Holbrook-Palmer Park’s annual Family Holiday Tea, which includes a cabaret puppet show, holiday card making and hot chocolate, is scheduled for this Sunday, Dec. 2, in the park's Jennings Pavilion.

The event has been around for decades and is a “sweet little tradition,” said Maryam Neil, one of the event co-chairs. It’s nice to have a local holiday celebration so families don’t have to drive all the way up to San Francisco, she said.

“There’s not a lot of formal holiday events or teas in the area,” she said. “There’s something about them (children) dressing up and sitting properly with their friends. It’s different than other offerings in the area.”

The event menu includes finger sandwiches, fruit and tea, as well as with coffee and hot chocolate.

The event will kick off with a visit from Santa from 11:30 a.m. to noon, followed by the puppet show, holiday tea and crafts. The event will conclude with a raffle at around 1:30 p.m.

The tea party is hosted by Friends of Holbrook-Palmer Park, which raises fund to maintain the 22-acre park. Event proceeds will go to three projects: an art installation in the corner of the park along Middlefield Road, redoing the entrance gate to the park, and replacing an older fountain, said Alicia Bakowski, the group’s president.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a new or slightly used book to the event to donate to children in the Ravenswood City School District.

Open seating for the event is $40 per person, and a reservation for a table of 10 costs $375. There will be only 150 tickets for sale because of limited space in the pavilion, Bakowski said.

Tickets are on sale through Thursday, Nov. 29, and can be purchased here.

The Jennings Pavilion is located at 150 Watkins Ave.

For more information, contact holidaytea@friendsofhpp.org.

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