Teapot Days festivities continue into the weekend

Events kicked off on Wednesday, June 12, and will continue through Saturday, June 15, for the 2024 Teapot Days celebration.

On Thursday, June 13, the Mighty Thomas Carnival will open on Brian Street, right next to the Tea City Park, operating from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The carnival will reopen at noon on Friday, June 14, and run until 10 p.m.

Also on Friday, you can 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., with a $20 fee that includes a free t-shirt. The show is open to the public from 6 to 9 p.m., featuring food, drinks, and music. Admission is free for this event. Following the show there will be a parade of hotrods to Squealers Smoke Shack for the Octane Ink Ignite After Party and Light Show. The parade will begin on at the Athletic Complex, continue to Main Street then right to First Street. It will turn left on Heritage Parkway and continue to Squealers.  

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

Food vendors will be at 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).

Friday night also features a Street Dance hosted by Titan’s Tavern from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. at 205 S. Main Ave., with music by Driven. This event is for ages 18 and up. Additionally, Friday night, Squealers Smoke Shack, located at 840 Gateway Lane, will feature live music by Frank Weston from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Teapot Days fun continues into Saturday, June 15. 

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

The Junior Achievement 5K Bacon Run will begin with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. (registration at 8 a.m.) at the Tea Athletic Complex, 315 E. 1st St. 

The cost is $45 to run the 5K Bacon Run and $35 to walk it. Visit jasd.org/events to register online.

The 2024 Teapot Day Parade will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 15. Participants should 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.

This year’s Parade Marshal will be Carl Sampson. Sampson, 97, was born in Findlay, Ohio. After graduating from Fostoria High School, he enlisted in the Marines and served in two major Pacific battles, being stationed in Nagasaki, Japan, after the atomic bomb was dropped. Sampson moved to Tea in 2005 to be closer to family. 

Following the parade, the Tea Museum, located next to the Tea Community Hall, 200 W. Maple St., will be open until 7 p.m., making it a great time for a visit. There will also be free swimming at the City pool during the day on Saturday. 

Also following the parade, head down to Tea Park, 105 E. Brian Street, for food and craft vendors at the Vendor Fair, open until 4 p.m. The Beer Garden will open after the parade and stay open until 10:30 p.m. No outside coolers will be allowed in the City Park. Music in the Park will feature 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 p.m.

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

If you work up an appetite during the day, a Pie and Ice Cream Social will be held at the Tea Community Hall, 200 W. Maple St., with serving from 3 to 7 p.m., sponsored by Trinity Lutheran. The Tea Lions Pork Feed will also take place at the Tea Community Hall, serving from 5 to 7 p.m.

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

The day will culminate with the annual fireworks display at approximately 10 p.m. at the east end of Tea City Park.

For a complete list of the Teapot Days events, see page 12.