International Hat Day

Instructions from the old days

Things to do in a hat

Wear a hat of any kind and do something you enjoy. That was the original brief. Here are a few suggestions, rescued from the early site and gently dusted for modern family living rooms.

  • Have a drink

    Tea, coffee, ale, or something fizzy. Raise the glass; keep the hat on.

    Someone wearing a novelty beer-can hat

  • Walk or hike

    A brim is basically a mobile roof. The countryside looks better under felt.

    A woman in a knitted hat walking through autumn leaves

  • Play an instrument

    Hats and jam sessions go together. Bonus points for a bandana or a beret.

    A student playing electric guitar in a tall novelty top hat

  • Send a text

    Message a friend: “It’s Hat Day. Are you wearing one?” Peer pressure, but friendly.

    Someone in a striped fedora checking their phone

  • Drive (carefully)

    Only if the hat doesn’t block the mirror. Flat caps preferred; sombreros… maybe not.

    A driver in a hat behind the wheel

  • Cook

    Chef’s hat optional, tea towel on the head also accepted. Don’t set fire to the brim.

    Someone cooking in a hat

  • Pose

    Chin up, hat tilted, slightly ridiculous expression. Classic Hat Day energy.

    A black-and-white portrait of a woman in a wide-brimmed black hat

  • Row a boat

    Straw hat on the water. Impressionists would approve. Life jackets still compulsory.

    Painting of oarsmen in straw hats

  • Watch the game

    Team colours on your head. Shouting optional. Losing gracefully recommended.

    Fans in winter hats watching a football game in a stadium

  • Dance

    Kitchen disco, wedding floor, or a quiet shuffle while the kettle boils. Hat stays on.

    Two dancers in top hats and tails high-stepping on a beach

  • Read

    A book, a paper, or the side of a cereal box. Thinking caps encouraged.

    A man in a knitted beanie reading a book by a window

  • Tell a joke

    Preferably involving millinery. Groans count as applause.

    A comedian in a red fez pulling a surprised face

The old site also had a couple of jokes that were a bit too blue for a family landing page in 2026. We’ve left those in the archive where they belong. The hat, however, remains compulsory.

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