Generousity of vendors, a labour of love and recycling leftovers are key components of the newest addition to the Oak Bay Tea Party. The Castle Building Centres became a corporate sponsor last year adding the Castle Kids Corral.
Castle volunteers plan to spend some time sifting sand to start the Tea Party with this year’s addition.
“We’re also setting up a sand castle building area,” said Jordan Hagel of Castle Building Centres.
It builds on the efforts of last year, birdhouse building, scavenger hunt and clay pot fairy houses.
“This was so successful that they are making it bigger this year,” said Sandi Germaine, chair of the OBTP Society.
The rides are for older kids and can get costly, so they were looking to add “something fun and free for the kids,” Hagel said. “Last year it was a huge success we couldn’t believe how well it was received.”
They brought out 100 bird houses on the first day and ran out. (Hagel gives credit to the parents who “have the courage to hold those boards together while the kids hammer on their fingers.”)
Available again on Saturday, Castle Building Centre puts together the house kits from leftover bits and kids paint them to take home.
“The kids get to take away something that they’ll remember,” Hagel said.
The same is true for the scavenger hunt. Last year kids sought out little cups and had their items glued to a piece of pine to take home. This year, they’ll head out in search of small items – hidden with the smallest child in mind – and bring them back to add to a mason jar of sparkly water. A shining keepsake.
Clay pot fairy houses are doubled in numbers this year thanks to a vendor – suppliers are also pitching in big for prizes on one of the longest running competitions of the Tea Party.
While Castle Building Centres is a nearly new sponsor, owners Vicki and Frank Hagel are not. They previously had the Do It Centre that sponsored the Ladies Nail Driving Competition since its inception at the start of the Oak Bay Tea Party.
“The Ladies’ Nail Driving Competition is a Tea Party favourite,” says Sandi Germaine, chair of the OBTP Society. “This event has been around as long as the Tea Party … we now have their son, Jordan Hagel, taking over the event.”
Hagel hosts the event and has a blast doing it.
“The first year was pretty nerve wracking,” he said, thankful longtime OBTP chair Bill Murphy-Dyson “It’s a lot of fun.”
The competition moves in heats with the final six competitors getting token prizes and $200-$300 value prizes for top three.
“It’s a huge hit, there’s got to be at least 60 to 75 who compete every year,” Hagel said. “I can’t believe the crowd that it draws.”
The competition takes place on Sunday, June 3 at 4 p.m. and is free to participants and a great spectator sport too.
cvanreeuwyk@oakbaynews.com
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