Teapot Days brings fun and festivities to the area

Summer weather has made its way into the area just in time for Teapot Days. Events are scheduled to get underway Wednesday, June 12 and will continue through Saturday, June 15. 

Wednesday, June 12 the events kick off with a CommunityTEA Picnic at Trinity Lutheran Church, 335 W 1st St. from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event is free and the public is encouraged to attend. Hamburgers, hotdogs, chips and drink will be provided. A fire truck, police car, school bus, and garbage truck will also be available for the kiddos to check out. 

The Bloodmobile will also be on site that evening from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

The evening will be highlighted by the Crowning of Ma and Pa Teapot, Harry and Judy Resatar. Watch for a special feature on the couple in next week’s Tea Weekly. 

On Thursday, June 13, the Mighty Thomas Carnival will open on Brian Street, right next to the Tea City Park. They will be open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The Mighty Thomas Carnival will open again at noon on Friday, June 14 and will be open until 10 p.m. 

Also on Friday, register your hot rod and motorcycle for the TeaFest Hot Rod & Motorcycle Show & Shine. Registration will be from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Tea Athletic Complex, 315 E. 1st St. There is a $20 registration fee which includes a free t-shirt. The event is open to the public from 6 to 9 p.m. Food, drinks and music will be available.   Admission is free for this event. 

At 6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 14 you can register your kids, ages 3 to 11, for the free Kids Pedal Pull at the Tea Park Picnic Shelter, 105 E. Brian Street. Pulling starts at 7 p.m.

Food vendors will be at the Tea City Park from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with the Beer Garden open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Music will be provided by Chris Graves (Huisenga). 

Also on Friday night, Titan’s Tavern  will host a Street Dance from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. on 205 S. Main Ave. Music will be provided by Driven. This event is for ages 18 and up. 

Squealers Smoke Shack, located at 840 Gateway Lane, will also feature live music Friday night by Frank Weston performing from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. 

The fun continues on Saturday, June 15, opening with the Tea Historical Society Pancake Breakfast  from 7 to 9:30 a.m. at the Tea Community Hall, 200 W. Maple St. A freewill donation for the breakfast will be accepted.

The Junior Achievement 5K Bacon Run will begin with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. (Registration is at 8 a.m.)  The event will begin at the Tea Athletic Complex, 315 E. 1st Street. The cost is $45 to run in the event and $35 to walk. Visit jasd.org/events to register online. 

What’s a celebration without a parade? The 2024 Teapot Day Parade is set to begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 15. Participants are asked to line up at Tea Area High School, 500 W. Brian Street from 8 to 9:45 a.m. The parade route will begin at the High School, move east on Brian Street, north on Cole Ave, east on St. Nicholas Street, south on Main Ave., and west on Charish Street. 

The Parade Marshal this year will be Carl Sampson. Sampson, 97, was born in Findlay, Ohio. 

After graduating from Fostoria High School, he enlisted in the Marines. 

Carl served in two major Pacific battles and was stationed in Nagasaki, Japan after the atomic bomb was dropped. Sampson moved to Tea in 2005 to be closer to family.               

When asked about the best thing about his age, he said he loves that he was involved in World War II, and he loves his coffee. He also enjoys talking about his life experiences including his time in the Marines. 

Following the parade, the Tea Museum, located next to the Tea Community Hall, 200 W. Maple St., will be open until 7 p.m.  If you haven’t had a chance to check out the museum, now is a great time for a visit. 

Also following the parade, everyone is encouraged to head down to the Tea Park, 105 E. Brian Street, for food and craft vendors. The Vendor Fair will be available until 4 p.m. 

The Beer Garden opens after the parade and will remain open until 10:30 p.m. No outside coolers will be allowed in the City Park. Music in the Park will features Power Play from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m; Chris Graves (Huisenga) from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Nashville Country music artist John King from 8:30 p.m. to 10 pm. 

The Mighty Thomas Carnival will open at noon on Saturday and will be open until 10 p.m.

If you work up an appetite during the day, a Pie and Ice Cream social can be found at the Tea Community Hall, 200 W Maple Street, with serving from 3 to 7 p.m. This event is sponsored by Trinity Lutheran. The Tea Lions Pork Feed will take place at the Tea Community Hall as well. They will serve from 5 to 7 p.m. 

Sky Lounge will be hosting Saturday’s street dance at 105 East 2nd Street. This event is for ages 21 and up. Sugar Daddy will perform from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

At approximately 10 p.m. the annual fireworks will be the climax of the day at the east end of the Tea City Park.