• hatday22-01-45b001ea0e38e18f
    The Ladies Hat Day participants turned away from viewing the grandstands to watch themselves on the racetrack video feed.
  • hatday22-02-b3ba7cf7bd16fef7
    First-time Ladies Hat Day participant Jean Zamzow, of Clarion, Pennsylvania, said she created her prop-driven airplane model in honor of her boyfriend who is temporarily stationed here with Cal Fire.
  • hatday22-03-f5d4d7721aaac68d
    These Ladies Hat Day participants created a memorial poster for their friend, Ceva McWhorter, of Fortuna, who died April 11, 2022. McWhorter was a long-time participant in the Ladies Hat Day event.
  • hatday22-04-8009adcf2be32d3b
    This year’s Grand Prize trophy winner was Carolyn Polasek (center front), of Ferndale, who lined up for photos with other prize recipients (including Team Fungi on the right for Best Couple or Group), event organizers and emcee Rex Bohn.
  • hatday22-05-20e80806045075c2
    Stylish hats and fancy dresses were the order of the day for many attendees at Ladies Hat Day, including Juli Luna, of Loleta.
  • hatday22-06-6cc0f0aa05cf4699
    Christine Tyson and Michael Tyson, both of Eureka, mugged for photos at the free Forget Me Not Photo Booth, while being photobombed by booth owner Kacy Curtis, of Eureka.
  • hatday22-07-9c07bf9157480dfe
    Eventual Grand Prize winner Carolyn Polasek, of Ferndale, stopped by the free photo booth to document her delicious looking hat.
  • hatday22-08-d074f4bcbe82db07
    Karen Isbell, of Auburn, was back this year with yet another hat entry for best Best Racing Theme.
  • hatday22-09-ae6581e2e4aae940
    Relaxing in the grandstands out of the hot sun were Marietta Christensen (left), of Loleta, Julie Chenoweth, of Ferndale, and Tyra Sherman, of Las Vegas.
  • hatday22-10-035fc2840b14ba73
    Participants in the Ladies Hat Day contest, including Betty Mack (right front), of Fortuna, and Shannon Cortez, of Fortuna, lined up on the dirt racetrack after the fifth race under the guidance of organizer Cindy Olson and emcee Rex Bohn.
  • hatday22-11-01f7a769ea70a99d
    Kim Hackett, of Carlotta, checked in with her creative beekeeping-hat adaptation.
  • hatday22-12-f00d5c05a62a0407
    Ladies Hat Day participant Juliann Stell, of Arcata, said she had the flower-print dress already in hand but created her own flower hat arrangement for the event.
  • hatday22-13-3cca0d09eb0e5952
    Another stylish hat wearer in the grandstand boxes (Shannon Cortez, of Fortuna) enjoyed a conversation in the grandstands during a break in the racing action.
  • hatday22-14-02423f419fc9b996
    My first guess of the occupation of Molly Bongio, of Eureka, based on her hat proved to be correct; she teaches first grade at Washington School.
  • hatday22-15-bd846d6f81bd841f
    Megan Nims (center) organized her children Teddy (dinosaur-themed hat) and Margot (bubble-gum machine hat) into an eventual win in the Best Youth (12 & under) prize category.
  • hatday22-16-2f13ea89d881edfc
    Johanna Nagan, of Arcata, struck a pose with her prizes after being chosen as one of the winners in the Ladies Hat Day contest.
  • hatday22-17-fa5c74705a357caf
    This year’s Grand Prize trophy winner was Carolyn Polasek, of Ferndale, for her inventive, hand-made, massive display of Fair food items on her broad-brimmed hat.
  • hatday22-18-380c28c1d18b483f
    A view of the “tasteful” Ladies Hat Day Grand Prize-winning art work by Carolyn Polasek.
  • hatday22-19-26ff9e7dd954dee9
    After the awards ceremony, Margot and Teddy Nims enjoyed the prize money for winning the Best Youth (12 and under) category.