MILLINERY mania is building up in Bridport as the town’s fourth Hat Festival fast approaches.

Now locals and visitors are being urged to get their thinking caps on for the popular hat competitions, which form a highlight of HatFest Saturday – on September 7.

The theme for 2012 was ‘quirkiest hat’, but this year both adults and children will be judged simply on their best efforts at the Hat Festival, which is backed by the Bridport News.

Whether classy or cool, dashing or demure, beautiful, bold or bonkers, anything goes and there will be a new prize for the most elegantly-hatted couple.

All people have to do is turn up in town on the day, wearing their hats.

Another first is the prize for dogs, thanks to the many titfer-toting pooches spotted at previous HatFests, though these will be judged separately at the Millenium Green. Serious hat-makers have their own prestigious competition, the Milliners and Hatters Open with a top prize of £500, which draws top-standard creations from both near and far.

The deadline for entries is midnight on Sunday, August 18.

The many trade stands taking part will also attract a prize, given by Brain Tumour Research, which is one of the festival’s chosen charities, for the best millinery display.

But for people looking for a ready-made solution, the Hat Auction is taking place at the Bridport and West Dorset Club on Friday, August 23, at 7.30pm.

Bids will be sought for headwear collected in the current Hat Amnesty, which is currently seeing unwanted headgear filling up the amnesty box located in T Snook’s hat shop in West Street, Bridport.

“To anyone with more hats than they know what to do with, I say: “Don’t hang on to your hats,” said festival founder Roger Snook.

“And spare a thought, while you’re mulling over what to wear at the Hat Festival, for the committee members who are hard at work finalising the packed 2013 programme.”

Running from the evening of the September 6 and all day on Saturday, September 7, the schedule includes live music, activities, exhibitions, talks and the very first Bridport Hat-Hurling Challenge.

The full programme will appear in the Bridport News on September 5 and on the festival website bridporthatfest.org The festival is still seeking business and individual sponsors. Anyone wishing to sponsor the HatFest can either call 01308 458224 or look on the website.