Get that outrageous, imaginative hat ready for Bellport’s Easter Bonnet Crazy Hat Parade on Saturday, April 8.

Get your kids ready. Your dogs. Your moms and grandmoms.

Dads, uncles, nephews, brothers wanted, too. Just everyone.

“We line up by the Bellport Fire Department at 11:30 a.m. and march at noon over to the gazebo,” informed Bellport Chamber of Commerce co-president LuAnn Thompson. “Last year, we had 350 to 450 people who came.”

Thompson was right. The place swarmed with ebullient participants, led by the Easter Bunny and Bellport Fire Department’s antique fire truck, down Main Street to Bellport Lane and the gazebo. Participants let their creative thought bubbles run especially wild last year.

That included rescue dogs Luna, Marigold and Kilo, comfortably ensconced in a wagon steered, decorated, and costumed by Aubrey McRedmond and Cody Milne, from East Patchogue. The pooches’ chassis was decorated with flowers, and they wore adorable bonnets. They even came early for their judging numbers. P.S.: they won in the dog category.

Elaine Ficarra, all the way from Connecticut, wore a picket-fence hat. Little Hazel Hatman was a real bunny fan. She wore a hat with yellow and pink flowers with a bunny on it; there was one on her backpack and she was holding one. Ray Gaschott wore a green St. Patrick’s Day hat he trimmed with Easter eggs. Cody Li made his with tissue paper, stickers, and drawings that said “Imagine.” Graham Rohrmeier, 9, wore a snazzy hat with bunny ears and an Easter basket on top. It was his first Easter parade. Olga Guevara was a standout, with a towering hat topped off with colorful layers with flowers, Easter eggs, carrots, bunnies in a basket, and a butterfly.

Hopefully, all will be repeat attendees this year.

“We have lots of small prizes for kids,” said Thompson. “Each child will go up to the gazebo and meet the Easter Bunny provided by TOLA. They can take a photo with the bunny and will get an egg with trinkets. We have first- and second-place awards for Most Creative and also for Most Creative Pet.

Shops are participating by contributing prizes. And they’ll get in the spirit with spring offerings. “Some will have special clothing, candy, toys, houseware objects, Easter things for the table,” Thompson said.

Get there early. Main Street will be closed by the Bellport Fire Department at 10 a.m.

“It’s a free event with kids,” emphasized Thompson, getting ready for the hat invasion.