The Tea has taken place for 44 years and is the official start of Colony Days
ATASCADERO — Colony Days festivities officially kicked off on Sunday, Sept. 25, at 2 p.m. with the Colony Days Tea put on by Quota of Atascadero. The tea honors both the incoming Royalty and Grand Marshal as well as those who have held the position in the past.
“We get very excited to see the energy that comes into the room when everybody’s here,” said Quota Director Deena Pangborn said of the Tea.
The invite-only Tea has taken place for the last 44 years. It welcomes residents who are 55 years and older that have lived in Atascadero for over 40 years or went to Atascadero schools while living in San Luis Obispo County for 40 years. Many local dignitaries, such as Atascadero Mayor Heather Moreno and SLO County 5th District Supervisor Debbie Arnold, were also in attendance.
“We’ve got a committee that is just excited about doing it [The Tea] for our community,” stated Pangborn.
Attendees were entertained by the Barbershop Quartet — The Fairweather Four while chatting with friends and enjoying their afternoon tea. After the entertainment, the crowd was asked to share stories about growing up and living in beautiful Atascadero for all these years.
“This is all impromptu,” added Pangborn. “Every bit of it, and it’s just amazing some of the stories that… I’ve been doing this for a lot of years and to hear story after story that we’ve not heard before. That’s what’s really fun.”
Craig Davis shared a story about getting into a prank war with the 2022 Colony Days’ King, Dan Phillips. In retaliation to a prank Phillips played on him, Davis had 100 door hangers advertising free haircuts printed that could be redeemed at Dan’s Barbershop and left them on cars at their church. Phillips honored every single hanger that was brought into his shop.
“Everybody always knew how to watch out for everybody else, and we still have a lot of that,” Pangborn said of all the shared stories.
The Tea continued when The Colony Days Committee announced this year’s Colony Days Royalty and Grand Marshal. 2021’s King Mike Byrne pinned Dan Phillips as 2022’s King, and Byrne’s wife Charlotte passed her Queen crown to Ramona Phillips. And while 2021’s Grand Marshal, Joan RexRoth, could not attend the Tea, 2022’s Grand Marshal Ann Little was pinned by Barbie Butz.
Special thanks goes out to Jodi Bloom of Bloom N Grow for donating flowers for the Royalty, Vons for donating cut flowers that the Quota ladies arranged, and Atascadero Bible Church for donating their Fellowship Hall for the event.
“Quota is very focused on being involved in the community, and this is one thing that we can do that is totally for the community. It has nothing to do with us, other than we get to put it on,” said Pangborn.
The next Colony Days event will be the Colony Days Mixer. The Mixer is open to the general public and will take place on Friday, Sept. 30, at Wild Fields Brewhouse starting at 5:30 p.m.
“We are putting on the mixer, an introduction, and celebration of the royalty and grand marshall for anyone in the community to attend,” said committee member Karen McNamara. “We hope the community will come out for this special event. It is free, with alcoholic beverages for purchase.”
King and Queen, Dan and Ramona Phillips, and Grand Marshal Ann Little will be announced to the general public and presented with plaques.
Schedule of events for Saturday, Oct. 1
- 10 a.m. | Colony Days Parade
- After parade to 3 p.m. | There will be a variety of vendors, entertainment, and food in and around the Sunken Gardens
- 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Sign-ups open for Colony Days Dog Races (go to colonydays.org and click on “Colony Days Dog Races”
- 12 p.m. | All sized dog costume contest
- 12:30 p.m. | Wiener dog and small dog races (registration form at colonydays.org)
- 12:30 p.m. | Colony Days Parade awards
- 2 p.m. | Musical Performance by the Atascadero Community Band
