Easter Parade 2025 takes over NYC: History and how to watch the colourful celebrations

Easter Sunday is here and Christians all over the world are celebrating it by attending church services and partaking in festive gatherings. Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, as described in the New Testament. This year it is being celebrated on April 20, 2025.

The NYC Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival 2025 is on in full swing as Fifth Avenue bursts into a sea of pastel colors, towering hats, and creative costumes. The parade that kicks off around 10 am draws huge crowds of locals and tourists alike. It begins outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral on 50th Street.

From elegant vintage bonnets to outrageous handmade creations, the parade continues north toward 57th Street and is expected to keep the festivities going until 4 pm today.

In case you are planning to participate, it is open to everyone. All you need is the best of your boldest, brightest Easter bonnets. Decorating an Easter bonnet is a tradition that goes back to olden times when people would dress up in new clothes to church on Easter day, including a fancy new hat or bonnet. The tradition symbolises new beginnings.

History of Easter Parade

The tradition of the Easter Parade goes back to the 1870s, when Gilded Age elites or wealthy socialites would stroll Fifth Avenue after Easter Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral to show off their spring finery.

The event gained pop culture fame after the 1948 musical “Easter Parade” starring Judy Garland and Fred Astaire, further cementing its place in NYC history.

Even after so many years, the parade remains popular among people and is considered a celebration of self-expression and style, particularly when it comes to hats. Paradegoers get creative, sometimes even crafting bonnets from unlikely materials like recycled MetroCards or upcycled household items.

The schedule

St Patrick's Cathedral will be holding masses all day long, starting at 7 am. The last mass is scheduled at 5:30 am. The cathedral says a ticket is required for 10 am mass. A 4 p.m. Spanish service is also scheduled, wrapping up the Holy Week celebrations that began on Palm Sunday, on April 13.

The best place to watch

For those wanting the best view of the colourful parade, the area around St. Patrick’s Cathedral (50th–51st Streets) is the prime spot. But, anywhere along Fifth Avenue between 49th and 57th Streets promises a festive and photo-worthy experience.