The Gatsby Festival is a two-day event at the Tallac Historic Site held each year the second weekend in August.  This weekend celebrated the era of Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, one of the greatest literary documents of this period, in which the American economy soared, bringing unprecedented levels of prosperity to the nation... an era that F. Scott dubbed “the Jazz Age.”

Throughout the weekend a variety of activities took place on the Pope and Baldwin Estates—vintage car shows, wandering musicians and jugglers, a raffle, special sales of period appropriate items and many great photo opportunities!

These gals described themselves as "props".

We were escorted around the property in a very cool, vintage "bus".

This is the only day where we could get a peek into the Pope Estate's Boathouse and see Quic-Chakidn, a 40 foot boat built in 1921, replete with every amenity a boat of this size and day could contain.  Gorgeous.

After hobnobbing with the wealthy we switched into serving mode.  Sunday afternoon, of each Gatsby Festival, the Tahoe Heritage Foundation holds its annual Gatsby Tea. Volunteers decorate and host tea tables and serve Gatsby era sweets and savories.  These were two of my favorite tables.

Steve was a butler to his own table of eight ladies.  For his first foray into food service, he did exceptionally well.

Following dessert and champagne, guests were given a fashion show of vintage outfits wore by famous 'people' who lived at or visited Lake Tahoe.  The characters ranged from John C. Frémont to Valentino to Marilyn Monroe and ending with Cher.  The history lesson that went along with the fashions was incredible.  We were not only entertained, we were educated!

Ironically, the weekend based on a novel was, to me, the stuff of what stories are written.  Each element adding to the overall plot with the spectacular conclusion being, "We had fun".