Could Yours Be Sandown's Best Hat? Grand Regatta Parade Returns This Sunday

Creative hat-makers are being encouraged to dust off their finest headwear as one of Sandown's most colourful traditions returns this weekend.

The Grand Regatta Hat Parade will take place at 2:30pm on Sunday (9th August) at the Beach Arena on Eastern Beach, behind The Sundial Café, as part of the Sandown Bay Regatta.

The popular event celebrates the town's long-standing tradition of wearing hats on Regatta Day, with prizes on offer for the most imaginative creations.

A top prize of £100 will be awarded for Best Hat, while there is £50 for the Best Under-12 Hat and another £50 for the Mad Hatter Award, recognising the most eccentric design.

This year, additional hat-themed books will also be presented to winners thanks to support from the National Literacy Trust.

Bay Heritage Champion Paul Coueslant said:

"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 Best Hat title has gone to a visiting family who decided to make their hats just days before the event and, for the last two years, it's been won by under-12s who had spent weeks creating their designs.

"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."

There is no need to register in advance, with entrants simply asked to gather at the Beach Arena in good time before judging begins.

The Hat Parade forms part of a packed programme of entertainment during this year's Sandown Bay Regatta.