Bridport's most unique and quirky event of the year is expected to attract huge crowds as it returns this weekend. 

Bridport Hat Festival is a celebration of hats, a fundraiser for head-related charities and a giant summer-ending party for the town and its visitors – all run by volunteers. 

The most creative, quirky, stylish and inventive headwear is combined with live music, multiple competitions, demonstrations, talks, displays, shows, a hat auction, games, and even hatted dogs, all topped off by a mass photocell in Bucky Doo Square on 'Haturday'.

The main events will be held on 'Saturday' - Saturday, September 2 – including all the usual attractions, starting wwith an official opening by the town crier and Mayor of Bridport at 10am in Bucky Doo Square. 

A fun hat competition will be open to everyone wearing a hat, with categories including Best Lady, Gent, Boy, Girl, Couple and Family or Group. Judging will be held at 1pm just after the mass hatted photo in Bucky Doo Square. 

Throughout the day there will be music provided by young local musicians and performances from the Bridport Broadsides Shanty Group. 

The all-day HatFest Garden Party will take place at Millennium Green, with music including St Swithin's Brass Band and Clive Smith's Arcadia Jazz Band. There will also be a licensed bar and food served all day. 

Other attractions include Hat Hurling and a Hatted Dog Party in the morning, with the Most Elegant Ensemble public competition in the afternoon.

New attractions this year will include the finals of The Stanley Mansbridge Perpetual Trophy for Dorset town criers and St Mary's Church's Open Tower Day. 

Bridport Hat Festival celebrations got underway today (Thursday) with a family hat-making workshop run by Oops Wow Messy Art and will continue tonight with a hat auction at the Bridport & West Dorset Club in South Street, from 7.30pm, hosted by auctioneer Jim Rowe.

For the full programme of events, visit https://www.bridporthatfest.org/