El Dorado’s first-ever Tea Party on Main Street – followup to the Dottie luncheons of the past two Octobers – is scheduled this year for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 25 at the El Dorado Civic Center. 

Besides a variety of hot teas, the event’s menu will offer a generous assortment of sandwiches, sweets and quiche guaranteed to please the slim as well as hearty appetites, said organizers Connie Phillips, Kristi Kloeblen, and Lou Clennan.    

“The luncheon, targeting all area ladies, will feature live and silent auction opportunities and, in addition, drawings, favors and entertainment,” said Phillips. “Entertainment will be a vintage style show and display of clothes from the 1940s and 1950s.”

Silent auction items so far include pies from Jacob’s Well and Coffeehouse, an art piece by Dr. Richard Kuhns’ Time Light Gallery, jewelry by Chelsea Miller from “The Pink Sparrow” and a Williamsburg child’s tea set with tablecloth, napkins and a book of tea party games and recipes. 

On the list for drawings to date: manicure and pedicure by Kris Studebaker of Styles Unlimited, a year’s worth of monthly massages by Frieda Jackson of Serenity Massage, manicure from H4V Nails, dinner at J Brian’s Pub, painting from The Art Room, an art piece from Circle Art Gallery, Sears gardening package, jewelry from Triple S Ranch Supply and several engraved items from Heartland Monument.

“We expect many more offerings in both the silent auction and drawings categories,” said Phillips. 

There will be four live auction items, according to Phillips. 

The first – Colorado High Tea – includes three nights at the Briar Rose Bed and Breakfast in Boulder, Colo., with breakfast and tea service as requested by the customer. Other offerings: lunch at the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse, dinner and a show at Boulder’s Dinner Theater, a dinner at Boulder Chophouse and Tavern, and  travel/gift card $1,500. The Briar Rose is within walking distance of the B and B Pearl Street Mall, Farmer’s Market, Dairy Center for the Arts, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, a walking trail and historic downtown Boulder. Of interest to golfers, said Phillips, is their option to schedule a “tee-time” at Colorado’s #1 rated course.

Another package: Tea-riffic Trip for Four offers two nights lodging at Big Cedar in Missouri and includes a $1,000 gift card as well as a $500 travel expense card.

 “Tea for Two” is expected to be a popular live auction package for a couple who would like to spend a night and a day at the Castle Inn Riverside in Wichita. Included in this package is lunch for two at the Riverside Cup of Tea.

In the spirit of last year’s “Riding with Miss Betty” package, the fourth live auction item will be a fall limousine excursion chauffeured by Betty Carlson that includes lunch, a house tour and other surprises.

“Tea Party tickets are $25 and must be purchased in advance,” said Phillips.  “They are available at El Dorado Main Street or the El Dorado Chamber until the deadline, Sept. 18, if we don’t sell out before that date.”

A list of businesses to date who have given monetary support for this project:   Blackburn Construction, Butler REC, Century Plastics, Copies Plus, Don’s Heating and Air, Emprise  Bank, John K. Fisher, Flowers Production Company, Frigiquip International, Frontier Oil Refining, Hogoboom Oil Field Services, ICI – Insurance, INTRUST Bank, Maclaskey Oil Field Services, Mears Fertilizer, Vess Oil and White Eagle Credit Union.

“Our committee has worked hard to keep costs down and profits up in order to put more dollars in the Main Street budget,” Phillips said. “Principally supported by volunteers, one of Main Street’s many endeavors is the development of our downtown. Thanks to contributions by local and area businesses, we have high hopes that the tea will bring in needed funds.”