The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Pageant \Pag"eant\, a.
   Of the nature of a pageant; spectacular. "Pageant pomp."
   --Dryden.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Pageant \Pag"eant\, v. t.
   To exhibit in show; to represent; to mimic. [R.] "He pageants
   us." --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Pageant \Pag"eant\ (p[a^]j"ent or p[=a]"jent; 277), n. [OE.
   pagent, pagen, originally, a movable scaffold or stage,
   hence, what was exhibited on it, fr. LL. pagina, akin to
   pangere to fasten; cf. L. pagina page, leaf, slab,
   compaginare to join together, compages a joining together,
   structure. See Pact, Page of a book.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. A theatrical exhibition; a spectacle. "A pageant truly
      played." --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            To see sad pageants of men's miseries. --Spenser.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. An elaborate exhibition devised for the entertainmeut of a
      distinguished personage, or of the public; a show,
      spectacle, or display.
      [1913 Webster]

            The gaze of fools, and pageant of a day! --Pope.
      [1913 Webster]

            We love the man, the paltry pageant you. --Cowper.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

pageant
    n 1: an elaborate representation of scenes from history etc;
         usually involves a parade with rich costumes [syn:
         pageant, pageantry]
    2: a rich and spectacular ceremony [syn: pageant, pageantry]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

148 Moby Thesaurus words for "pageant":
   Grand Guignol, Passion play, Tom show, affair, antimasque,
   audience success, ballet, blazon, bomb, bravura, brilliancy,
   broadcast drama, burlesque show, ceremony, charade, cliff hanger,
   closet drama, comedy drama, cosmorama, critical success, cyclorama,
   daring, dash, daytime serial, demonstration, dialogue, diorama,
   disguise, display, documentary drama, drama, dramalogue,
   dramatic play, dramatic series, dramatics, duodrama, duologue,
   eclat, epic theater, etalage, event, exhibit, exhibition,
   exhibitionism, experimental theater, exposition, extravaganza,
   failure, false front, fanfaronade, figure, flair, flaunt,
   flaunting, flop, flourish, formality, gala, gasser, georama,
   giveaway, grandeur, happening, histrionics, hit, hit show,
   improvisational drama, legitimate drama, light show, manifestation,
   masque, melodrama, minstrel show, miracle, miracle play, monodrama,
   monologue, morality, morality play, music drama, musical revue,
   myriorama, mystery, mystery play, opera, pageantry, panel show,
   panorama, pantomime, parade, pastoral, pastoral drama,
   phantasmagoria, piece, play, playlet, pomp, presentation,
   pretentiousness, problem play, procession, psychedelic show,
   psychodrama, quiz show, radio drama, representation, review, revue,
   ritual, sensational play, serial, sham, shifting scene, show,
   showing-off, sight, sitcom, situation comedy, sketch, skit, soap,
   soap opera, sociodrama, spectacle, splash, splurge, stage play,
   stage show, staginess, straight drama, success, suspense drama,
   tableau, tableau vivant, talk show, teleplay, television drama,
   television play, theater of cruelty, theatrics, total theater,
   variety show, vaudeville, vaudeville show, vaunt, vehicle,
   word-of-mouth success, work