No one would ever mistake Manhattan for being a touchy-feely city. People mostly keep to themselves and the pace can make even the most type – A personality long for a breath. But now and then a holiday comes along and the city softens. Crowds brim with laughter and smiles and the only goal is to have fun—with strangers no less. The NYC Easter Parade and Easter Bonnet Festival is such a day.
The festivities this year take place on April 21, 2019 (from 10 am – 4 pm on Fifth Avenue between 49th Street and 57th Street-–though most people hang out in front of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. While the official title includes “parade“, it really isn’t. It’s more of a mill about, but what it lacks in walking it makes up for in creativity.
Revelers spend weeks crafting beautiful hats ranging from stunning period pieces to off-the-wall wacky, while others wear costumes from head to toe. The rest of the crowd it there to selfies with the best of the bunch. Picture the commotion surrounding a Kardashian and multiply that by 10.
For those with the best ensembles (and there are A LOT of amazing creations), crowds surround them five people deep. For hours, the boldly attired are the center of attention. Many of the costumed attendees are long-time regulars of the event and the Easter Parade is where they enjoy an annual fix of 15 minutes of fame.
Did you know that the Easter Parade dates back to the 1800’s? Originally, the hoity-toity of the time used to stroll down Fifth Avenue dressed in their finest after church services for the rest of the world to see. (A little obnoxious if you ask me.)
Today it’s a spectacle of another kind, and loads of fun.
Here’s a peek of what I’ve seen in the past plus a little video I put together in 2016. Guaranteed, it’ll be just as grand this year.
Patricia Fox
If you find yourself at the parade be on the lookout for Patricia Fox. She’s always bedazzled from head to toe and usually one of the best dressed of the bunch.
She’s an assemblage artist (a means of expression using mixed media in fashion and home) who’s created her own lifestyle brand called Purely Patricia. She’s also a celebrity, spokesperson, brand ambassador, fashion icon, personal stylist, interior decorator, and jewelry designer, just to name of few of the professions she lists on her website.
Her fashion advice to those who care to listen: “Go into the world and show off your own personal style. Fashion today is about trends. Be a trendsetter not a follower.”
Other Creative Revelers and Their Easter Hats From Years Past
A little ditty I put together in 2016
[wpvideo II3y646R hd=true]Now tell me…. Don’t you want to go?
Oh, It’s too good. I like this blog very much I also bookmark this.
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Some awesome photos and all of them made me smile
Thanks, it’s not hard to make all those great costumes shine. I’m always amazed at how incredible they are. I just don’t have that kind of creativity. 🙂
I love this! It’s so festive. Easter pares are really fun in NYC. It’s not your average Easter celebration, but it sure is fun.
Festive with a capital F. I am amazed at the time and detail pay to their costumes. It’s no joke. Those that were most decked out do it annually. I just don’t have that kind of creativity but I’m thrilled they do. 🙂
un erasable moments…
molto pittoresco
Much appreciated
THANKS FOR SHARING!
I LIKE YOUR POST
Thank you for checking it out
Wow! I’ve never been to New York, but you’re pictures really inspired me to travel there someday. Cheers! 🙂
I couldn’t ask for more. I hope you enjoy it when you do. :)?
Thanks Susan! 🙂
Yes, all are wonderful pictures. It looks like the people are from Alice in Wonderland.
That’s a perfect way to describe it. It absolutely was like visiting wonderland. 🙂
your picture is very good
Thank you!!
Very Wonderfull Pics
Thanks a million
Very Cool Pictures, Good For You
thats cool pics
Thank you!!
Great photos Susan.. they speak a lot 🙂
Thank you! I am very happy you enjoyed it.
Hi Susan,
Your photos continually make me feel like jumping in to wherever you are! These pics took me right back to when I was a little girl my sister, mom and I would go to this parade. One year I was wearing my favorite pink dress with chiffon angel wings, as I called it, and was interviewed by the local news channel making it onto the evening news. Such fond, happy memories…am thrilled to see the tradition is still going strong!
Grateful as always,
Whitney
What a great memory! Thank you for sharing it with me, and thank you so much for the time you spend with my site and your very kind words.
Never have heard about something like this before.Your post made it feel so real.Thank u so much.
