Like Christmas, Easter in the United States is celebrated in both religious and secular ways. In many communities, the Christian aspect of the holiday—honored by Passion Plays and church services—is combined with visits from the Easter Bunny, annual parades, and hunting for candy-filled eggs.
Discover religious and secular Easter happenings, from midnight masses to bunny brunches, in some of the major U.S. cities.
Easter Celebrations in New York : The most famous Easter event in NYC (and one of the most famous in the country) is the Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival, during which thousands of people wearing elaborate costumes and hats march along Fifth Avenue from 49th to 57th Streets.
Easter Celebrations in Los Angeles: Los Angeles holds a massive egg hunt at Pershing Square in Downtown, as well as a traditional Blessing of Animals (featuring the domesticated dogs, cats, and rabbits of the area) on Olvera Street, LA's Little Mexico. The Pacific Ocean offers opportunities for boozy brunch cruises, too.
Easter Celebrations in New Orl eans: Easter in New Orleans might not be quite as bustling as Mardi Gras, but the holiday spirit remains the same. The annual Historic French Quarter Parade is packed with colorful costumes and live music as it makes its way through Jackson Square, skirting St. Louis Cathedral, which holds services throughout the day.
Easter Celebrations in Chicago: Chicago has the sixth most Easter observers in the country, according to WalletHub, which explains why there are so many events surrounding this holiday in the Windy City. A medieval-themed Easter egg hunt (featuring 25,000 eggs) is held at Maggie Daley Park, while the Lincoln Park Zoo puts on an activity-packed Egg-Stravaganza that sells out every year.
Easter Celebrations in Orlando: Home to Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, Orlando is a mecca for holiday revelers of all ages. Each amusement park will offer Easter Bunny meet-and-greets, on-theme parades, a plethora of brunch buffets, and egg hunts. In addition, Disney World's Epcot holds its annual International Flower & Garden Festival all month long, including plenty of kid-friendly Easter activities.
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