Tea ‘n’ Tales 2023

 
 September 8: 
It's the last performance of Tea 'n' Tales for the summer of 2023.
And what a wonderful way to end the season:
First, the wonderful, inspiring music of violinist Bridget Walsh,
followed by Guelph's own tellers, Adwoa Badoe and Sya VanGeest.
So, for the last time this summer, come out for a wonderful Friday morning:
**Arrive early to enjoy Bridget from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
**Bring your own lawn chair.
**Bring a mug for your free Planet Bean coffee.
**Bring an appropriate donation
 
 
 August 25:   Tea 'n' Tales, Friday morning, music at 10am
Come out to hear Brampton's Judy and Paul Caulfield and Toronto's Susan Ida Boucaud spin their tales and songs.
 Arrive early and be entertained by Paul Caulfield from 10.00 a.m.
Remember: bring your lawn chair. Bring a mug for your FREE Planet Bean coffee. Bring an appropriate donation.
This event, after a wonderful weekend of storytelling (82 braved the cold, the wind and the rain to hear Ruth Danziger, Beve and Elizabeth Matson, along with the Royal City Ambassadors on Friday and over one thousand people poured into the Garden to hear Robert Munsch, Larry Gibbs, Ruth and Elizabeth on Saturday), we are excited to have another great Friday in store.
 

 August 18:    By 10am the Enabling Garden was ready - coffee was brewed, sound system set up, some chairs scattered, Brian and Trevor welcoming the guests. The rains started shortly after 10am. Our keen listeners were already seated ready to enjoy The Royal Ambassadors before the storytelling. When we had to move across the lawn to the shelter, one had to admire how smoothly that all unfolded. There was a comfortable chatter and sharing of umbrellas.  

The Royal Ambassadors crooned us as Trevor Barton moved the sound system, moved the coffee urn and organized the mics for telling and Brian et al, guided folks across the field.  
It was a delightful hour of stories.  Both Beve Matson and daughter Elizabeth, who visits her mother Beve each summer from Wisconsin, told lived experience stories. Elizabeth surprised even her mother, with her adventure tale travelling in England on her own as a young woman. Exciting and fun.
Toronto teller Ruth Danziger, charmed us with a wonderful telling of a folktale, that suited the park setting and rustling leaves.

 

 August 11:    We were delighted to welcome back to Tea 'n' Tales gifted storyteller- musician from Oshawa, Heather Whaley. She and Guelph's own Rusty (Michael) Dougherty brought us ninety minutes of fine entertainment - thirty minutes of music from 10-10:30 am, followed by 60 minutes of stories.

We brought mugs for a free coffee, compliments of Planet Bean, and a chair to sit on the garden paths of the Enabling Garden. Huge thank you  

 

 August 4:    Close to 150 arrived early and enjoy music from 10 until 10:30 a.m. Free coffee, compliments of Planet Bean. Bring your own mug! (and own chair.)

Followed by entertaining stories by Cecilia Vizcaino and Maria del Carmen Ordenzo!.

 

 July 28:    features Lynn Torrie and Brad Woods.

Arrive early to enjoy 30 minutes of music beginning at 10 am. Free coffee, compliments of Planet Bean. Bring your own mug!

