Wellsir, it is probably sad to many people but it seems certain that the “Easter Parade" is over. Being a traditionalist I find I have mixed feelings about this. Being just past 21 years of age I can see the advantage and disadvantages. I have waited to write this as I wanted to see if I heard/saw/read any other comments. Oh, hang on, I just got an elbow to the ribs and think I should start from the beginning.
As I was growing up, or maybe a little more true would be, getting older, Easter Sunday was a very special day other than many people went to a Christian church for the first time in a year. Some of the Easter Christians also went to church on Christmas but tried not to be fanatic about it.  But church or no church, one thing was almost inescapable: you dressed in your finest for Easter. This was more than a tradition, it was an ingrained action for centuries.
Easter is usually at the end of winter so “we" can shed our winter clothes and put on new outfits. We can show the winter winds that we are no longer captives of dark coats, dark everythings and, like spring chicks, we can wear new colors and a new, happy attitude. Things have changed considerably now. While I don't really have a deep and abiding “care" about this, I am thinking it might be a good tradition to hang on to.
From the time I was old enough to notice there was a world outside my sphere, dressing up for Easter was a given. The newspapers were full of Easter fashions and people even talked about a new beginning.  New York City's Fifth Avenue was the scene for what became known as the Easter Parade. For those of you too young to remember, it was a very special time and place. This was dubbed ‚ÄúThe Easter Parade" as people were parading up and down the street to show off their new fashions.
People would dress in their finest and newest clothing and walk Fifth Avenue while the newspapers took dozens of pictures and movie people made sections for their newsreels. Our whole nation revolved around fifth Avenue for a short time and it was illuminating. The deep, masculine voice of the newsreel announcer gave a description of various garments the women were wearing. Men looked the same as they always did but for the day, all wore a suit or coat and tie. This year on Easter Sunday at church, the first two men I saw were in jeans and a sport shirt. Many women looked as if they were ready to start housework. My old timers attitude kicked in but I squelched it.
The parading starting in the 1800s has continued for more than a century. Back ‚Äúin the day," the society people would attend church and then ‚Äúparade" on the street. The less fortunate would watch them pass by and get a look at the latest fashions from Paris. There were people who could go to the Paris fashion shows and buy things - expensive things.  
As many things do, this activity was passed down to the masses but, of course, not on such a grand scale. Where I grew up almost everyone wore their nicest on Easter. I do not remember an Easter parade on our Main Street but then, I would not have been interested. All I would have wanted was to get out of those nice, clean clothes and get over across the street to play another 200 inning game of softball.
I am sure it was similar in the 1800s as it was in the 1900s when women and girls would work for a long time to come up with a new dress or skirt and blouse. Whoops, maybe skirt and blouse was too informal, some of you lady friends will have to tell me as I seldom dressed in either.  When I was a little older I remember girls standing and showing off their new clothes, discussing them stitch by stitch. ‚ÄúOh, kid, did you make that!? Oh, Kid, that looks like store bought!" And then the compliments would be returned over and over while certain boys were waiting to get home to eat. Easter dinner was more important than stupid ol' dresses.
From some of my readings, I understand this whole thing started millenniums ago when mankind knew the sun was back after a winter's rest and they could throw off their fur skins and not freeze. Well after The Crucifixion, the spring holiday and Easter were “sorta combined." I think every small town and inside mall should promote it as it would be a great spring tradition and remind Christians what Easter is about.