The NYC Easter Bonnet Parade is one of the best free, annual events in New York City. Every year, thousands of New Yorkers get dressed to the nines in their most flamboyant, spectacular and creative Easter costumes and bonnets, to parade down Fifth Avenue. It is one of the most wholesome NYC events, and it’s one of my favourite-ever memories of living in New York City.

What is the NYC Easter Bonnet Parade?

The NYC Easter Bonnet Parade is a spectacular annual parade on Easter Sunday, which takes place near St Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue. Thousands of New Yorkers dress up in whimsical, often hand-made bonnets and costumes and parade down Fifth Avenue. The Easter Bonnet Parade is a tradition that dates back to the 1870s in New York City, and is one of the most creative and joyful free events in New York City.

When is the NYC Easter Bonnet Parade 2024?

The NYC Easter Bonnet Parade is held on Easter Sunday every year. The 2024 Easter Bonnet Parade will be held on Sunday 31 March, starting at 10am outside St Patrick’s Cathedral.

Where is the NYC Easter Parade?

The NYC Easter Bonnet Parade starts at St Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue, on the Upper East Side, and streams down Fifth Avenue between 47th and 51st street. The main action is outside St Patrick’s Cathedral between 50th and 51st.

Why join the NYC Easter Bonnet Parade

Hats off to you if you’re ready to design your own fabulous outfit! However, even if you’re not planning on styling your own Easter look, you can hit the Easter Bonnet Parade to admire everyone’s spectacular creations. It’s such a joyful and yet relaxed atmosphere. Everyone ambles down Fifth Avenue, but there’s no sense that you’re in a fast-moving parade. It’s very chill, you can walk wherever you like, and those who have dressed up LOVE to pose for photos for you! So much fun.

My first NYC Easter Bonnet Parade

When we moved to New York City in 2019, Easter was a week after our arrival. The parade is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, especially since it’s essentially a freestyle parade – there is no formal march, instead, show ponies and spectators mingle on Fifth Avenue. You can wander through the crowds and get front-row views of the whimsical costumes and stop for a chat with their creator. It was perfect for street photography, as everyone who dresses up can’t wait to pose for a photo!

My favourite photos from the day were from the moments when the parade-goers weren’t posing, but were simply enjoying the moment – although I’m not sure if you’re ever truly candid when you’re parading in an extravagant easter bonnet. Next time, I’d bring a zoom lens – it was so crowded, which made it very hard to shoot.

History of the NYC Easter Bonnet Parade

A fashionable parade has been part of the Easter tradition for centuries. Easter has long held significance for new clothes across many cultures in the Catholic world, even though I’d never experienced this in Australia. In the Dark Ages, the parade was a solemn procession. In Tudor times, superstition dictated that Easter was a time for new clothes and an old Irish adage states an old Irish adage states “For Christmas food & drink, for Easter new clothes”.

The Easter Parade tradition in New York dates back to the 1870s, when it was a more formal affair and more about showing off the finest fashions. Today, the parade is no longer a formally organised event and instead has taken on a life of its own. Rather than being about the latest fashions and finery, it’s now about showcasing your creativity. Designer millinery for the most part, has been replaced by handcrafted bonnets, created by passionate New Yorkers.

There are still nods to the elegance of yesteryear, with a handful of participants donning elegant store-bought clothes in shades of pastel, and some incorporating their own creativity into a more elegant costume. Whether designer or a flamboyant creation, there are still lots of top hats, three piece suits, pearls and full skirts.

Bonnet Ideas for the NYC Easter Bonnet Parade