SEE POSTERS FOR JULY 28 - CLICK HERE

 
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
TnT Munch 2023 06Enjoy thirteen Friday mornings of delightful tales in the idyllic setting of the Guelph Enabling Garden on the banks of the Speed River - -  storytellers from near and far, June 16 to September 8.
 - - PLUS: Canada Day morning with James Gordon, Robert Munsch, Beve Matson and friends.
 - - PLUS: 3 special Saturday sessions, "Under the Magic Ash", tailored for families - - July 15, and Aug 5 & 19. starting with music starting at 10 am followed by an hour of storytelling at 10:30. 
Audiences typically start gathering in the Enabling Garden at 10am, half an hour before programs start at 10:30 - - to get their favourite rock or chair spot, chat with friends and neighbours, be charmed by pre-concert Guelph musicians, and enjoy a free coffee, (compliments of Planet Bean), or cold drink (bring your own cup), and sometimes a treat brought by a GGS emembr or a listener.  Over sixteen years the event has grown in popularity to audiences that sometimes exceed 140 people.
What a pool of wonderful talent. Below are those scheduled 2023 tellers, listed in calendar order. They come from Elora, Hamilton, Kitchener/Waterloo, Brampton, Toronto, Burlington, Mississauga, Bowmanville, and even the state of Wisconsin, in addition to members of the Guelph Guild of Storytellers (GGS).
Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted and shared 50/50 between the Enabling Garden and GGS. We have an excellent sound system, (thanks to free-will donations and a grant) so that even listeners in a stopped car had their windows down and listened.

The summer storytelling event series at the Guelph Enabling Garden

Schedule of 2023 Tellers  

Jun 16: Don Conibear, Brenda Byers 

Jun 23: Norman Perrin, Bruce Weaver, Brian Holstein

Jun 30: Jay Wilson, Robert Munsch, Meryl Arbing, and Jean Bubba

Jul 1: Robert Munsch, James Gordon, Larry Gibbs, and Beve Matson.

Jul 7: Donna McCaw, JennyQ

Jul 14: Mary Baldersaro, Kait Taylor 

Jul 15 "Under the Magic Ash" 
Family stories with Rober Munsch, Kait Taylor, Sya VanGeest.

Jul 21: June Brown, Anna Kerz 

Jul 28: Lynn Torrie, Brad Woods

Aug 4: Cecilia Vizcaino, Maria Del Carmen Ordonez

Aug 5: "Under the Magic Ash" 
Family stories with Rober Munsch, Sarah Abusarar, Susan McBride and Sya VanGeest.

Aug 11: Heather Whaley, Rusty Dougherty  

Aug 18: Beve Matson, Elizabeth Matson, Ruth Danziger

"Aiug 19: Under the Magic Ash" 
Family stories with Rober Munsch, Elizabeth Matson, Ruth Danziger, plus Ellen Webb, Sya and puppeteers telling, with Robert's permission, The Paper Back Princess. 

Aug 25: Judy & Paul Caulfield, Susan Ida Boucaud,

Sep 1: Jan Sherman, Sarah Abŭsarar

Sep 8: Adwoa Badoe, Sya VanGeest

 

"What is Tea 'n' Tales?"
Every Friday morning in the summer, there's excitement, anticipation, and a buzz as people gather in the Enabling Garden in Riverside Park in Guelph at 10:30 in the morning. Some listeners arrive more than 30 minutes early to get their favourite spot, greet friends' arrival, listen to music or just luxuriate in a peaceful setting. 

Trevor and Brian discussing details for Tea 'n' TalesThis is a successful collaborative project between the Enabling Garden and GGS that was launched in 2007.
(Photo captures Brian and Trevor planning Tea 'n' Tales 2018)
Since then people have gathered in ever-increasing numbers in the sublime setting of the Enabling Garden nestled along the Speed River to listen to stories. 

During the summer, on Friday mornings at 10:30, we have a one-hour program consisting of performances by local and invited tellers, some accompanied by music or puppets. Listeners bring their own chairs or sit on rocks and benches.

Although the events are, freewill donations are graciously accepted and shared between the partners. These donations have allowed, amongst other things, the GEG to purchase necessary items to enhance their supplies and programs and covered the operating expenses of GGS.

There is limited seating provided, so audience members are strongly encouraged to bring their own chairs and to arrive early to ensure the best view. Iced tea and lemonade are prepared and served by GEG volunteers and in addition, the first 30+ people who bring their own mugs will be treated to a free coffee; organizers do not provide any disposable cups.

Each session begins with an acknowledgment that this beautiful garden stands in ancient Indigenous land and that today Guelph and its surroundings continue to be blessed with a strong community of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit descendants who have much to teach us.