The Shepherdstown Community Club will sponsor its 17th annual Back Alley Garden Tour & Tea on May 17 & 18, featuring a self-guided walking tour of more than a dozen private gardens that are rarely open to the public and an elegant afternoon tea.

Garden tour hours are 10 a.m. To 4 p.m. On Saturday, May 17 and 11 a.m. To 4 p.m. On Sunday, May 18. The teas are offered from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Each day at the War Memorial Building.

Admission to both the Tour and Tea for the weekend is $20 per person through May 14 and $25 after that. The Shepherdstown Community Club sponsors this event and all proceeds are used to support two important community resources the club owns: the historic War Memorial Building that is used for community events and the town park, Morgan’s Grove Park.

To buy advance tickets and obtain more information, visit www.backalleygarden.org.

Tickets are also on sale in Shepherdstown at the Sweet Shop, Four Seasons Books and the Village Florist (all on German Street) and Yarnability on South Duke Street. During the May 17-18 weekend, tickets will also be available at the War Memorial Building.

The Back Alley Garden Tour & Tea is part of Shepherdstown’s weekend GardenFest, with many other free garden-related activities: demonstrations and exhibits about composting, beekeeping, raising chickens, indoor gardening, flower arranging, a farmer’s market both days, along with displays by local artists and potters, sidewalk sales by local merchants, access to local historic sites, live music, children’s events and special spring menus at many local restaurants.

Gardens and all other weekend activities are open, rain or shine.

Incoproated in 1762, Shepherstown has many fine 18th and early 19 Century homes. Some of the Garden Tour gardens will be located on the grounds of these homes. For glimpses into someo of the gardens, visit www.facebook.com/backalleygardenteandtour.

For details about these activities and information about parking locations in the town, go to the Shepherdstown Visitor’s Center webstie at www.shepherdstownvisitorscenter.com or contact Jan Hafer at 304-876-2786. On Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/ShepherdstownGardenFest.

There are many interesting programs in the War Memorial Building and at Morgan’s Grove Park sponsored by other groups. Please visit www.shepherdstowncc.org or follow on Facebook at Shepherdstown Community Club.