FOR SALE — With organizers using a new vendor for their replica teapots this year, this is one of the first 2025 teapots produced for sale at Chester Teapot Day on Aug. 9. While in the past, teapots were hand-lettered and detailed after being printed, this new manufacturer uses the 3D printer to do it all, resulting in a cleaner look. These replicas cost $21 at the event with proceeds going to the Chester Teapot maintenance fund. -- Contributed

CHESTER — The year 2025 marks special significance for the city’s annual Teapot Day, as it is the first year with its new coordinator and a decade in existence.

Susan Hineman, who serves on the Chester City Parks Commission, has long overseen the event. However, she has turned over the event, which was founded to fund the city landmark’s upkeep, to Tara Beiswenger.

This year’s Chester Teapot Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 9.

A variety of vendors, artisans and just plain tea drinking enthusiasts will gather around Chester’s teapot, conveniently located near the Chester exit by the Jennings Randolph Bridge.

Beiswenger said that the 2025 Fiesta commemorative ornament, a Teapot Day tradition, will be in the color Poppy and 3D replicas of Chester’s teapot will be both available for purchase at the event.

In addition to music, the event also will include food, with the teapot itself the site of concession sales, where attendees can purchase hot dogs, nachos, soda and other drinks out of its windows.

William Devon built the Teapot in 1938 from a gigantic wooden hogshead Hires’ Root Beer barrel that he purchased in Pennsylvania. After locating it in Chester, he primarily used it as a concession stand of sorts, selling food and souvenirs outside its location near Devon’s pottery store on Carolina Avenue.

The Teapot changed hands twice after World War II, where the new owners sold pottery and gift items until being purchased by the C&P Telephone company and gifted to the city of Chester in the late 1980s.

The city then relocated it to its current location and repaired it, officially dedicating it in October 1990.

Decades later, Teapot Day was created as a fundraising solution as normal wear and tear had taken its toll on the Teapot.

Eventually more that $15,000 worth of repairs were funded through Teapot Day.

Long known as the World Largest Teapot, Chester’s designation has come under fire as Navasota, Texas has touted their “teapot” is actually larger.

Martha’s Bloomers uses their “teapot” to promote a cafe/tea room on their grounds.

In actually, although their alleged “teapot” is larger, some allege it doesn’t resemble a teapot at all — but more like a watering can with a lid.

Beiswenger thanked Hineman for her work toward this all these years and crediting the public for its ultimate success.

“Teapot Day is a collaborative community effort with support from local businesses, volunteers and all who attend this day to mark it a terrific annual event,” she concluded.