Fifth Avenue will jump more than usual this weekend.
New Yorkers wear their biggest and boldest hats to paint Easter egg-like boulevards on Sundays for the annual Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival.
Colorful parades usually attract swallows in all sorts of outfits. These include those who take the opportunity as if they were attending a gorgeous English breakfast, and those who prefer to dress like a quirky version of Peter Cottontail.
Following the much more rigorous way of crucifixion processions across the Brooklyn Bridge for Good Friday, the annual parade should be a truly rabbit-friendly time.
There’s everything you need to know ahead of this year’s festival.
What is the Easter Parade and the Bonnet Festival?
The annual parade first began in the 1870s when fashion-conscious age elites attended Easter Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and strolled around Fifth Avenue to show off their Sunday best. According to Times Square.
The event reached its peak in popularity after the 1948 hit film Easter Parade. This is when the Judi Garland character accepts Fred Astaire’s marriage proposal at the Fifth Avenue party.
Today, it’s not about the religious aspect, but it’s still about fashion, especially hats.
Participants are encouraged to wear a hood.
When is the Easter Parade and the Bonnet Festival?
Easter parades always fall on Christian holidays. This year, we will land on Sunday, April 20th.
The parade begins at 10am and Easter Mass takes place inside St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
After the service is finished for about an hour, a queue will begin and usually lasts until 4pm.
Where is the Easter Parade and the Bonnet Festival?
The parade begins outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral on 50th Avenue and continues north of Fifth Avenue to 57th Avenue.
Can anyone participate in the Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival?
Unlike other parades throughout the year, anyone, everyone is welcome to march on 5th Avenue at the best of Sunday.
Even pets are encouraged to participate, especially if they wear their own outfits or hoods.
What’s the best place to see the Easter Parade and the Bonnet Festival?
An ideal location for a glimpse into the Easter Parade and the Bonnet Festival is at the beginning of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Otherwise, there is no way to look at the thickness of the march.
