Dillsboro NC Easter Hat Parade

April 7, 2012
Old hat, new hat, yellow hat, blue hat. They're all welcome at Dillsboro's annual Easter Hat Parade at 2 p.m.

The parade, a Dillsboro tradition the Saturday before Easter, showcases a variety of interesting hats atop participants of all ages, including pets.

Judges select the best hats in more than 20 categories, including: biggest, smallest, funniest, best-smelling, "poofy-est," most creative, most spring-like and most outrageous. Last year, there were nearly 250 entrants in the contest.

If you can't find a good fedora to wear, fear not. Hat-making takes place on the lawn of Dogwood Crafters. In addition to an array of colorful hats, the parade features vintage cars provided by the Old Timers Model A Club and the Mountaineer Antique Auto Club. The Easter Bunny makes an appearance as well, riding in antique convertible car.

Although the Easter Hat Parade officially begins at 2 p.m., folks are encouraged to arrive early and spend the day. Easter egg hunts for children begin at 10:30 a.m., along with hat-making sessions at Dogwood Crafters.

Dogwood Crafters also presents an English tea at the famous Jarrett House Inn. Tea and food will be served on fine china, with the artisans from Dogwood Crafters showcasing their cooking skills by preparing the delicacies. There will be two seatings - 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. - and cost for the tea is $12 per person.

Dillsboro is located on the Tuckasegee River at the crossroads of U.S. Hwy. 23/74 and U.S. Hwy 441 in Jackson County. The town is less than an hour west of Asheville, 1.5 hours from Gatlinburg, 2.5 hours from Atlanta and Spartanburg, and 3 hours from Charlotte and Knoxville. It is a walkabout mountain village featuring an array of unique shops, arts & crafts studios, restaurants and inns.

So dig out that favorite fedora or cherished chapeau and makes plan now to attend an event that’s sure to provide 10 gallons of fun for everyone.