FOLEY, Ala. — The Foley Beach Babes chapter of the Red Hat Society will “Paint the Town Red” next weekend from April 24 to April 26.

To kickoff the weekend festivities the ladies will attend the Music and Movie in Heritage Park where there will be a hula-hoop contest and twisting. The theme for the evening is 1950s and the ladies will be properly attired in their purple poodle skirts.

Friday evening there will be an Elvis concert by tribute artist Shane Tucker, Red Hat members only. The concert will be at the Foley Civic Center.

On Saturday, the Red Hat Parade will roll through downtown Foley, starting at 11 a.m. at Griffin Park and following the Mardi Gras parade route. The parade will have 25 units, including floats, groups of walkers and cars.

Following the parade will be a fashion show at the Tanger Outlet Center food court at 1 a.m.. The show will feature clothing from stores within the outlet mall, including a few Red Hat ladies sporting their own duds on the catwalk. The public is encouraged to attend the show.

The ladies will continue the day with a shopping trip that is sure to paint the mall red and purple.

Chapters from Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida and all over Alabama are traveling to Foley to take part in the weekend’s events.

The Foley Beach Babes is one of about 15 chapters in Foley, and is in its fifth year, according to Lillie Patterson, Queen Mother of the Foley Beach Babes who also over sees all of Baldwin County’s chapters which marks over 50 chapters.

“I would say there are at least 300 ladies just in Baldwin County,” said Patterson.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the national Red Hat Society, which was started in California by Sue Ellen Cooper. Cooper was shopping at a thrift store when she found a red hat. A few years later Cooper read the poem “Warning” by Jenny Joseph, which portrays an older woman who takes matters into her own hand and begins to live the life she wants, disregarding public concern. The poem talks of wearing a red hat with purple clothes, which the author notes “doesn’t go.” It continues with humorous thoughts like picking flowers out of other people’s garden and spending pension money on brandy.

Cooper decided to give the poem and a red hat to a friend for her birthday. From there spawned a tradition and Cooper began giving the gift to one friend after the other.

The society was formed, and the ladies began meeting for tea. Today there are chapters across the nation.

On the official Red Hat Society website, Cooper said this of the society:

“The Red Hat Society began as a result of a few women deciding to greet middle age with verve, humor and elan. We believe silliness is the comedy relief of life, and since we are all in it together, we might as well join red-gloved hands and go for the gusto together. Underneath the frivolity, we share a bond of affection, forged by common life experiences and a genuine enthusiasm for wherever life takes us next.”

While there aren’t many rules and regulations to being a member of the society, there are a few guidelines to follow. The society was created for women over 50, who wear red and purple to signify their membership. Women under 50 are welcome to join, but they are restricted to wearing lavender and pink until they have reached the appropriate age.

The society’s purpose is to have fun, said Brenda Abrams, member of the Foley Beach Babes.

“It allows us to be with our friends and have fun,” said Abrams. “It’s about doing something for ourselves after spending a lifetime doing for others.”

To become a member of the society, find a contact information of a local chapter at the Red Hat Society website, redhatsociety.com. Search under state and then county.