“In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it, you’ll be the grandest lady in the Easter parade.” From Irving Berlin’s Easter Parade.

Thursday, women and men donned their finest Easter hats and glided across the floor at the Senior Center of South Pearl River County’s fourth annual Easter Parade and Hat Contest.
“We do these types of events because our seniors like to have fun,” Senior Center Executive Director Darlene Adams said. “Any excuse for a party.”
According to an article on pastemagazine.com, toward the late 1870s, women and children marching in Easter parades replaced dark-colored smocks with brighter clothing. By the early 1900s, Americans began their fascination with the hat.
According to the article, women utilized fresh flowers to decorate their bonnets or flowers made from paper, ribbon, fabric feathers, seashells and pinecones.
The hats on display at the senior center were colorfully decorated with stuffed animals, ribbons, religious symbols, lights and flowers.
This year’s judges were Deborah Benoit, owner of Plantation Properties, and Linda Gilmore, publisher of the Picayune Item.
The contest began with a parade of unique hats and gaits.
Hats were judged in three categories, most beautiful, original and silliest.
The winner of the most beautiful hat was Caroline Simmons and Dolly Hinkson was named runner up.
Austin Easterling’s hat was named most original while Jane Blanks was named the runner up in that category.
The silliest hat prize was awarded to Jesse Gladwell and Adella Barber was named the runner up.
Alma Blancher’s was named the overall winner and Taylor Isbell received the future senior award.
Simmons, a first time participant, said she was very surprised to win. She recalled wearing Easter hats as a child and shared a memory of her grandmother.
“My grandma gave me a baby chicken on Easter and I used to carry her everywhere,” she said.
Blanks also said she wore Easter hats a child and carries out that tradition today.
“We need to get back into the tradition of wearing Easter hats again,” Blanks said. “It’s nice and brings back memories, makes me want to be a kid again.”