Thinking caps on! Win £500 at Bridport Hat Festival
A HAT-MAKING competition with a first prize of £500 has been launched by Bridport Hat Festival.
The brief is simply to produce an inspirational hat.
Entries will be judged by professionals from the world of hats and the best creations will go on display at Bridport Hat Festival from Friday, September 17 to Sunday, September 19.
The event will be Britain’s first hat festival.
The organiser is Bridport hatter and outfitter Roger Snook of Bridport.
“I think it will do Bridport a lot of good,” said Mr Snook.
He’s been heartened by people’s enthusiastic response since news of the festival was first published (on Real West Dorset) back in February.
He said then: “The Bridport Hat Festival is to be an annual event to remind people just how stylish wearing hats can be, and how stylish Bridport can be… And apart from anything else, a hat festival would just be great fun. It will attract people to the town and be a great early autumn attraction.”
Indeed, the prospect of the festival has sparked off other displays around town. Bridport Museum, for example, decided to put some hats from its collection on show, upstairs.
While Bridport Arts Centre has announced that one of Mr Snook’s customers – Hank Wangford – will be playing there on September 17.
“There’s big interest in trade stands, and we’ve got 599 fans on Facebook,” said Mr Snook. (Actually, since I spoke to him in his shop a little earlier, the number’s gone up to 602).
So, before it changes again, let’s round off.
Entrants to the hat-making competition need to submit 3 photographs of their finished hat, and write up to 250 words outlining the processes involved in the making it, and the thought and inspiration behind the design.
There’s a second prize of £250, and a third Roger Snook Prize of £150 for the best customised Fedora.
The closing date for entries is August 21.
For more details see the Bridport Hat Festival website – click here.
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