Easter weekend is creeping up fast, and if you haven’t locked in your Sunday plans yet, don’t panic!
NYC is absolutely stacked with ways to celebrate this year, and we aren’t just talking about your standard backyard egg hunt.
From the legendary Fifth Avenue bonnet parade and sky-high meet-and-greets at Top of the Rock, to underground digital flower gardens and lavish prix-fixe brunches, there are endless ways to make the most of the holiday weekend.
Whether you’re trying to tire out the kids or just looking for a really good excuse to eat your weight in chocolate and pastries, we’ve rounded up the absolute best things to do in the city for Easter 2026.
Join the free, whimsical street party—just bring a wildly creative hat!
One of the biggest highlights of this Fifth Avenue shutdown is the historic Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival, returning on Sunday, April 5, 2026, with a casual promenade from 10 am – 14 pm between 49th and 57th Streets.
The free, participant-driven street party centers around St. Patrick’s Cathedral and invites anyone to wear creative hats that are Easter-themed or spring-adjacent!
The 4th annual East Midtown Easter Egg Hunt
Grab your baskets, NYC!
The East Midtown Partnership is officially bringing back their massive neighborhood-wide Easter Egg Hunt, and it’s the perfect spring activity for the little ones.
From Saturday, March 28th through Saturday, April 4th, participating businesses across the neighborhood—including beloved spots like Serendipity 3, Rosa Mexicano, Blooms Tavern, and more—will be hiding candy-stuffed eggs for kids 12 and under to find.
Here’s the sweetest part: while the regular candy eggs will be replenished all week long (kids are asked to stick to one egg per location!), each business is also hiding ONE ultra-rare Golden Egg. ✨ If you’re lucky enough to track one down, it can be redeemed for an extra-special prize that treats both the lucky hunter and their parents!
It’s completely free to participate, making it a fantastic excuse to explore the neighborhood and score some sweet treats along the way.
Holy Week & Easter at The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine
Get ready to experience Easter inside one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world!
The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in Morningside Heights is rolling out a breathtaking, week-long lineup of Holy Week services leading right up to Easter Sunday.
Whether you’re looking for a traditional service or a unique moment of reflection, this stunning architectural marvel is welcoming all New Yorkers to join in the community.
The week is packed with powerful observances, including a contemplative, late-night reading of Dante’s Inferno followed by an overnight silent vigil on Maundy Thursday.
The week culminates on Easter Sunday with a massive Morning Eucharist (arrive early—it’s first come, first serve!) and a gorgeous Choral Evensong to close out the holiday.
Easter at Queens Center
Spring has officially sprung in Elmhurst!
If you’re looking to capture the ultimate holiday keepsake before the weekend, Queens Center is hosting a festive, family-friendly photo experience with the one and only Easter Bunny.
Tucked away on Level 3, it’s the perfect excuse to take a break from your spring shopping and snap some heartwarming photos with the kids.
While walk-ins are totally welcome, we highly recommend booking your spot in advance to skip the lines. Plus, securing an online reservation comes with some seriously sweet perks—including a free custom photo label and $10 off at Yankee Candle, along with a free three-month trial of Crayola’s Scribble Scrubbie Pets app!
Easter Brunch Over Broadway at the New York Marriott Marquis
Hop on over to Times Square for a sky-high spring celebration!
The New York Marriott Marquis is bringing back its annual Easter Brunch Over Broadway, hosted inside the stunning Broadway Lounge and Revel & Rye.
If you’re looking for an over-the-top holiday feast, this expansive buffet has something for every-bunny—from fresh seafood spreads and carving stations to classic brunch favorites and incredibly decadent sweet treats.
But the real egg-citement is for the little ones! Not only does this brunch feature live music and tableside visits from the Easter Bunny himself, but it also boasts Times Square’s largest indoor Easter egg hunt. The egg hunt is included with every reservation, making it a perfect, rain-or-shine way to celebrate the holiday with the whole family.
Easter Break Week at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan
Calling all creative kids!
If you’re looking for the ultimate family-friendly Easter weekend, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) is pulling out all the stops on April 4th and 5th.
They are transforming the museum into a spring wonderland packed with hands-on activities, crafts, and a super fun museum-wide “I-Spy” scavenger hunt. Just make sure to look up—kids have to spot massive hanging eggs around the exhibits to check off their lists and score a prize at the Makerspace!
Beyond the hunt, the museum is hosting a bunch of adorable, hands-on workshops. O
lder kids (5 & up) can paint their own wooden “Bloom Buddy” eggs and weave eco-friendly spring baskets, while the littlest New Yorkers (4 & under) can design their very own festive paper-bowl bonnets inspired by the iconic 5th Avenue Easter Parade.
Easter at the Top of the Rock
Take your Easter celebrations to new heights—literally!
This spring, Top of the Rock is transforming its iconic observation deck into a festive wonderland 70 floors above Rockefeller Center.
From March 28th through April 8th, families can soak in the breathtaking, 360-degree views of the NYC skyline while enjoying a lineup of super fun seasonal activities.
On the weekends of March 28th and April 3rd (from 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM), you can actually meet the Easter Bunny and capture a once-in-a-lifetime family photo on The Beam with the iconic Manhattan skyline sparkling right behind you!
If you’re visiting in early April, kids can get complimentary face painting (April 1–4) or snag a custom creation from on-site balloon artists (April 5–8).
