>> ONE OF OUR FAVORITE CELEBRATIONS OF THE SEASON
TAKES PLACE IN THE SMALL TOWN OF DILLSBORO.
IT'S CALLED THE DILLSBORO EASTER HAT PARADE AND IT'S A
BIG TIME FOR EVERYONE.
>> DILLSBORO'S ANNUAL EASTER HAT PARADE BEGAN WELL
OVER 20 YEARS AGO.
THE WAY MANY OF THESE THINGS OFTEN DO.
>> SOME OF THE MERCHANTS I GUESS WERE FEELING KIND OF
SILLY AND GIDDY AND MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD A LOT TO DO, THEY
DECIDED ONE SATURDAY TO CELEBRATE EASTER JUST BY
PUTTING ON HATS AND WALKING AROUND THE BLOCKS.
SO, THEY DID, AND HAD A GOOD TIME.
THE NEXT YEAR A COUPLE MORE MERCHANTS JOINED IN, AND THEN
SOME OF THE TOWNS PEOPLE, AND BEFORE WE KNEW IT, WE HAD AN
OFFICIAL DILLSBORO EASTER HAT PARADE.
AND OVER THE YEARS, WORD HAS SPREAD AND MORE AND
MORE PEOPLE COME.
WE HAVE PEOPLE COME BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR WITH EVEN MORE
OUTLANDISH IDEAS, CAN'T WAIT TO
SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS YEAR.
>> WHAT'S HAPPENING IS A CELEBRATION OF CREATIVITY,
SILLINESS, SPRINGTIME IN THE MOUNTAINS.
>> YOU COME DECKED OUT IN YOUR FAVORITE EASTER HAT OR BRING
A HAT AND WE WILL HELP YOU DECORATE.
>> VOLUNTEERS FROM LOCAL CRAFT COOPERATIVE, DOGWOOD CRAFTERS,
ARE ON HAND TO ASSIST.
>> DIFFERENT PEOPLE DONATE FLOWERS AND RIBBONS OR THINGS
THAT YOU CAN PUT ON THE HAT, AND THE CRAFTERS HELP THOSE
SMALL CHILDREN WITH THE GLUE GUN AND THEY START MAKING HATS
AT 10:00 AND THEY ARE MAKING HATS
RIGHT ON UP TO 2:00, GETTING READY FOR THE PARADE.
ABOUT 10:00, THERE WILL BE EASTER EGG HUNTS
FOR THE SMALL CHILDREN.
>> THE PARADE DOES NOT BEGIN UNTIL 2:00, PLENTY OF TIME TO
ARRIVE AND GET READY.
THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAIN RAILROAD RUNS EXCURSIONS FROM
BRYSON CITY AND MAKES AN EXTENDED STOP IN DILLSBORO FOR
THE EASTER HAT PARADE.
>> THIS IS JUST A GREAT EASTER EVENT FOR FAMILIES, WE ARE
HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE TOWN OF DILLSBORO TO STAY A LITTLE
BIT LONGER TO LET THEM SEE THE EASTER HAT PARADE.
SO, WE HAVE VARIOUS EVENTS GOING ON.
WE HAVE GREAT FAMILY FUN.
WE HAVE THE EASTER EGG HUNT GOING ON, BOUNCY HOUSE, WE HAVE
CRAFTS, WE HAVE SNACKS, THE PEANUTS, CHARLIE BROWN,
LUCY, SNOOPY, GREETING THE KIDS, DECORATING YOUR COOKIES, KIDS
LOVE THAT, AND FACE PAINTING AND ALL AROUND GOOD TRAIN FUND.
>> ANOTHER EVENT GOING IN POPULARITY IS THE EASTER TEA.
>> ENGLISH TEA, AND LITTLE FINGER SANDWICHES AND SCONES
AND LITTLE MUFFINS AND THINGS THAT ARE PRISSY.
IT'S A GOOD THING FOR MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS, OR OLD FRIENDS,
AND WE HAVE TWO SEATINGS.
ONE AT 1:00, ONE AT 3:00, PROCEEDS FROM THE TEA GOES TO
OUR BUILDING FUND.
>> WHAT BEGAN WITH A HANDFUL OF LOCALS NOW ATTRACTS HUNDREDS
FROM NEAR AND FAR.
>> THE FIRST TIME WE JUST, I GUESS, FELL IN LOVE AND LOVED
IT, SO NOW IT'S A YEARLY EVENT.
>> WE CALL IT OUR HALLOWEEN BUT WITH EGGS AND RABBITS, IT'S A
LOT OF FUN TO COME OUT AND DRESS UP AND ENJOY SOMETHING
YOU DON'T SEE JUST ANYWHERE.
>> AROUND 2:00 THE PARADE BEGINS.
>> THE OFFICIAL DOWNTOWN AREA OF DILLSBORO IS TWO BLOCKS.
SO, WE START AT THE TOWN HALL AND WE WALK DOWN THE
TWO-BLOCK STREET AND COME UP TO THE
HIGHWAY WHERE THE HIGHWAY PATROL HAS STOPPED THE TRAFFIC
LONG ENOUGH FOR US TO WALK A TWO-BLOCK AREA DOWN THIS MAIN
ROAD AND THEN THAT'S THE END OF IT.
THE PARADE ITSELF LASTS MAYBE 15 MINUTES.
HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN SAY THAT THEY HAVE BEEN IN AN
EASTER HAT PARADE?
>> EVEN BETTER TO HAVE AN AWARD-WINNING HAT.
>> THERE ARE PRIZES, AND WE HAVE SEVERAL CATEGORIES
FOR THE HAT.
WE HAVE, OF COURSE, THE LARGEST AND THE SMALLEST.
THE MOST SPRING-LIKE, AND THAT IS PEOPLE WHO USE FRESH FLOWERS.
THE PUFFIEST, USUALLY THE MOST BOWS AND RIBBONS.
SOMETIMES WE ADD A CATEGORY WHEN SOMEBODY WALKS UP THAT
DOES NOT FIT IN ANY CATEGORY, AND OF COURSE THERE IS THE
BEST DOG AWARD.
SO, WE HAVE FOUR JUDGES, ONE FOR THE DOG AND THREE
FOR THE PEOPLE.
IT'S A GOOD, FUN, FAMILY DAY.
IT'S FREE.
SO DON'T COME JUST FOR THE PARADE, COME TO SEE WHAT'S IN
DILLSBORO.
I GUARANTEE YOU ONCE YOU HAVE BEEN HERE YOU'LL WANT
TO COME BACK.
>> THIS IS DEREK LONG, FOR "NORTH CAROLINA WEEKEND."