I hope everyone had a nice Easter weekend. While not everyone celebrates Easter, for those that do there are many different traditions. Some people get dressed up and go to church. Others will have a special Easter brunch or Easter dinner. And of course, kids love going to an Easter egg hunt and eating lots of chocolate. In Texas, it is a great day to get dressed up and take a picture in the bluebonnets. But in NYC the last few years, I have started celebrating Easter by going to the NYC Easter Bonnet Parade on Fifth Avenue.
Let me tell you why you need to check out the NYC Easter Parade and what to expect when you do.
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New York Easter Bonnet Parade History
The Easter Parade has been around since some time in the 1870s! The parade is more a spectacle of fashion than a religious event. In 1933, Irving Berlin wrote a song called the Easter Parade. Thanks to pictures that my friends posted on Facebook, I finally decided to check it out.
Going to the Easter Bonnet Parade
While it can get crowded, it is really a lot of fun. It is not a typical parade. A section of 5th Avenue from 49th street to 57th street is blocked off to cars. Everyone just walks around and checks out the best Easter bonnets and costumes. There are all types of costumes, some would probably also work for the Halloween Parade. One year, I even found an Abraham Lincoln impersonator.
Some people wear traditional Easter dresses with hats and look so stylish. Others wear huge colorful hats. I am always impressed with people’s Easter Parade hat ideas – so creative and artistic! I have seen hats made from all kinds of things. I think the best Easter bonnet ideas are the ones that use Easter Candy (Peeps!) or Easter Baskets.
Kids and Dogs at the Easter Parade
The Easter Bonnet parade is a family event for kids of all ages. I love seeing all the kids dressed up. There are also always plenty of dogs and many of them have costumes too. I have also seen whole families all dress up in a theme. Normally, people might think it was odd if you tried to take pictures of random people. But during the Easter Parade, people take it as a compliment if you ask to take their picture.
The Easter Parade is just a fun and laid back event – anything goes! It’s definitely one of the best things to do in New York City in the Spring. I love seeing Easter on Parade with all of the bright colors. You can get a better idea of what the Easter Parade is like by watching my video.
Don’t worry if you don’t have an Easter bonnet. Plenty of people go that are not dressed up, like yours truly. One of these years, I will get a group together and figure out something fun to wear.
Maybe you have some Easter bonnet ideas?
-Anisa
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Expert Tips for the Easter Bonnet Parade New York
- You don’t have to dress up to go to the Easter Parade, but don’t forget your camera!
- The parade is held Easter Sunday on Fifth Avenue from 49th to 57th Streets from 10 am to 4 pm.
Last Updated on January 11, 2021