Everything from brewed tea ales to oolong steeped with fresh fern needles are on hand at the Victoria Tea Festival this weekend.

This is the fifth year of the festival, which grew from a one-day event that drew about 200 people to a two-day festival that could attract up to 4,000. The event touts itself as the largest public tea exhibition in North America.

B次元官网网址淰ictoria has such a rich heritage of tea, so many people come to Victoria (for that) ... and we designed (the festival) as a weekend destination,B次元官网网址� said festival organizer Lisa Stekelenburg.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a celebration of all things tea. From our end of things, itB次元官网网址檚 not just a tea celebration of the traditional types of tea, but also the trends of tea.B次元官网网址�

At noon on Sunday, the Urasenke Nagomi Tea Circle will host a traditional Japanese tea ceremony for attendees.

B次元官网网址淭here will be lots of very interesting things I will want to play with,B次元官网网址� Stekelenburg said.

The festival runs noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday (Feb. 12) and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday (Feb. 13). Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door, at the Crystal Garden, 713 Douglas St.

For more information, go to www.victoriateafestival.com.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com