Every year around Easter, hundreds of participants don the craziest and most unique hats they can find and parade through the streets of Dillsboro, a great town less than an hour west of Asheville. Last year’s event drew more than 500 participants, and this year’s 22nd annual Easter Hat Parade looks to be just as big. If you’re looking for some family fun, then make your plans to head to Dillsboro on Saturday, April 3rd. The parade starts at 2:00 PM. Press release follows:
Old hat, new hat, yellow hat, blue hat. They’re all welcome at Dillsboro’s 22nd annual Easter Hat Parade on Saturday, April 3, 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.
In addition to an array of colorful hats, the parade features vintage cars provided by the Smoky Mountain Antique Car Club. The Easter Bunny will be there, arriving in antique convertible, while local magician Professor Wizbang will perform amazing tricks for the kids.
If your hat collection isn’t up to snuff, don’t worry. Hat-making takes place on the lawn of Dogwood Crafters.
Last year’s parade set a record with 500 participants, and organizers expect a larger turnout this year.
Although the Easter Hat Parade officially begins at 2 p.m., folks are encouraged to arrive early and spend the day. Dillsboro is a walkabout mountain village featuring many unique shops, arts & crafts studios, restaurants and inns.
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.
For parade information call the Jackson County Visitors Center at (800) 962-1911, or go to www.visitdillsboro.org.
Autumn is one of my favorite times to be in Asheville. The weather is cooperating for a change (not too hot, not too cold), which makes it a great time to get outside with family and/or friends. What better way to spend that time than at Western North Carolina’s best corn maze? This is a great and inexpensive way to spend a day in the great outdoors. The maze may be the main attraction, but it isn’t all that is on offer. Elaida’s putting on a full-on fall festival every weekend. We’re talking attractions like a slack line, a cow train, pedal carts, live music, festival food and even something called “corn cannons”.
