UK Town of Culture finalist, Sandown, stages a favourite community event on Sunday when The Grand Regatta Hat Parade returns.
This year’s weird and wonderful creations will be shown off at 2.30pm on Eastern Beach.
Three prizes, plus books
There are prizes of £100 for Best Hat, £50 for Best Under-12 Hat and the £50 Mad Hatter award for most eccentric headwear.
This time, there are extra awards of hat-inspired books thanks to support for the event by the National Literacy Trust.
A tradition the town keeps going
Bay Heritage Champion, Paul Coueslant, says,
“Wearing a hat on Regatta Day is a long Sandown tradition and one the town is proud to carry on.
“Over the last three years, the title of Best Hat has gone to a visiting family who decided to make their hats just days before the event, then – for two years running – it’s been won by under 12-year olds who’d worked on their creations for weeks.
“We’re grateful to Graft Studios, Brevity – the Island’s literary zine, Boojum & Snark, Sandown HUB and the National Literacy Trust for sponsoring this year’s prizes.”
