The Oak Bay Tea Party began as a "one time event" in the summer of 1963 when the late Allan Cox, Q.C. was the Reeve of Oak Bay. It was so successful that it became an annual event since then. Originally, the Oak Bay Tea Party was run by a group of volunteers, most of whom were members of the Oak Bay Kiwanis Club, who called themselves “The Oak Bay Bored of Trade”. Since 1990, the Tea Party has been run by the Oak Bay Tea Party Society, a non-profit society dedicated solely to putting on the Tea Party on the 1st Saturday and Sunday of June at Willows Park.

The Tea Party has had three chairmen: the late Fred Usher, the late Marcel Barsalou, and the current Bill Murphy-Dyson. Beginning with the Oak Bay Tea Party Parade on Saturday morning from Windsor Park to Willows Park, the Tea Party is a weekend community celebration of entertainment, midway, Bathtub race and air show (subject to weather).  2011 celebrates the 49th anniversary of the Oak Bay Tea Party.   Run by volunteers, the Tea Party is proud to assist the following non-profit organizations raise funds for their worthwhile charitable causes:

Oak Bay Kiwanis
Rotary Club of Oak Bay
Capital City Lions Club
Royal Oak Lions Club
Girl Guides of Canada
Oak Bay Sea Rescue Society