Brimming with Joy! The Sunny, Colorful ‘Hats in the Park’ Lunch Returns to Hermann Park

IN YET ANOTHER triumphant return of a beloved annual event sidelined by the pandemic, the Hermann Park Conservancy’s colorful “Hats in the Park” luncheon came off beautifully in a tented space at McGovern Centennial Gardens last week.

Some 370 park supporters — mostly well-dressed women in fetching headgear — turned out to help Conservancy board chair Kristy Bradshaw and event co-chairs Christine Falgout-Gutknecht, Melissa Holman Juneau and Lori Sarofim raise a record of nearly $500,000 for the park’s ongoing redevelopment and enhancement efforts.

“This year marks 30 years since Hermann Park Conservancy was founded,” Bradshaw said in her remarks. “And since then, the improvements they’ve overseen can’t be understated. However, there’s so much more in store for Hermann Park and it’s just on the horizon. It’s hard to believe, but next week we break ground on the next step of the Play Your Park campaign, the Commons — 26 acres in the southwest corner of the park that will be completely revitalized and reimagined.”

Mayor Sylvester Turner, a longtime supporter of the park and the Hats luncheon, was also on hand to greet guests, who included Lynn Wyatt, Cynthia Petrello, Hallie Vanderhider, Susie Criner, Fady Armanious, Jana Arnoldy, Gracie Cavnar, Estella Cockrell, Isabel David, Meredith Flores, Mindy B. Hildebrand, Wendy Hines, Franci Neely, Leigh Smith, Doreen Stoller, Brittney Tribble and Merele Yarborough.

Hallie Vanderhider, Fady Armanious

Ting Bresnahan, Catherine Matthews, Lisa Helfman

Lauren Randle, Phyllis Williams

Lynn Wyatt, Linda McReynolds

Kaitlyn Scheurich, Lori Speier

Heidi Smith, Gracie Cavnar, Kristy Bradshaw

Anne-Laure Stephens, Kim Tutcher, Laura McWilliams, Cora Bess Meyer, Heather Watters

Denise Monteleone, Jana Arnoldy

Tiffany Halik, Teressa Foglia, Ellen Krantz

Stephanie Tsuru, Kim Tutcher, Jennifer Allison

Shawn Stephens, Stephanie K. Tsuru, Kelley Lubanko, Phoebe Tudor

Lesia Young, Demetra Jones

Cynthia Petrello, Mindy B. Hildebrand

Colleen Lewis, Crystal Dawli

Catherine Clay, Emily Clay

Cece Fowler, Susie Criner