For the 73rd annual Big Hat Day event, hosted in Old Town Clovis, vendors and stores opened to customers from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., April 2 and 3.
The event showcased several attractions, including the main theme of big hats. People wore various styles of hats, such as stetsons, fedoras, Red Hat Society pieces and animal beanies.
Vendor booths offered sunglasses, jewelry, rubber-band guns, paintings, roasted almonds and marshmallow shooters.
Meal options consisted of corn dogs, steak sandwiches, Mexican food, pretzels and a Dai Bai Dang stand. Desserts ranged from strawberry parfaits to Italian shaved ice to funnel cake.
Having owned Redel’s Roasted Almonds for 12 years and participated in Big Hat Day for four years, Roger Redel says he enjoys the atmosphere of the event.
“My favorite part about Big Hat Day is all the people,” Redel said. “I love all of them and all of the activities. Plus, it has been really good for us [Redels’s Roasted Almonds].”
In addition, a carnival attraction featured a ferris wheel, merry-go-round and super slide. Ryann’s Happy Day Pony Ride also opened for children to enjoy.
One of the vendor booths showcased Spirit and Truth jewelry, which included rings, necklaces and bracelets engraved with Bible verses. Working for his second year at Big Hat Day, Brian Albert, who ran this booth, says he sees drawbacks and benefits of the event.
“I don’t get to see the whole event because I’m stuck right here the whole time,” Albert said. “But it’s a good show and a lot of people come. Everything I have has God’s word on it; it’s all jewelry. I’m just here to be a light in this place.”
While workers spent their day selling products and being stationed at a particular spot, freshman Rayna Endicott said she was able to explore the variety of attractions.
“I liked seeing all the cool booths, good food and everyone walking around,” Endicott said. “The thing I didn’t like was how there was hardly any room and everything seemed kind of crowded.”
Although many turned out for Big Hat Day, sophomore Matt Adams was not among the attendees because he was unaware of the event.
“I was hanging out with some friends, so I didn’t go,” Adams said. “I’ve never gone to Big Hat Day anyways, so I didn’t really think about it.”
Like Endicott, junior Brooke Stobbe did not care for the crowded streets of people, but she still appreciated the amusement.
“It’s a fun place to roam around,” Stobbe said. “It’s a big Clovis culture thing, and it’s fun to see what people are selling. We used to go a lot when I was little; we’d go every year and I’d get my face painted, and then we’d get bubblegum ice cream at Scoop’s. It’s fun walking around and seeing all of the booths where I used to spend so much time when I was little. Now that I’m older, I have more appreciation for the culture in the carnival instead of just the entertainment that’s there.”
For more coverage of community events, read the March 29 article, Climate adviser promotes clean energy, conservation.
