Chief Mountain Red Hat Southern Belles

A Red Hat Society Victorian Stroll
June 28/08, Lethbridge

Recently the Chief Mountain Red Hat Southern Belles of Cardston hosted a Victorian Stroll with Parasols at Henderson Lake in Lethbridge for all Area Red Hatters. They came from far and wide, Medicine Hat to Calgary and all points between, 112 Red, and Pink Hatted Ladies all in beautiful Victorian finery, twirling their gorgeous parasols of every description, as many were hand made. Not only were the parasols hand made but our Queen Lorrain of the “Summer Wine Chapter” made their Victorian dresses for this event. What a labor of love! She was also a part of a family trio of Red, Pink & White Hats! Which proves all ages enjoy the freedom of expression in belonging to the Red Hat Society!

The host chapter also had a display of darling ceramic mice in Red Hats and purple clothes from the Hamilton collection of signed and numbered issue we held draws for those ladies that put their names in our hat box. The lucky winners were, Pat K. and Florence K. both of the Holy Hattitude Chapter, Sharon C. of Lavender & Lace Chapter, Madeline F. of Red Hats in the Hat Chapter. Congratulations ladies!

Fun! It’s what we do! Smiles and laughter as in our exuberance of greeting old and new acquaintances, knocking elegant hats askew when we should have been demurely “rim brushing”! Enthusiastic hugs are a must among Red Hatters!

Red Hats with picnic lunches, others had reservations for lunch in area restaurants. Some strolled completely around the lake, others shorter strolls just for the taste of a bygone era when ladies dressed in elegance and strolled in the parks to see and be seen. Of course, we Red Hatters in our purple clothes and Red Hats are always visible whenever we hold an event! Any lady over age 50 is welcome to become a member of the Red Hat Society. Even ladies still working but wish to let the child in them out to play, it’s what we do best! So they join a chapter and begin a marvelous journey into the glory of an age most think as being “old”. Oh No! Not us! We thrive on dressing up in our Purple and Red to take tea, eat dessert first and just have fun!

I mentioned Pink Hatters, girls under age 50 that want to keep the spark of youthfulness alive as they approach that certain age in their pink hats and lavender clothes. We appeal to ladies of all ages, why, even the grand daughters are joining with white hats and pink clothes! We are Royalty! It’s a phenomenon! We’re taking the world by storm! 2.5 million ladies joining together in the bond of world friendship among 30 different countries through the International dis-organization of the Red Hat Society.

Fun! T’s what we do! There are no rules, we gather together for our own enjoyment and light heartedness with each chapter having a Queen and all her chapterettes having royal titles as well as chapter names become funny, funky or frivolous!

It was our special delight to welcome the ladies from Calgary. Queen Mum Luminous Liz and her Wild Rose Hatters and the Red Hat Lariat Lasses with their Queen Lady Helen, who is also Queen Mother of the Calgary Queens Council.

As friendships grow, I would be remiss not to mention all 16 members and Queen E of the Red Hats in the Hat as they had the largest numbers of chapterettes attending our stroll. We welcome them in Red Hat friendship and look forward to shared future events.

The ladies in wheelchairs and scooters with parasols assured me they had a grand time rolling along with the strollers!

A very special “thank you” to all Red Hatters that Matter from your host chapter for making A Victorian Stroll a Royal Event to remember and no damage done by parasol “bumping”!! I do wish I could include more pictures of all the beautiful ladies but space prohibits although all will be included in our scrapbook to be shared at future Red Hat Events! All attending signed our guest book with promises to mail pictures for our special scrapbook. Cameras were everywhere as in any Royal event! We are so proud of our Red Hattedness, we love our pictures taken!

We thank the City of Lethbridge Parks & Recreation for the use of such a wonderful park which was perfect for our Victorian Stroll. Thanks to CTV for their coverage and friendly reporter/cameraman Darrell, for his expertise and kindness to our ladies.

In Fun & Hilarity!
Queen Mum Sandy &
Chief Mountain Red Hat Southern Belles of Cardston

Photos Below by Countess of Harmony

Queen Mum Sandy