Mar 19, 2008

Annual Easter Parade New York City

Eccentric, artistic and downright flamboyant are not typically words you would associate with the Easter Holiday. But the annual Easter Parade in New York City is all three.

The tradition started in the 1800s when New York’s elite would don their finest on Easter Sunday while attending services at one of 5th Avenue’s grand churches. After they would stroll up the avenue in their designer duds, a 19th century Red Carpet of sorts, and the common folk would come and watch.

The Age of Innocence days are long gone and the tradition has since morphed into an event all are welcome to join. Those who do sport the most imaginative chapeaus possible. Some participants even have their designer pooches donning Easter bonnets.


It’s a casual affair, not a typical parade with organized marching. People amble up the avenue, closed to traffic, happy to stop, chat and pose for photographs.

The parade will be held this Sunday 10-a.m. – 4 p.m. on Fifth Avenue between 44th and 57th Streets. A good location to check it out is by Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, located between 50th and 51st streets on 5th Avenue.

If you attend keep an eye out for Oswaldo Gomez a local NYC personality, who is always accompanied by his parrot and poodle.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'll be arriving just after Easter, a few days too late, but I'd love to go and watch this next year! In fact, there are quite a few things I'm looking forward to seeing in NYC...July 4th, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, new Year's Eve...and then just soem ordinary Sundays!
Great post, thanks!

Wendy said...

Hi Bella,
Arriving in spring, what perfect timing. Hope you have an easy move all round.

Prêt à Voyager said...

That looked pretty fantastic!

Anne

Wendy said...

Hi Anne,
It's good fun. Happy Spring!

Amy said...

Do you happen to know the name of the older gentleman in that picture? I am trying to use a picture I took of him for my photojournalism class, but I need a caption. Thanks!

Amy said...

I asked him what his name was, and he said something that was one syllable, so I thought I could remember, but it has slipped my mind!