The hugely popular Bridport Hat Festival lifts its brim once again over the weekend of Friday 14 to Sunday 16 September.
In what has already become a much-loved tradition, the original and best Hat Festival takes to the market-filled streets of this Dorset town with an even richer array of eclectic, hat-related entertainment, in this its third year.
The Festival opens with hat-loving Hank Wangford and his band on the Friday evening, then Saturday’s ‘must-do’ event is the mass hat-wearing, when thousands gather in Bucky Doo – Bridport’s typically quirky town centre – with prizes for the most unusual hats and a celebratory street-wide photoshoot at 1pm. Sunday wraps up with the Mad Hatter’s Tea Dance.
Further delights include a a plethora of hat stalls, experts and makers, psychic hat readings, the Mad Hatter’s Tea Dance, themed buffets, a cabaret and disco, bands, a hat exhibition at the local museum and an interactive hatting-up display for adults, while for children there are hat workshops and an open-air cinema.
The Hat Festival has not only been taken to heart by the people of Bridport, it draws a huge number of visitors and has been enthusiastically embraced by the hatting industry.
The Festival’s head honcho, well-known local hatter Roger Snook, says: ‘Bridport Hat Festival is so much fun – so happy hatting, everyone!’
Bridport Hat Festival this year supports two charities, Brain Tumour Research and Whizz-Kidz.
For a full run down of what’s on see:
Website: www.bridporthatfest.org
