| Issue #3- April 13, 2007 |
Saturday
Kids Hold Easter Bonnet Parade Down Main Street Sag Harbor
By Janine Cheviot
Last Saturday, despite a less than favorable weather forecast, The Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce held its annual Easter Bonnet Sidewalk Parade. Fortunately, the weatherman wasn’t right and the April showers never came. While I sat in Spinnaker’s Restaurant, sipping on hot coffee and waiting for the entertainment to begin, I asked my waitress if she had ever been to the parade before. “Of course,” she said. “I love watching the children walk through town in their bonnets. It’s a great tradition.” As the start time neared, I strategically positioned myself, along with many others, in front of BookHampton. The air was frigid, but no one seemed to mind. Children, adults and dogs arrived in town wearing their favorite Easter bonnets, and around 1 p.m., they all gathered in front of the Sag Harbor Launderette. Soon thereafter, the Easter Bunny led the decorous group along the sidewalk down Main Street, as onlookers and shop owners waved and cheered. The crowd reveled in the festivities, and one spectator said, “This is the first sign of spring I’ve seen all year.” The song “Easter Parade” (“In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it…”) reverberated in my head. Not a bad start to a festive day.
As far as parades go, this one was far less organized than any I had ever seen, but it gave the whole thing a certain authentic, homegrown flair that bigger events sometimes lack. The street was not blocked off, police officers were not directing traffic and there was no marching band or floats, yet a glorious parade of children passed straight through town. The paraders ended their march at the Sag Harbor Garden Center, where I got the opportunity to take a closer look at all the Easter bonnets. It was clear that a lot of time was spent on these fine creations, and I admired their hard work. Some bonnets were classically decorated with lace, satin ribbons and flowers, while others were more extravagant, decorated with materials such as candy, garland and stuffed animals. One of the most outrageous bonnets had a plastic naked cowboy with wings sitting on top. A few of the larger bonnets towered almost 3 feet above the wearer’s heads. One little boy decorated a police cap with flowers, and another decorated a cowboy hat with plastic Easter eggs. Some people wore bunny ears and several children painted whiskers on their face to resemble the Easter Bunny. I can’t forget about the dogs, the true showstoppers, who pranced along in their Easter bonnet finery, some matching that of their owner’s. There was even an award-winning Easter bonnet in the crowd. Lee King, first-place winner of the 2007 Bridgehampton Community Center Easter Bonnet Contest, was urged by her friends to come and show off her homemade bonnet. She had never participated in the Sag Harbor parade before, but was delighted to be there.
At the Sag Harbor Garden Center, among an array of beautiful spring flowers, was a free petting zoo for everyone to enjoy. The zoo included llama, rabbits, ducks, billy goats, pigs and hens, with informative, “Did You Know,” information displayed on their cages. Under a tent, the Girl Scouts sold cookies, hotdogs, soda and other refreshments. A few feet away, bunny-shaped goblets and stuffed toys were handed out to the children, compliments of Harbor Pets, located at 12 Bay Street in Sag Harbor. The Easter Bunny himself shook hands with adoring fans and posed for photographs. Everyone had a great time. The next day, on Easter Sunday, the Sag Harbor Lions held their annual Easter Egg Hunt at Mashashimuet Park, where the Easter Bunny graced Sag Harbor with his presence once again, but this time arriving on a fire engine. It was a fun-filled Easter weekend in Sag Harbor. Remember, it’s never too early to start thinking about next year’s bonnet.
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