New York City at Easter

Heading to New York for Easter week? You're in the right place. Here are 7 plans to make the most of your days in this fascinating city and celebrate the arrival of spring in New York.

When is Easter in 2024?

Easter week 2024 begins on Sunday, March 24, Palm Sunday. It ends on April 1, Easter Monday.

As you can see, Easter falls a couple of weeks earlier this year, so get moving on planning that trip to New York 🏃‍♀️.

Since I know many of you will take the whole week off, I recommend reading this 7-day New York itinerary. It will help you organize the trip!

Ideas for Easter week in New York

As I always tell you, there is a ton to do in New York, so accept it. You'll need several trips to really get to know the city, so don't stress and don't rush. Enjoy it bit by bit because, believe me, you'll be back.

To help you plan your dream trip, I put together day-by-day itineraries in New York. You can also read about the events you shouldn't miss in April in New York or May in New York.

But if you're traveling to New York for Easter week, there are activities you can only do on those dates. Here they are:

1. The Easter Bonnet Parade

On Easter Sunday (March 31, 2024), between 10 am and 4 pm, Fifth Avenue closes between 49th and 57th Streets for the Easter parade known as the Easter Bonnet Parade.

A good spot to watch is around St. Patrick's Cathedral, between 50th and 51st Streets.

New Yorkers come from all over to the Easter Bonnet Parade to show off outrageous hats. If you have one, go for it and join the crowd.

The parade dates back to the late 19th century, when churchgoers would leave Sunday Easter mass to show off new clothes as a symbol of life renewed. Over the years it turned into this colorful carnival.

2. Easter decorations during Easter week

The city fills up with Easter bunnies and eggs in its shop windows. You'll see plenty of families organizing Easter egg hunts in New York's parks.

As the date gets closer, I'll tell you where the prettiest Easter egg hunts in New York will be. A fabulous plan if you're traveling to New York with kids.

If you want to soak up the spirit of the holiday, head to Rockefeller Center, one of the places with the showiest and most traditional Easter decorations.

3. A gospel service in Harlem

Easter week is an ideal time to attend a gospel service in Harlem.

Harlem was once full of grand theaters and dance halls. Today most have become Baptist churches with live gospel on Sundays.

On this Harlem walking route I put together for you, you can learn more about the neighborhood and plan your visit.

If you're short on time, you could take this Contrasts tour that includes a gospel service.

4. See the cherry blossoms

You can visit the beautiful Brooklyn Botanic Garden year-round, but the start of spring is the most gorgeous time of all.

In late March and early April, the cherry trees along the garden's Cherry Esplanade start to bloom. Check the Garden's «Cherry Tracker» for the status of each tree's blossoms.

Botany experts say this collection of blooming cherry trees is one of the most significant outside Japan.

Another park full of cherry trees is the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. They also track the spring bloom, not just for the cherries but for their magnolias, azaleas, peonies, daffodils and roses.

Central Park also has cherry blossoms, concentrated between 72nd and 96th Streets.

And if you're traveling for several days, I recommend a getaway to Washington, full of cherry blossoms planted around several iconic monuments in the U.S. capital.

5. Visit the Orchid Show

The Orchid Show is an annual exhibition dedicated to orchids at the New York Botanical Garden. They showcase orchid species brought in from tropical places around the world. In 2024 it runs from February 17 to April 23 (see everything you can do during February in New York).

It's very easy to buy New York Botanical Garden tickets online. Admission includes entry to the Orchid Show. You can check all the visit details on the official site.

6. Bike around New York

Another great idea during spring in New York is renting a bike or taking a guided bike tour.

You can rent bikes for just a few dollars and explore huge Central Park at your own pace, for example.

Another idea is to book a Central Park bike tour or a Brooklyn Bridge bike tour, where a guide takes you to all the most important spots so you make the most of your time and learn something along the way.

7. Catch a baseball game

April in New York marks the start of the MLB season (Major League Baseball). If you're a baseball fan, you should buy tickets to a New York Yankees game.

There are several games a week, so your trip will almost certainly line up with a game from one of these famous Major League teams.

Don't let the chance slip by, because there are cheap tickets to Yankees games if you buy well in advance.

You can also buy tickets to see the New York Mets at their stadium in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens.

So there you have these 7 ideas for spending Easter week in New York. They're a good starting point for building your own wander through the city that never sleeps 😉