Featuring fragrant pine garlands and gingerbread decorations, live music, and the offer of warm beverages, the Seaside Museum and Historical Society’s annual Gingerbread Tea is a tradition that appeals to all ages.

On almost any given Saturday afternoon in December, the quaint Butterfield Cottage on Necanicum Drive plays host to everyone from infants and children to older adults who come together to celebrate the holiday season with a touch of Victorian charm.

“I never know who is going to walk through the front door,” museum board member Tita Montero said.

She was joined last Saturday by museum president Steve Wright and a handful of volunteers who welcomed guests and served warm gingerbread topped with whipped cream, tea, cider, and hot cocoa. Local musician Shirley Yates provided live entertainment, frequently inviting young children in the audience to join her in singing carols while playing the keyboard.

According to Montero, the museum sees several families year after year, but also gets a notable number of newcomers who are either visiting the coast for the holidays or residents who are just now being introduced to this beloved Seaside tradition.

Later that afternoon, Montero said, they were expecting a group of 15 residents from Neawanna by the Sea, an assisted living facility in Seaside. It was the first time the two groups had made preparations ahead of time, selling tickets and arranging transportation, to facilitate the visit of residents and make it easier for them to attend the tea as a group.

The community spirit

According to Wright and Montero, the driving force behind the Gingerbread Tea – as with all the museum’s functions — is the small army of volunteers who assume every task, from making the fresh gingerbread and gingerbread cookies to decorating the cottage and serving guests.

“We couldn’t do the events we do without volunteers,” Montero said.

Brooke Terry, who was helping at the tea for the first time, sees volunteering as an avenue for “helping the community and getting to know people.”

She was there with her colleague Tara Jarrett, manager of the U.S. Bank in Seaside, who added, “There’s just a satisfaction you get for helping.”

To encourage volunteerism in the community, the bank compensates its employees to volunteer up to 16 hours on the clock. Jarrett and Terry, who are both proponents of the museum and its mission, have volunteered for its various activities throughout the year, going above and beyond the 16 hours. During the summer, they helped run the museum’s booth at the Seaside Farmers Market.

They felt the Gingerbread Tea was another opportunity to support the museum, serve the community, and ignite the holiday spirit.

“There aren’t a lot of events that are this traditional,” Terry said.

The Gingerbread Tea at Butterfield Cottage will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 21. Tickets are $5 and available at the door. The Seaside Strummers will provide entertainment.