Young cowboys and cowgirls saddled up for cucumber sandwiches, tea and punch Friday at the Lawrence Public Library’s holiday tea party.

The annual tradition has expanded in recent years from a formal event to themed tea parties to appeal to a broader array of children ages 5 to 12. The cowboy theme drew more boys than usual, said Joyce Steiner, the library’s youth services coordinator.

But there are three Lawrence sisters who enjoy the party – no matter what the theme is. Nicolette Weil, 21, Maya Weil, 18, and Amelia Weil, 14, used to don their favorite dresses and bring their dolls to the tea. Now they volunteer every winter to serve children their treats. This year, in jeans, button-up shirts and straw hats, they even helped demonstrate how to line dance.

“It’s fun seeing the kids all dressed up,” said Nicolette Weil, a University of Texas senior. “When we first came it was just the entertainment of eating tea and cookies.”

Oisin Thompson, 9, like many of the children, passed on the tea, but delved into the small sandwiches and sipped on punch.

“My mom’s not here so I can eat a lot of cookies,” he said.

About 140 children attended the morning and afternoon tea parties in the library’s auditorium.

Steiner said the event helps introduce children to formal social norms and it provides entertainment during the winter.

“Kids don’t get a whole lot of opportunities to be in a formal setting,” she said.

Tea time etiquette is a focus every year, though Steiner said the rowdy cowboy theme deterred that slightly this year.

The event also featured music from two members of the Jody Scott and Too Country band, line dancing and rope tricks. Jake Miller, a high school student from Emporia, demonstrated the tricks that he learned from his uncle, a world champion roper.