New Yorkers Flock to Annual Easter Bonnet Festival Despite Drizzly Weather

Thousands donned elaborate hats and costumes for the iconic parade on Fifth Avenue.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 6:04pm

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Despite rainy conditions, thousands of New Yorkers and visitors participated in the annual Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival on Fifth Avenue near St. Patrick's Cathedral, showcasing their creative and elaborate Easter bonnets and costumes. The informal tradition dates back to the 1870s and reached its peak popularity in the 1930s and 1940s.

Why it matters

The Easter Bonnet Festival is an iconic New York City tradition that brings the community together in a celebratory and lighthearted way, providing a sense of joy and levity during challenging times. The event's resilience in the face of inclement weather underscores its enduring importance to locals and tourists alike.

The details

Attendees donned a wide variety of creative headpieces, from Sabrina Mandell's revolutionary-inspired hat with red, white, and blue feathers to a trio of actors dressed as chickens led by Bill Schaumberg. Other participants, like Leslie Wolke and Ziv Yoles, dressed as New York City icons like coffee cups and MetroCards.

  • The annual Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival takes place each year on Easter Sunday.
  • This year's event was held on April 5, 2026.

The players

Tommi May

An attendee of the Easter Bonnet Festival.

Helen Ho

An attendee of the Easter Bonnet Festival.

Marie Mannix

An attendee of the Easter Bonnet Festival from Illinois.

Juan Tellez Sandoval

An attendee of the Easter Bonnet Festival from Mexico.

Sabrina Mandell

A Maryland resident who has participated in the Easter Bonnet Festival for four years, wearing a costume that she says conjures a revolutionary spirit.

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What they’re saying

“It feels really necessary right now. So many people are struggling, and it's just unbelievable what's going on. It really helps the feeling of helplessness to be in a situation where we are bringing joy to people who are feeling really joyless.”

— Sabrina Mandell

“It feels more appropriate than ever. I mean they spend literally the entire play in cages trapped and wrestling with what seems like an impossible existence. But they spend the entire of the play really looking for light, a piece of light, in what feels like a pretty dark existence.”

— Bill Schaumberg, Actor

“You get to be famous for a few minutes. There's paparazzi all around and people tell you you look beautiful. So why not spend a couple hours being told how beautiful you look?”

— Leslie Wolke

The takeaway

The resilience of the Easter Bonnet Festival, which drew large crowds despite rainy weather, underscores the event's enduring importance as a beloved New York City tradition that brings the community together in a celebratory and lighthearted way, providing a sense of joy and levity during challenging times.