The EastCoaster

By: Dani Wass

Spring is upon us, which means Easter is right around the corner. Easter will be celebrated on Sunday, April 9th this year. With the weather warming up, there will be plenty to do this Easter weekend on the East Coast. 

Many New Yorkers celebrate Easter by attending the Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival in New York City. The parade begins around 10 a.m. on Easter morning at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Anyone can join the group in strolling the streets of New York as long as they meet the dress code. This requires an Easter bonnet or any hat decorated to the nines in a fun way. This tradition began in the 1870s, making it a true part of New York City culture. 

Photo by: Jeenah Moon

Easter is also a great time to see spring come to life in New York. The iconic cherry blossoms in Central Park bloom around late-March to early-April, in perfect timing with Easter. With this year’s warm winter, they are blooming earlier than usual. This Cherry Blossom Tracker is a guide to where to find the cherry trees with the best blossoms in Central Park. The New York Botanical Garden is another spot to visit for beautiful flowers this Easter. Every year the garden hosts The Orchid Show to display the beauty of orchids from February to May.

Photo: Central Park Conservancy

Easter wouldn’t be complete without a traditional Easter egg hunt. There are plenty of offerings for public Easter egg hunts in most major cities and local communities on the East Coast. Many East Coasters host their own Easter egg hunts for their friends and family. The tradition of dyeing Easter eggs and decorating them makes for a perfect DIY egg hunt!

However you choose to celebrate Easter this year, enjoy spending quality time with loved ones. Let’s hope for some nice weather on the East Coast to kick off the spring season!