TIME to dust off your wackiest hat, as Bridport's most outrageous event returns next week.

The Bridport Hat Festival is returning for the first time in two years with a garden party at the Millennium Green on Saturday, September 4.

The wacky and wonderful celebration of hats was cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic and organisers were unsure whether they would be able to bring the event back this year.

However, it was confirmed in May that the event will take place this year, with organisers stating that they could not wait to see the 'wonderful creations' people have to offer.

The event has been scaled down this year and will be take place wholly on the Millennium Green. South Street will not be closed as in previous years.

Deemed a garden party and not an official instalment of the Bridport Hat Festival, organisers are confident next year a full festival will go ahead.

Music will be taking place, organised by the Bridport Folk Festival team, there will be a licensed bar courtesy of Jurassic Fields and Brit Valley Rotary Club will be serving up cream teas and cake. There will be also be pulled pork served from a mobile wagon.

In previous years, the renowned event has attracted hundreds of people to the town, sporting the most creative, wild and wacky hats they can get there hands on.

First established in 2010, the hat festival has grown in popularity with each passing year

Over the past ten years, the festival has raised thousands of pounds for head-related charities.

There will be a bucket collection on the day with donations being made to the festival organiser's chosen charities of Brain Tumour Research (BTR) and The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust (BIRT).