The annual Tea and Hat Show hosted by Smith Plantation won’t see its 10th anniversary.

The event was scheduled to be held Saturday, but organizers pulled the plug on Wednesday after extremely disappointing ticket sales.

“We waited until the very last minute,” said Smith Plantation Site Director Chuck Douglas. “But we had sold only five tickets. I don’t know why.”

Assistant Site Director Lydia Ellington said it was probably a combination of reasons, with the relocation of the event from the historic Smith site to the Roswell Adult Recreation Center.

“Last year was the first year we did it away from the site, and I think maybe in the transfer it lost that intimate feel,” she said. “We thought it was a gamble when we moved it over there because you do lose some ambience.”

Another factor might have been the ticket price, Ellington said. For years tickets were $10, but the price has been upped to $20 “just to cover the costs,” she said.

In past years the event had been very popular. It gave ladies an opportunity to dress up and wear their finest millinery, enjoy tea and finger foods and take in a fashion show of original headwear.

Held in conjunction with the Roswell Roots festival, Douglas said the organizers were trying to “grow” the event by moving it. “Last year we had 60 in attendance, and we thought we’d have 100 this year. We’re all really disappointed. I’ve never had to cancel anything in the 12 years I’ve been here.”

The future of the Tea and Hat Show is now up in the air.

“We’re going to re-evaluate and decide if we want to continue it or come up with a new event,” Ellington said.

Moving the tea back to the Smith Plantation house would not be the best option for the site, she said. “It’s a lot of wear and tear on the house.”