The story was originally published in The Sylva Herald, April 1 publication.
Kids of all ages are invited for a day of fun during the Easter Hat Parade on Saturday in Dillsboro.
Registration for parade entry will begin at noon, and the event will start from the Town Hall at 2 p.m. The town of Dillsboro is two long blocks and the parade lasts about 30 minutes.
Spectators and merchants are asked to wear a mask during the event and follow COVID-19 guidelines.
The Antique Hot Rods will be attending with their model A’s and a large number of Mini-Coopers decorated for showing.
Brenda Anders, coordinator for the Easter Hat Parade for the last 30 years, has taken the Easter celebration further and further.
“The first couple of years the number of participants in the parade were less than 24,” Anders said. “The event has grown, until we have had over 200 hat contest entries in our parades through the years.”
Anders continues to add fun activities each year for all age groups such as photos with the Easter Bunny, piles of eggs that will be displayed with many different techniques in addition to viewing the unique, homemade hats, she said.
Many Dillsboro stores and restaurants will also be available and open for onlookers to enjoy while waiting for the parade.
In addition to the festive parade, participants will show off their homemade hats to spectators.
“Each year different participants come, and I generally pick judges from some of the onlookers,” Anders said.
The hat contest categories are ever-changing but include funniest, largest, most unusual, cutest, hat that traveled the farthest and best animal in show.
“Many times, we have to make up categories as they appear,” Anders said. “This year we hope to have ‘masks’ enter the competition.”
Hat contest winners will receive homemade prizes made by Anders after the parade.
With concerns for the safety of the participants, the hat-making and the egg hunt are canceled.
Prizes will still be available for young children such as baskets of eggs filled with mystery prizes.
With construction replacing the bridge on Haywood Road, parking will be unavailable at Monteith Park. Anders advises coming early to find a good parking space.
For more information, call 506-8331 or visit www.visitdillsboro.com.
