In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it,
You’ll be the grandest lady in the Easter parade.
I’ll be all in clover and when they look you over,
I’ll be the proudest fellow in the Easter parade.
On the avenue, Fifth Avenue, the photographers will snap us,
And you’ll find that you’re in the rotogravure.
Oh, I could write a sonnet about your Easter bonnet,
And of the girl I’m taking to the Easter parade.
—from Easter Parade, 1948, by Irving Berlin (1888–1989)

This year’s Easter Parade, along New York’s Fifth Avenue, was held in near-record heat; the thermometer reached 82°! This ensured a large turnout with many entertaining bonnets and costumes. Here is a small sampling of the creative spirit we saw Easter afternoon.

These dapper dandies were smart enough to earn their place as the introductory photo for our coverage of this year’s Easter Parade.

Blue butterflies for a bonnet and a black rabbit mask for anonymity gave this couple an air of beauty and mystery all at once.

Artificial Queen Anne’s lace gave this bonnet the look of a cloud.

I attended the Easter Parade with dear friends, Eileen and Christine.

This black feathered and veiled creation was a show-stopper.

The cream-colored knitted cap contrasted perfectly with the purple paisley shirt, purple bunny ears, and lavender boa.

Bunny ears and frills combine with blue sunglasses and a painted nose to create a look for the day.

These two are trapped inside eggs made of white netting.

This family wore an egg-and-flower bonnet, a brown rabbit cap, and a melting ice cream cone hat to the parade.

With well-coordinated monarch butterflies this couple was a smash!

Traditional Chinese hats are worn with non-traditional t-shirts.

This woman is all the buzz with her bubble-bee hairband.

These paper headdresses were cake-like confections of their own.

Some bonnets rivaled the spires’ height of St. Patrick’s Cathedral!

Colorfully coordinated costumes and big bonnets add to the great festive atmosphere at the Easter Parade.

A branch of real forsythia brightened up this gal’s bonnet.

This woman complained that her arms were tired because she spent the day holding her hat on her head to great effect.

It would not be a New York City event without a political statement, however subtle, or two or more. For sure!

Many hats are better seen from the rear, as with this petal hat. It is good to see she is keeping hydrated in the unseasonabe heat.

Tassels and fringe on this unbrella-like hat made its wearer smile.

Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Girl Scout cookies, the weight of all those cookies on her hat gave this girl a pained look!

This was one of many lovely couples dressed in vintage clothes plus something extra to make the day more festive!

New York’s Easter Parade is good fun for everyone.

Rollerena, a fixture on the Big Apple’s disco circuit since the heydays of Studio 54, is still going strong, albeit without her roller skates.

Simple grass nest hats and clothing color coordination gave these two couples a winning look. Everyone is a such good sport!

To enjoy the costumes, bonnets and festive atmosphere at past Easter Parades, read our articles listed here.
“In Your Easter Bonnet”
“Easter Parade 2015”
“New York’s Easter Parade 2016”

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ALL PHOTOS AND TEXT, EXCEPT NOTED QUOTES, © THE AUTHOR 2017