For the third year in a row, The Ritz-Carlton in Tysons Corner hosted a Halloween Scary Tea in one of their grand ballrooms. What makes this event so special is that it is specifically geared toward children (girls AND boys) of all ages and advertised to be “fun, festive and fright-less.”
The tea party was aimed toward the 4 to 12 age group, but I did see a few preschoolers and teenagers. My daughters, ages 8 and 10, were a 
perfect age to enjoy the food, atmosphere and magician. Every child and a few adults came in costume. There are two sittings offered on a Saturday before Halloween at 10 am and 1 pm. Both sittings were full with about 30 children plus adults.
The event lasted about an hour and a half. We were directed to a ballroom where each party checked in at a podium and was escorted individually into the large ballroom. And this is where The Ritz-Carlton excels! Every detail was impressive. The room was dimly lit with a large screen playing Charlie Brown’s “It’s the Great Pumpkin,” while festive Halloween music was playing lightly in the background. Each table was decorated with spider webs while cobwebs and fog was all around the room. Lights in glass votives were hanging from the ceiling.
Hot chocolate, tea and ice water were offered while two courses of creative and delicious tea sandwiches and desserts were brought out. Everything on the child’s plate was kid-friendly – from Nutella sandwiches shaped like bats to fresh berries. The adult’s plate consisted of fancy sandwiches like cranberry chicken salad and caviar topped sandwiches. The dessert plate included Halloween sugar cookies, green (slime) scones, mousse tarts and more.
Next, the children were asked to come up to the stage while Louis the Magician performed a magic show that lasted 30 minutes. He was engaging, professional and made the kids laugh – even when a loud fire alarm went off in the middle of his show. The event concluded with each group being called up to take a group photo by The Ritz-Carlton that would be emailed at a later date.
Upon exiting, each child was offered a cloth bag filled with various candies and treats. At $65 a person (not including tax and tip), this is definitely a specialty tea party. If you want to experience a high quality tea with your child, this may be a great option. You will definitely appreciate the details that are put forth to make it a high quality tea.
Take special note to go through the lobby of the hotel. This year they had a display that centered on Charlie Brown’s “It’s the Great Pumpkin” book that was incorporated throughout the hotel and events. In the lobby was a display of a scene from The Great Pumpkin complete with Snoopy’s house, Linus’s blanket and a 700 pound pumpkin that was special ordered in May from a local farmer for The Ritz-Carlton. Hand decorated sugar cookies that looked like Charlie Brown’s shirt, gravestones and bats were available by the lobby. It was a sight to behold!
Good to Know
The Halloween Scary tea happens in early October.
- Reservations are required and the cost is $65/person.
- Parking is validated so be sure to save your ticket.
- If your child is celebrating a Halloween birthday, consider bring them to this tea party. They made special fuss of a little girl who was celebrating her special day.
- Coming up in December are The Ritz-Carlton’s Gingerbread House Decorating Class (ages 3 to 12), The Nutcracker Tea and The Princess Tea. Book now, as spaces fill quickly.
Photos by Andrea Verwys.
