Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Guide To The Fifth Avenue Easter Parade
By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 28, 2013
Modified Mar 28, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 28, 2013
Modified Mar 28, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
This Sunday is the annual Easter Parade on Fifth Avenue in midtown. The event, which is very different from a contemporary holiday parade, started back in the 1880s outside St. Patrick's Cathedral at 51st Street, where posh churchgoers would spill out onto the avenue to promenade in their Easter finest. It's grown increasingly more outlandish in recent decades, with attendees trying to outdo each other with elaborate bonnets and costumes that would make the denizens of Panem's Capitol feel right at home. It's a lot of fun.
The city closes Fifth Avenue to cars from St. Patrick's up to the park for five hours, opening it to all pedestrians from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There are no annoying vendors (just a smattering of street performers) and the avenue quickly turns into an open catwalk, with all sorts of characters flaunting their wildly imaginative Easter couture.
You'll want to make sure your camera is fully charged, and don't be afraid to dress flamboyantly with whatever odd clothing you have available. Or, in the few days left between now and Easter, make your own bonnet! (Here's how!) And when you're done gawking at all the sartorial finery, you may want to jaunt over to The Standard Highline, where your kids (wait, where are the kids?!) will enjoy a pop-up petting zoo with chickens, baby goats, lambs, ducks, bunnies, turtles, and a kangaroo. That runs from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., and the Standard beer garden will be open as well, to facilitate all that heavy petting.
To get in the mood, here are our photos from the Easter Parade 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009.
Tagged
easter
fifth avenue
original
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
In the mood for a pastoral autumn experience? Try Queens.
We went fall-maxxing at edge of town.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
Published Oct 1, 2026 at 1:08 p.m. ET
October is spooky season at the movies in New York City
Horror fans, get ready to be horrified.
By
Emma Stefansky
Arts & Entertainment
October is spooky season at the movies in New York City
Horror fans, get ready to be horrified.
By
Emma Stefansky
At the Museum at FIT, an argument for dolls as the ultimate fashion influencers
By
Quinn Moreland
Immanuel Wilkins is upholding NYC's jazz history. He's also dreaming up its future.
By
Sonia Rao
Ever wish you could get paid to walk through a stranger’s house? ‘The Scout’ is for you.
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .