High Tea kicks off Outlook’s first annual potato festival

OUTLOOK — A beautifully decorated Bounty Theatre greeted a throng of guests last Saturday when the Outlook & District Heritage Museum & Gallery invited people to enjoy High Tea as the kick-off event for the community’s first annual potato festival.

Pink balloon pillars, floral displays and vintage dresses adorned the theatre, while lace tablecloths, vases of flowers and cups and saucers from the museum’s collection set the tone for the elegant afternoon of tea, coffee and dainties.

A large crowd came out for the come-and-go event, some wearing vintage clothing and hats, which added to the charm of the day. Kathryn King, museum manager, was thrilled to see how many were in attendance as more guests kept arriving. “This is very exciting. It is overwhelming support,” she remarked.

Admission was by donation, and there was a pie auction to raise additional funds. All proceeds will be put toward future events at the museum. “A lot of our events are free,” Kathryn explained, “so we do fundraisers like this to help fund more of those.”

It took a team of volunteers to prepare for the refinement of the High Tea event; some decorated the room, others made sandwiches and baked goods, while others greeted guests, served and helped with cleanup. “Everyone just pitches in,” Kathryn said, “which is great because we’ve had a higher than expected turnout.”

The team had a nice surprise when Rod McPherson showed up in the morning with his buggy for display outside, setting the tone for what awaited people inside the theatre. “Our community is so amazing,” Kathryn remarked.

While savouring High Tea, guests were treated to instrumental music by Marlene Dampsey, Lyall Campbell and Martin Rude. Their songs had some people tapping along, while others took to the floor to dance.

The afternoon of fun and sophistication was enjoyed by many in the community. This is the second time the museum has hosted High Tea, and the response suggests people would welcome a return to an event that asks, “May I offer you a spot of tea?”