Harry Ten Shilling hosts Dolly Parton Afternoon Tea ahead of singer’s 80th birthday

Focusing on Southern comfort, the Dolly Parton Afternoon tea featured banana pudding, bubble-gum macarons, coconut cake, strawberry shortcake, cinnamon bread, and blueberry scones. All of the teas part of the menu were named after her songs.

Dolly Parton turned 80-years-old on Jan. 19 and a tea room nearby Stratford celebrated the occasion with an afternoon tea, complete with birthday napkins.

Shakespeare tea room Harry Ten Shilling held their third annual Dolly Parton Afternoon Tea on Jan. 17 and 18. The event features a variety of teas named after her hit songs like “9 to 5” and “Jolene” and treats either inspired by Parton’s favourite goodies like banana pudding or her recipes like blueberry scones.

Along with treating themselves to a pink mirrorball decorated tea tray filled with desserts and sandwiches, guests also listened to Parton’s music and made charm bracelets with pink cowgirl hats, guitars, music notes and all things Dolly.

"The Dolly Parton has always been super fun to do because the clientele we get with Dolly Parton are always big Dolly Parton fans, so it is just super exciting and (a) fun atmosphere in here,” said Mikaela Meijer, owner of Harry Ten Shilling.

The tearoom was packed with some of the guests coming and going either wearing cowboy hats, pink and/or themed t-shirts. Meijer, sporting a pink Parton sweater, said that everything about the country music legend is why she has a loyal fanbase.

“The pink, the girly, the disco, the cowgirl,” she said. “Just everything about Dolly I would say brings in so many amazing things and it just fits so well with our tearoom too and all the pink and the colours and the charms." 

Harry Ten Shilling’s regular season runs from May to October, but the tearoom holds some winter events, including the Dolly Parton Afternoon Tea.  Former owner and Meijer’s mother Lynn Barber said she was looking through a calendar in the kitchen a few years ago and Parton’s birthday was marked on the calendar.

"It wasn't a Dolly Parton calendar, so it's just like 'That's a pretty important birthday if it can just be on a regular calendar,” Barber said.

Harry Ten Shilling will have a Valentine’s afternoon tea with more details to be announced.