If you’re planning a weekday visit, you can score 50% off kids’ tickets through April 24th by using the promo code SPRINGKIDS50
Barnyard Egg Hunt at Queens County Farm Museum
Hop on over to the most celebrated egg hunt in Queens!
This classic NYC springtime tradition transforms the historic orchard at Queens County Farm Museum into a massive, colorful scavenger hunt.
Kids and their grown-ups can spend the day searching the farm for thousands of prize-filled eggs, snapping adorable family photos with Whiskers the Bunny, and enjoying outdoor games that make for the perfect spring day.
Since the March weekend has already passed, April 4th is your last chance to get in on the action this year!
The egg hunts are timed entry and kick off every 30 minutes, so be sure to secure your spot online beforehand. As a bonus, you can explore the rest of the 47-acre historic farm while you’re there!
Have Easter brunch
From classic American comfort food to refined French and South American fare, here are some of the standout Easter brunch offerings pitched for 2026:
- Cathédrale (East Village): A lavish, French-inspired $125 prix fixe brunch featuring a two-course menu, a special pastry collaboration with Brooklyn’s WINNER Bakery, unlimited crêpes, a “Grand Aioli” crudité station, and live jazz from 12:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m..12
- The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel (Downtown): Enjoy a pre-fixe Easter Brunch at Temple Court or The Bar Room ($85 per person) with live jazz. Highlights include sophisticated plates like Golden Ossetra Caviar, Peekytoe Crab Omelette, and Braised Lamb Shoulder.3
- L’Amico (Chelsea): Celebrating with a seasonal menu blending Italian warmth and spring elegance. Look for brunch specials such as a Pistachio Waffle topped with lemon crema and fraises des bois, or Lamb Tenderloin al Forno with fava beans.4
- Raf’s (NoHo): Serving a $75 pre-fixe menu that begins with a shared Pastry Basket that includes Hot Cross Buns. Entrée options feature a Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb with Crispy Potatoes and Mint Pesto, or a French Omelette with Creme Fraiche & Trout Roe.5
- Leonetta (Murray Hill): Offers a special $55 per person walk-up Brunch “On the Lawn” spread, including Lamb & Eggs (hand-carved roasted leg of lamb and sunny eggs). The experience is enhanced with family-friendly activities like an Easter egg hunt, face painting, and gift bags for kids.7
- Momoya Soho (Soho): A non-traditional $75 prix-fixe brunch menu featuring elevated Japanese cuisine. Menu highlights include Wagyu Beef Tataki, Spicy Salmon Crispy Rice, and a festive Haru No Irodoi (Easter Jewel) dish with eel, uni, and caviar.8
- Bubby’s (Tribeca): No reservations needed for this classic, comfort-focused Easter brunch. The menu features signature dishes like sourdough pancakes, flaky buttermilk biscuits, fried chicken, and Bubby’s renowned pies.9
- Nuyores (West Village): Enjoy a vibrant South American–inspired brunch from Chef Oscar Lorenzzi. Dishes to try include Eggs Arepa Benedict with ají limo hollandaise and Guava & Cheese Stuffed French Toast.10
- The Mark Restaurant (Upper East Side): Indulge in a luxurious three-course brunch prix fixe for $188 per adult. The menu includes both classic staples and indulgent options like Roasted Maine Lobster and Grilled Lamb Chops.11
- Berimbau Brazilian Table (Midtown): Open all day serving Brazilian classics, plus exclusive holiday specials. The Easter specials include Bacalhau Hash (salted cod and octopus) and Chocolate com Caju (chocolate brownie pudding with cashew fruit sorbet)
While not necessarily an Easter-specific event, what says “Easter” better than three massive floors of endless candy?!
NYC’s brand-new, ultra-viral themed candy experience has officially taken over One Times Square, and it is the ultimate spring break adventure for the whole family.
Upon entering, every visitor gets their very own themed candy container to fill up as they explore whimsical, sugar-coated recreations of iconic NYC landmarks—from a candy-filled Central Park to fantastical nods to Little Italy and Chinatown.
It’s an interactive, highly Instagrammable journey that culminates in a massive Candy Shop where you can top off your buckets. If you’re looking for a non-traditional (but incredibly sweet) way to treat the kids this holiday weekend, this multi-sensory sugar rush is an absolute must-do!
Easter Bunny Experience at Macy’s
Get ready for some springtime magic right in the heart of the city!
This year, Macy’s Herald Square is ditching the traditional photo-op line for something way more fun.
Say hello to a brand-new, strolling meet-and-greet experience featuring “Benny” the Easter Bunny and his trusty friend “Gardener Milo.”
Using an adorable blend of puppetry, theatrical design, and live performers, these characters will be roaming the store to surprise and delight shoppers of all ages.
This interactive holiday experience is completely free, and no reservations are required! Simply show up, keep an eye out for Benny and Milo as you browse, and snap as many photos and videos on your phone as you’d like.
If you’re looking for an Easter weekend activity that completely breaks the mold, you have to check out the breathtaking new Blooming Wonders: A Celebration of Spring exhibit at ARTECHOUSE!
Tucked away inside a century-old former boiler room in Chelsea Market, this immersive experience transforms nature into a mesmerizing, futuristic digital garden.
Step inside and surround yourself with thousands of glowing, tech-driven flowers, interactive floral landscapes, and surreal soundscapes.
It’s a massive, multi-sensory adventure that both kids and adults will be completely mesmerized by. Plus, if you’re visiting with friends or on a date, you can stop by the ARTECHOUSE XR Bar to sip on gorgeous spring cocktails inspired by the digital art blooming all around you!
