nyc

manhattan easter events nyc manhattan things to do easter mhtn nyc

Manhattan Easter Events, Brunches & Ceremonies in MHTN NYC

There are Two Easters Observed - 1) West European Christians & 2) East European Orthodox

April 2, 2026 / Manhattan Neighborhoods NYC / Manhattan Things To Do Events NYC / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

Very Brief Introduction to Christian Easter Traditions

Christians observe Good Friday, which is when the Bible tells us that Jesus died on the cross. On the Sunday following Good Friday, Christians celebrate the Biblical account of Jesus rising from the dead, which is Easter.

Emperor Constantine became the Roman Emperor in 306. In 324 Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.

In 1054, the Great Schism occurred, wherein Christianity split into two different sects - Roman Catholic Christians [primarily in Western Europe] and Orthodox Christians [primarily in Eastern Europe]. The traditions have much in common, but one of the differences is in how they calculate the time of Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

The Western European Christians [Protestants and Catholics] use the Gregorian Calendar to calculate when to celebrate Good Friday and Easter. The Gregorian calendar was created in the 16th century and made the official calendar by Pope Gregory. Orthodox Christians use the Julian Calendar, which was made law in the Roman Empire in 45 B.C. by Julius Caesar. The primary difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars is that the Gregorian calendar uses Leap Year [this year is one of them] to adjust the calendar for the 1/4 extra day per year, that to our rotation around the sun requires. Thus the calendar differences, and how the date of Easter is calculated, is why the Orthodox and Roman Catholic / Protestant Christian Easters oftentimes occur on different dates.

This year [2026] the celebrations of the two traditions are celebrated one week following another, whereas in 2025 the celebrations were celebrated on the same week, and in 2024 they were celebrated five weeks apart. So both the traditional Western European Christian and the Eastern Orthodox Christians are celebrating Easter on different weeks this year [April 5th and April 12th, 2026].

Next Up - The History of the Easter Bunny & Related Traditions

CLICK here to view our report on Easter events, Easter egg hunts and Easter brunches in Manhattan NYC. We start off with a brief history of the Easter Bunny and the origin of related traditions.

Manhattan Easter Events, Brunches & Ceremonies in MHTN NYC

There are Two Easters Observed - 1) West European Christians & 2) East European Orthodox

April 2, 2026 / Manhattan Neighborhoods NYC / Manhattan Things To Do Events NYC / Manhattan Buzz NYC. Continued.

The Origin of Easter Bunny & Related Traditions

The origin of the Easter Bunny and the related traditions of painting and hiding eggs dates back to southern Germany in ancient times. Eggs were a sign of fertility, and according to some accounts, the Easter hare originated as a bird before becoming the rabbit. The rabbit is also known as a fertile animal giving birth to litters of little rabbits.

The tradition arrived in America in Pennsylvania in the 1700's. From there it evolved into the whole slew of grand traditions it has become today, which in NYC include an Easter parade of fashion on Easter day in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral on 5th Avenue, numerous Easter Egg hunts in parks and other places in all five boroughs, as well as numerous Easter Brunches organized by numerous restaurants around the city.

What follows are a selection of many of the Easter events occurring in NYC in the coming week. These include a number of Orthodox Easter events, including one of my favorites, which is the Greek Orthodox Holy Friday procession of re-enacting Christ's climb up Mount Calvary. The Greeks call Mount Calvary, Golgatha, translated means the Place of the Skull. We have also included a few non-Easter events we believed are timed to take advantage of folks looking to use their leisure time in non-traditional Easter ways. Have a Happy Easter.

Manhattan Easter Parade & Easter Events & Egg Hunts NYC

Tuesday, April 21 - October 2026 from 8 am to 9 pm daily - Pickleball Courts - are open at Wollman Rink on the southwest corner of Central Park. For details and tickets that cost $80 - $120 per hour, see - https://www.centralpark.com/events/pickleball-at-wollman-rink/ or https://wollmanrinknyc.com.

Not Returning 2026 _ Friday, April 18, 2025 beginning at 10 am - Eastern Orthodox and Western Christian Holy Friday Procession Across the Brooklyn Bridge. It begins at St. James Cathedral Basilica at 250 Cathedral Place in Brooklyn with a service, marches across the Brooklyn Bridge stopping along the way for Meditations of the Cross, along the Brooklyn Bridge and at City Hall Park [about 1 pm], and then ending at St. Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center. For details see - https://archny.org/event/way-of-the-cross-over-the-brooklyn-bridge - OR - https://www.goarch.org/-/good-friday-ecumenical-procession-way-of-the-cross-over-the-brooklyn-bridge

Midtown _ Thursday - Monday, April 2 - 6, 2026 from 10.30 am to 6.30 pm [closes at 12 midnight] - Easter Photos on the Top of the Rock - at 30 Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan NYC. Take Easter photos on the roof deck of Rockefeller Center. For details & $100 tickets see - https://www.rockefellercenter.com/events/celebrate-easter-at-rockefeller-center/

