An Easter celebration at the Senior Center of South Pearl River County included the venue’s annual Easter hat competition, during which attendees designed custom hats and showed them off to a panel of judges and the audience.

The judges for this year’s contest were two of the Center’s line dancing instructors.

“It was great to see everybody laughing and having a great time,” Kathleen Penton, Senior Center participant coordinator said.

Hats were judged based on creativity and implementation of Easter as the theme, Penton said.

This year’s even drew 12 participants who paraded around the room as they showed off their unique designs while posing for the audience.

Donnie Cameron, one of this year’s participants, said her daughter helped her design the hat she submitted. She said she was thrilled to see so many participants this year and sees the event as a opportunity to socialize with others.

Penton said she enjoyed seeing the participants put effort into the competition as they devised their unique creations.

After showing off their creations like a model on a runway, the participants allowed the judges a closer look at each hat before declaring the winner.

Gladys Cruz earned first place for her submission that used golden fabric around a straw hat with a pinning of orange roses.

In second place was one of the largest hats of the competition, created by Jane Blanks. She decorated her hat with a small bunny, glittered eggs and flowers. Multi-colored lace and a bed off eggs and lights gave it an elegant finish.