You’re welcome. I’m very happy that you enjoyed it.
I think I’m speechless. Loved the guy with the beard and the fascinator.
Yes!! He was fun to capture. 😜
Love them all Susan, but especially the last shot (what a costume) and the shot of the guy with the cigar which is right in your face.
Thank you, Mark. I still don’t know what he is and he was so popular all I had was a chance to grab a shot and move on. The guy with the cigar I think is on ever revelers camera. He just stood there motionless and let people run up to shoot him.
Nice Post
Thank you!
Great spirit and gorgeous shots, Susan. Am loving the wacky creativity with dashes of elegance tossed in.
So true. Some went all out on the humor quotient, but it was also nice to see all the people who chose to come in period costumes. Everyone did an amazing job. I am not a costume person, Halloween is not my favorite holiday, but I do admire those who embrace it. 🙂
This looks like so much fun! Now i kind of actually want to DO it! This post made my day with the uplifting colors and unique scenes. I am definitely spreading the word about your blog! Do you have any suggestions for blog newcomers?I’m an actor by trade, so I just started a blog with the focus on movies, plays, and the surrounding media. I would be very grateful for any wisdom that you may have!
Yay! I’m glad. I had a great time and if any of that excitement and magic rubbed off on you when you read it than I’m a happy gal! Thank you.
wonderful post….hi..!!!I m new in blogging.Please view my first post and give your valuable suggestions.
Thank you, I’m very happy you liked the post. Good Luck with the blog.
Thanku so much Susan.Actually I don’t understand how to connect people with my blog.None of my friends belong to writing .
I’m not sure I understand. Why wouldn’t they want to read what you write?
They don’t want to read because they we(me and my friends)belong to a very small town in India where blogs or being too much literal is not in much fashion.Here it’s lacking in reading community.Social media generally is meant for using facebook and whatsapp!!!
Hardly people give response.
Greet Photo
Thank you!
Nice Information
Thanks!
I loved your post. I have visited New York several times, but I have never been there in March! Beauteous!
Love this, Susan. Thanks for the bonus video! Have never been there during Easter, but for seven consecutive years we were there during the St. Patrick’s Day festivities and saw some similar creative get-ups! A great city.
Thanks Carla! I missed St. Patrick’s Day this year unfortunately. 🙁
Celebrating Easter creatively…what a zany post. Love it!
Zany. That’s a great word for the parade for sure. 😀
Great, fun and positively awesome post. How you managed to get such great photos in such a crowd amazes me!
Yay! I’m so happy you like it. It was a serious challenge, believe me😜
People, any people photography scares the bejesus out of me!!!
LOLOL
this is so spectacular susan! i loved reliving the wonderful “15 minutes of fame” (which was actually 2 1/2 hours……thank you for the gift of you and your talent fun to see us coming and going!
Probably longer than that, Patricia! Glad you like it. 😀
Love the idea! Also an awesome narration! Susan, you rock!
Why thank you! I really appreciate it. 🙂
Those people really take it seriously with a lot of work on those hats.
Weeks sometimes months. I just don’t have it in me but I love looking!
Wow! Never knew such a thing was held every year in New York! With your photos you’ve captured the feeling of this event so wonderfully! Thank you so much for doing this 🙂
Great report, great photos. Thank you so much. Bobby.
Thanks a million Bobby! I’m really happy you enjoyed it. 🙂
I’ve never even heard of this event before, but thanks to your marvelous post I feel as if I’ve actually *been* there. Thank you for this wonderful réportage!
You’re most welcome. I’m thrilled that you enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun to attend and have it already on my calendar for next year. 🙂
I had SO much fun going to this Mill About with you, Susan. Your photos captured so much, I could never decide which costume I liked more, because each one was so creative and well done. Your video clip was wonderful. The 1948 movie “Easter Parade” gives a great picture of the original event, and after seeing your rendition here, I am happy to see the spirit has not lost its luster over the decades. Really fun post.
I’m so glad you had fun with the post Jet! I know, the creativity some people have knocks me over. I’m just not that kind of person who can make, let alone think of, those kinds of wonderful costumes. Thus Halloween has never been a strong post for me. And thank you about the video too. I’m just starting to learn to edit. It’s a little rough but I had a blast last night putting it together. 🙂