Midtown West _ Friday - Sunday, April 3 to 12, 2026 from 10 am - 8 pm M-Thrs, until 10 pm Fri & Sat and until 7 pm Sundays - the International Auto Show - at the Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan. Admission is $22 adults [age 13+ ] / $8 kids [ages 3 - 12] tickets / kids 2 and under are free. For details & tickets see - https://www.autoshowny.com/ or https://javitscenter.com/

Governors Island _ Saturday, April 18, 2026 from 10 am - 2 pm - Governors Island Earth Day Replaces Easter Egg Hunt - on Governors Island. In 2024, the 2nd Annual Governors Island Easter egg hunt took place, with 50,000 candy-filled eggs spread around Governors Island. Last year [2025 and this year [2026] Governor's Island celebrates Earth Day with a full schedule of events that include learning about various aspects about the planet. This year they're a bit late in posting the full info, but last year they cited seaweed, trees, oysters, birds, planting seeds and climate change and technologies. For details and ferry passage planning & ticket purchases [Adults $4 / Kids & Seniors $2 / Kids under 12 free], copy & paste - https://www.govisland.com/things-to-do/events/earth-day-on-governors-island

Midtown _ Sunday, April 5, 2026 from 10 am to 4 pm - Easter Bonnet Parade. The parade takes place along 5th Avenue between 49th to 57th Streets. It's more of a milling about in bonnets and Easter outfits, than it is a real parade. More like a themed costume party. It has no official organizer, so no official website.

Midtown _ Sunday, April 5, 2026 at 10 am & 3.30 pm & other times - Easter Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral along 5th Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets. For details, copy & paste - https://www.saintpatrickscathedral.org

UWS _ Sunday, April 5, 2026 at 10.30 am [also a 3.30 pm Evensong] - Easter Mass at St. John the Divine Cathedral at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue between 110th - 113th Streets on the UWS. For details, copy & paste - https://www.stjohndivine.org

Midtown _ Thursday, April 23 to May 10, 2026 - The Macy's Flower Show - at Macy's Herald Square in Midtown. Macy's is open from 10 am - 9 pm weekdays, open until 10 pm Fridays & Saturdays, and opens at 11 am on Sundays. This years theme is 'Homegrown'. For details see - https://www.macys.com

CLICK here to view Manhattan Easter Events Brunches Egg Hunts & Holy Friday Greek Orthodox Processions 2026 in MHTN NYC.

CLICK here to view Manhattan street fairs and festivals NYC 2026.

Editors Note - this was quiety moved, cancelled or shrunk to one concert _ Midtown _ Friday, April 3 to 7, 2026 beginning at 8 pm - International Music Festival - at Carnegie Hall at 881 7th Avenue in Manhattan. For details and $23 tickets, copy & paste - https://www.carnegiehall.org

Easter Brunches in Manhattan NYC

Gramercy Park _ Sunday, April 5, 2026 from 12 noon to 2 am - Easter Brunch at Pete's Tavern - at 129 East 18th Street [at Irving Place] in Gramercy Park. They aren't offering any specials, so likely it won't be too crowded. It's an historic restaurant and bar, where O'Henry wrote the Gift of the Magi, among other things. And it's located in a beautiful quaint and cozy part of town. For details and to rsvp see - https://www.petestavern.com

FYI - Friend of a Farmer is across the street from Pete's, serving farm to table fare.

UES _ Tuesday - Tuesday, March 24 - April 22, 2026 from 11 am to 4 pm & 5 pm to 9 pm - Easter Brunch at Maya Restaurant - at 1191 First Avenue between 64th and 65th Streets on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. They are celebrating the importance of the 'bee' to food and the ecosystem with Viva Abejas. For details and to rsvp see - https://mayanewyorkcity.com

Downtown NYC _ Saturday & Sunday, April 4 & 5, 2026 - No Big Easter Events at the South Street Seaport. That said, there are over a half dozen restaurants serving brunch and dinner, several of which are offering discounts or specials and some offer East River waterfront views. For details and to rsvp copy & paste - https://theseaport.nyc

Manhattan Greek Orthodox Easter Events - COMING NEXT WEEKEND 4.9.26

Friday, April 18, 2025 beginning at 7 pm [UNCONFIRMED] - Lamentation & Epitafios - at St. John is located at 148 East 17th Street at 3rd Avenue in the Gramercy Park neighborhood of Manhattan. This Greek Orthodox Church Trisagion Service commemorates Holy Friday and the crucifixion and death of Christ with the carrying of the epitaphios through the streets of Gramercy Park in a candlelit procession. The religious and cultural event includes a procession from the Church of St. John around several nearby blocks, before returning to the church. For more details, including of Greek Orthodox Easter Sunday mass see - https://www.stjohn.ny.goarch.org/

Friday, April 18, 2025 from 6.30 - 9.30 pm - Lamentation & Epitafios - at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center at 130 Liberty Street in Downtown Manhattan NYC. For details see - https://church.stnicholaswtc.org/event/epitaphios/

Friday, April 18, 2025 from 7 to 9 pm - Lamentation & Epitafios - at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity at 337 East 74th Street on the Upper East Side of Manhattan NYC. For details see https://www.thecathedralnyc.org