Sadly, I think it has turned into more of an adult(?) event, rather than a kid thing..
lots of other things have as well.
many many adults try to live vicariously
through their children.
years ago i had a friend whose first wife
put their young daughter through all these
little girl beauty pageants. it was obvious
that the kid really didn't give two hoots about
any of it, but momma more or less was
in those things instead of her young daughter.
same with a lot of kid's football, baseball, etc.
had one killed not too long ago during an
altercation at a peewee football game not
far from here. NFL or former NFL player involved