"There are lots of clever ones," said judge Hunter McCreary of Piedmont. "There was one hat with yellow feathers and an orange beak. I think it was supposed to be a baby chick. The one that appealed to me was a derby hat that one child sprayed green. He had put a nest, made of sticks and filled with eggs, on top."

For 17 years, the Lakeshore Avenue Business Association has held its annual Easter parade and hat decorating contest.

This year, nearly 80 youngsters, up to ages 12, designed, decorated and paraded their hats in a half-mile festive showcase along the streets of Lakeshore's commercial district in Oakland. Including parents and other community supporters, the event drew about 200 people.

"The art table is open at 9:00 a.m., so children can decorate their derbies," said the group's administrator Nancy Strange, who works at Papyrus. Some of the kids prefer to decorate their hats at home, she explained.

The $1 derbies are available at various businesses in the Lakeshore district for the three weeks prior to the parade and contest. They can also be purchased at the event on the day of the contest.

"We judge on originality and just gut instinct," said McCreary, who has reviewed the parade for a dozen years. "Kids that do it all by themselves get extra points," he jested.

McCreary, a former Lakeshore merchant, judged this year's contest with Piedmont resident Carla Betts and Oakland City Attorney John Russo. He admitted he knows nothing of color or design, but he really enjoys seeing what the kids create.

"Sometimes the cruddiest one wins," he joked.

Three winners are named in three categories, kids up to 5 year olds, 6-8 year olds, and 9-12 year olds. The judges also award eight honorable mentions overall.

The morning parade and derby-decorating contest has a warm, fuzzy feeling to it, according to Strange.

"This is a real family event," said Strange, who has coordinated the parade for five years.

"We want to give to the community for the support they've given the businesses in the Lakeshore district."

The 200 visitors at this year's event were served punch, donated by Albertsons, and donut holes, supplied by Colonial Donuts.

Contra Costa Times
Knight Ridder
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