dresses!” says three-year attendee Erin Adams. “It is a great day for women of all ages,” agrees Margaret Payne.
One of the highlights of this annual event is the food. “I’ve visited many different tearooms in the last few years, including having tea at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, and I can’t help but think that our tea party food is always the most delicious I’ve ever tasted,” added Kristen Hicks, the 2011 steering committee chairman. “Our guests are always pleased with our menu variety, and I love to hear when our recipes are recreated for their own tea parties at home.”
This year’s menu will include minted butter cucumber sandwiches, dilled chicken salad on pastry puffs, and radish-chive tea sandwiches with sesame and ginger. The scone of choice will be blueberry almond with blackberry butter and orange cream spreads. As for sweets, the tea party committee chose chocolate caramel mini cupcakes, lemon pistachio puffs, and white chocolate lime cookies. The hot tea choices will be Rhubarb Cream and Blue Sapphire.
As in years past, the tea party will feature a dress-up room for the youngest guests. The young at heart are welcome, but not required, to dress up in traditional hats and gloves to contribute to the tea party ambiance. A photographer will be available to take photographs of guests; photographs may be purchased for a nominal fee.
The tea party is sponsored by Be Blessed Fashions, Bramblett Group, Chester County Bank, Dr. Larry W. Bloomingburg, FHU University Store and Bible Bookstore, Hester Publications, Lookin’ Good and A-1 Realty, Mary Kay (Susan Edmonds), Radio Shack, Shackelford Funeral Directors (Casey Chapel), Stillwaters Farm, The Peoples Bank, and Wicks & Wonders.
The FHU Associates was formed in 1963 with the purpose of supporting Christian education. All proceeds of the Victorian Tea Party go toward student scholarships to Freed-Hardeman University.