From left, Katy Dressler, of Cranberry Township, host Erin McCurdy, of Cranberry Township, Sherry Jo Matt, of Wexford, and Sarah Shipley, of Evans City, show off their finery undeterred. Weather had forced their tea party indoors Saturday. Eric Freehling/Butler Eagle

CRANBERRY TWP A mad tea party turned into a mad scramble Friday night as weather forced the planned outdoor event indoors.

Hostess Erin MCurdy had planned to have the Saturday tea party in the yard and around the pool of her home on Plains Church Road, but the unrelenting rain forced a last-minute move to a vacant rental house next door.

Her friend, Sherry Jo Matt, of Wexford, said the party would happen rain or shine — even if it meant shifting to a new location the tables, chairs, food and vast collection of (breakable) tea cups, saucers and teapots that had been amassed to accommodate 80 guests.

McCurdy said 20 people worked from 2:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday to get the location switched.

“This would not have come off without the dedication and support of all my friends. We had to order pizza twice because we worked so long,” she said.

Her son, Wes McCurdy, who directed parking dressed as the White Rabbit from “Alice in Wonderland,” said, “It was all hands on deck. It would have been nice to be outside, but you do what you can.”

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