Max & Ollie’s Vintage Boutique will give everyone a chance to show off their special spring millinery during an Easter hat parade Saturday.

The parade will follow the Mount Clemens Uptown Easter Eggstravaganza event that features an egg hunt, the Easter bunny, and plenty of prizes and raffle items.

“Ladies love to wear their hats and these days, there are not as many occasions to wear them as there used to be,” said Diane Kubik, owner of Max & Ollie’s. “The Easter hat is a part of Christian tradition that has spread to the secular world as well.”

The Easter hat has a rich tradition and roots in Europe, but did not really take hold in the United States until after the Civil War when American women were happy to shed their black mourning attire and wear bright colors.

Easter parades were common in the 1870s but the tradition really grew after the publication of Irving Berlin’s Easter Parade song in 1933. The release of the Judy Garland film Easter Parade in 1948 pushed the tradition to its peak, especially in New York where churchgoers would meet up after church and have an impromptu parade showcasing their festive and at times elaborate Easter bonnets.

“Traditionally, you got new clothes for Easter to symbolize spring and new beginnings,” said Kubik. “The hat was always an important part of the Easter attire.”

Pastel colored hats adorned with flowers might be the most traditional of Easter hats, but Kubik says she has seen everything from taxidermy birds to wax fruit decorating holiday headgear.

“The more outlandish your hat the better,” said Kubik. “My favorite has always been the hats with the fake fruit like Carmen Miranda. You can express so much creativity with a hat.”

Kubik reminds potential parade participants that hats are supposed to be fun and also says that there are hats to fit everyone. There are bucket hats, large brim hats, cowboy hats, hats made from feathers, flashy hats and plain hats.

“Everyone can wear A hat, it is a matter of finding your hat,” said Kubik. “Have fun with it.”

The Easter Hat parade begins at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Fountain Stage with an informal parade around Macomb Place to follow. All participants will be entered into a drawing and three winners will receive $25 gift certificates for Max & Ollie’s.

“If the Easter bunny is not too tired, he might lead us in the parade,” said Kubik.

The Eggstravaganza sponsored by the Mount Clemens Downtown Development Authority, Epic Entertainment, Pops Sweets an Treats, and TCB Youth Mentoring happens from 12-3 p.m. on Macomb Place. The first 100 kids will receive bunny years and a bag to collect eggs. There will be free raffles for bicycles and Easter baskets from 3-4 p.m. Registration for the Eggstravaganza is required and begins at 11 a.m. Children must be 12 or under to participate in the egg hunt.

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.