NEW ORLEANS – WYES invites the community to step into the charm, wit and romance of the Regency era during WYES Afternoon Tea: Celebrating 250 Years of Jane Austen on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at the WYES studios, 916 Navarre Ave. Organizers share this afternoon will honor the author’s 250th birthday with music, readings, fine teas, traditional treats and a nod to Regency fashion and culture.
Proceeds directly benefit WYES and its ongoing mission to serve southeast Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast with trusted educational programming and cultural storytelling. Tickets, sponsorship opportunities and additional event details are available at wyes.org/events.
The Patron Party offers early entry at 2 p.m. with champagne service, live piano music by Michael Harold, and an array of passed tea sandwiches and savory bites. Tickets are $150. The champagne will continue as guests enjoy harp selections performed by the New Orleans Celtic Harp Ensemble during general admission entry at 3 p.m. Tickets are $100. Each ticket includes a seat in the Charlie & Janette Kornman Performance Studio. To reserve a table together, parties of eight are required and must designate a table captain. To make a reservation, please contact Dana Hansel at dhansel@wyes.org.
Guests will enjoy a tea tasting experience, with teas thoughtfully presented by the Great Mississippi Tea Company and Fleur de Lis Tea Co. The afternoon will feature traditional scones, Le Crêpe Nanou tea sandwiches, along with an assortment of savories and confections. To mark the occasion, Bae’s Bakery will provide a birthday cake.
Special guest Nell Nolan, renowned society columnist for The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate, will present a curated reading from Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” sharing the author’s timeless observations on love, manners and mischief.
English Country Dance Master Rebecca Anne Calvert, a devoted admirer of Jane Austen and British cultural history, will offer insights into Regency-era attire, exploring its elegance, symbolism and evolution.
Attendees are encouraged – but not required – to wear their favorite era-inspired attire such as Victorian, Regency, Edwardian, or Renaissance styles, with special admiration for those in their finest Regency or tea-time ensembles. Guests may also join in a delightful promenade. A costume contest will honor participants in Regency attire, celebrating both Most Creative and Most Authentic interpretations of the period.